"Life events, weddings, funerals, weddings, weddings, funerals, weddings, weddings, funerals"From ancient times to the present, it is the only way in the world, symbolizing the beginning, peak and end of life. Therefore, both at home and abroad, they attach great importance to these important nodes in life.
Out of respect for ancestors, even if the elders pass away, they will be commemorated by relatives and friends, especially on important festivals such as Qingming and Zhongyuan, and the paper money burned on the streets expresses the deep sorrow and sincere respect of the family.
Do you know the historical background of the word "memorial"? They were originally derived from the words "sacrifice" and "funeral". On the oracle bones of the Shang Dynasty, there is the most primitive word "sacrifice", which depicts the scene of a person holding bloody meat to worship the heavens.
Although the two terms are now fused together, on some special occasions if we confuse their meanings, it will be a joke.
In the subsequent historical process, the ritual sense of sacrificial characters has been increasingly enhanced, which also reflects the continuous improvement of the productivity of the ancients. The way of sacrifice has changed dramatically, and it is no longer a human being who holds the sacrifice, but a solemn altar.
During the Shang and Zhou dynasties, people worshipped gods and ghosts, so the main objects of worship were the gods they believed in. The sacrificial process is often bloody, not only the slaughter of livestock, but even the martyrdom of people as proof of their piety.
Nu Hao, the famous heroine of the Shang Dynasty, was the queen of the Shang king Wuding, and was also a priest and general with a knighthood. She once led an army to defeat the Aryan eastward crossing and successfully protected the Chinese civilization from heavy losses.
In order to express respect for the woman, the tomb of the woman not only collected a large number of exquisite bronzes, but also accompanied the burial of slaves. The slaves were found to have distinctly Caucasian characteristics, possibly Aryan prisoners of war captured by the Shang Dynasty.
Therefore, there was nothing tragic about the original meaning of "sacrifice", but more of a sacred ritual to recognize merit and highlight piety, and the sacrifice was usually made to a person or god of high status.
The history of the word "lay" is as old as the word "sacrifice", and we can see the original word "lay" in the writing of the Shang Dynasty.
The word "lay" originates from the ancient ancestor worship ceremony, which uses wine to sacrifice the ground, implying deep remembrance of the ancestors. To this day, this tradition is still preserved on many occasions.
And at the funeral, whether it is in the solemn mourning hall** or on the dark coffin, you can see this Chinese character carrying mourning. In some areas, people still retain the tradition of pasting the word "Dian", and at the time of marriage and the New Year, they will paste red paper with "Fu" and "Xi", and funerals will be replaced with white paper with the word "Dian" written on it, adding to the feeling of mourning.
Although the laying is the same ritual as the sacrifice, the laying has a deeper tragic overtone, and it is often aimed at our ancestors and deceased relatives. In the memorial ceremony, we do not express blessings, but deep sorrow and mourning for the deceased.
Although the similarities and differences between memorial and memorial are very different in details, on the whole, they still have the same effect, which lays the foundation for their gradual integration in later generations.
In the pre-Qin period, the memorial service and the funeral ceremony were separate ceremonies, but with the development of the times, the boundary between the two gradually blurred. In funerals, the offering is performed together with the funeral, usually followed by the funeral.
This is due to the belief in the idea of "the immortality of the soul" in the ancients, believing that the human soul will continue to live in the underworld after leaving the body, and there is no difference between it and the human world. Therefore, the coffin of the deceased is his abode in the underworld, and the funerary goods of his life will also be used after his death.
Therefore, the ancients attached great importance to the burial of the dead, and if the dead could not be buried, he would become a lonely ghost.
In the tombs, dignitaries and dignitaries would not only place valuables such as pearls, jade, bronzes, etc., but also daily necessities such as daily necessities that they used during their lifetimes.
In the Mawangdui Han Tomb, the tomb of the tomb owner, Mrs. Xin Chai, is well preserved, not only her body is not decomposed, but the burial goods also maintain their original color. Surprisingly, even the lotus root and plum that are served in lacquerware are well preserved and their shape has not changed.
The Chinese have always regarded food as the most direct expression of piety, so they not only carry food as burial offerings during burial ceremonies, but also prepare incense tables, wine and ingredients for the ancestors to enjoy during sacrifices and sacrifices.
Although the distinction between memorial and tribute is no longer so clear in funeral rites today, in some places traditional customs are still preserved. If you confuse these two concepts or content on similar occasions, it will not only make people feel funny, but it may even lead to misunderstandings and accusations of "disrespecting the deceased".
Of course, there is also a big difference between a memorial and a tribute, the most notable of which is their significance and status. China is a country of etiquette, and has attached great importance to etiquette since ancient times, and the most representative of them is the "Five Rites".
1.Auspicious rites, fierce rites, military rites, guest rites, and jia rites each have their own unique meanings. auspicious ceremony, meaning auspicious and solemn, sacrifice is the most representative ceremony; The Murder Rite, on the other hand, is a ritual held to commemorate and mourn unfortunate events.
2.auspicious gifts, fierce gifts, military gifts, guest gifts, and jia gifts each represent different values. auspicious gifts, representing the yearning for life and the blessing of goodness; The fierce rite is the respect for life and the mourning for loss.
3.auspicious rites, fierce rites, military rites, guest rites, and jia rites, they are not only etiquette, but also a kind of cultural inheritance. auspicious ceremony, symbolizing the traditional culture of the Chinese nation; The fierce ceremony carries people's nostalgia and sorrow for their deceased relatives.
4.auspicious rites, fierce salutes, military salutes, guest salutes, and jia rites, they may be diametrically opposed in form, but in essence, they are all people's admiration for life and expectations for the future.
auspicious gifts, symbolizing hope and joy; Fierce etiquette is people's respect for the past and sustenance for the future. 5.auspicious etiquette, fierce etiquette, military etiquette, guest etiquette, and jia etiquette, they are not only a kind of etiquette, but also an attitude of life.
auspicious gifts, representing a positive outlook on life; Fierce etiquette is the helplessness of life and thinking about the future.
The funeral ceremony is a farewell ceremony for the deceased, which is held before the burial of the deceased, implying the cherishing of the past and the expectation of the future. After the burial, the ceremony is held to symbolize respect for life and blessings for the future.
This transformation not only reflects the ancients' view of life and death, but also shows their attitude towards the past. China, an ancient civilization with a history of 5,000 years, has a profound historical heritage that runs through all aspects of Chinese life.
Whether it is tactful and long poetry, or broad and profound thoughts, they are full of cultural charm. And a couplet, a window flower, even a meal of food, and a Chinese character during the New Year's festival all contain the exquisite prosperity and profound cultural heritage of a great country.
The romance and outlook on life of the Chinese people are passed down in ancient rituals, and are closely connected with the land of China like blood. No matter where you are, the admiration and nostalgia for your ancestors in your heart are like this bloodline, which cannot be separated, and it is also an indispensable link on the road to the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.