In the vast rural land of northern Jiangsu, as a ritual of the end of life, white things carry profound cultural connotations and human sophistication. As a unique social phenomenon, the custom of "hanging guests" is not only a vivid embodiment of Confucian etiquette, but also a reflection of the complex and delicate interpersonal relationships in rural areas. The purpose of this article is to delve into the traditional connotation of this custom and its changes in modern society.
The traditional connotation of the custom of "hanging guests" in rural areas of northern Jiangsu
In rural areas of northern Jiangsu, when a family member dies, the host family will notify relatives to come to mourn in accordance with the established procedures and scope. This process is known as "hanging". The range of customers is wide, including not only immediate family members, but also collateral relatives and even friends. Once notified, relatives will go to the Lord's home to express their condolences and follow the Lord's mourners to the mourner's home to pay their respects. During the mourning period, relatives will follow certain etiquette and rules, such as wearing plain clothing and black veils, to show respect for the deceased.
Confucianism, emphasizing the concepts of filial piety, etiquette, and respect for humility and order, has been fully reflected in the custom of "hanging guests" in the rural areas of northern Jiangsu. Through the ceremony, the host family was able to express respect and nostalgia for the deceased, and at the same time show the outside world that he followed the spirit of Confucian filial piety. The code of conduct of relatives during the mourning process also reflects the restraining role of Confucian etiquette, such as bowing and bowing, which represent respect and respect for the deceased.
In addition to the constraints of Confucian etiquette, the custom of "hanging guests" also carries a strong sense of sophistication. In rural society, interpersonal relationships are complex, and the connection and interaction between relatives is particularly important. Through this ceremony, relatives can strengthen their bond and emotional exchange with each other, and remember their deceased loved ones together. The custom of "hanging guests" has also expanded the boundaries of interpersonal communication in the countryside, allowing people who have never known each other to establish a new social network because of their joint participation in condolence activities.
The change of the custom of "hanging guests" in modern society
With the rapid development of society and the increase of population mobility, the custom of "hanging guests" in rural areas of northern Jiangsu is also facing unprecedented challenges and changes.
More and more people from rural areas are migrating to cities to work or settle down, leading to the increasingly serious phenomenon of rural hollowing. This phenomenon has had a profound impact on the inheritance and development of the custom of "hanging guests". Due to the increased mobility of the population, many relatives who were supposed to be involved in the hanging customers were unable to attend in person to mourn and had to express their condolences in other ways. This undoubtedly weakens the sense of ritual and solemnity of the custom. With the change of rural social structure, the younger generation's sense of identity and participation in traditional culture has gradually decreased, which also makes the inheritance of the custom of "hanging guest" face difficulties.
Despite the many challenges, the custom of "hanging guests" still has a certain vitality in the rural areas of northern Jiangsu. On the one hand, the persistence and inheritance efforts of the older generation have allowed it to be preserved in some areas. On the other hand, the custom of "hanging guests" has also been adaptively adjusted in form and connotation. For example, in some areas, the host family will make up for the lack of mobility by socializing or notifying relatives to come and pay their respects. Some young people have also begun to try to combine traditional culture with modern elements to inject new vitality into the custom of "hanging guests".
As an important part of traditional culture, the custom of "hanging guests" in rural white affairs in northern Jiangsu not only reflects the profound influence of Confucian etiquette, but also reflects the complex and delicate interpersonal relationships in rural areas. Under the impact of modern society, this custom is also facing the dilemma of inheritance and development. We should respect and understand traditional culture, pay attention to its inheritance and development in modern society, and try to inject new vitality into it. Only in this way can the custom of "hanging guests" continue to play its unique role in rural society under the new historical conditions. We should also recognize the tension between traditional culture and modern life, and seek a balance between protecting traditional culture and meeting the needs of modern life.
**10,000 Fans Incentive Plan In the future development, the custom of "hanging customers" may appear in a more flexible and diverse form to meet the needs of modern society. For example, modern technological means can be used to carry out remote condolences such as phone calls; Or combine customer activities with modern social activities to form a new cultural phenomenon. No matter how it changes, the core values of respecting the deceased and maintaining family and friendship will remain the same.