In China, there are many customs and traditions, one of which is "joy and mourning". It is a unique custom that differs from the average wedding or funeral.
In this article, we will ** the meaning, standards and traditions of joy and mourning, as well as the significance and influence of this custom on the Chinese.
What is a "joy and mourning"?
"Joyful mourning" refers to the ceremony held by someone's relatives and friends to commemorate him after his death. This ceremony is a bit like a funeral, but it is different from a normal funeral.
In Chinese culture, people believe that people become part of their ancestors after death, so people believe that "happy mourning" is a way to commemorate ancestors.
In general,"Joyful mourning" is only held in certain specific circumstances. In traditional Chinese culture, if an elderly person dies and he has a son or grandson, a "happy funeral" is held.
In addition, if the elderly person has reached a certain age at the time of death, usually 80 years old or older, a "happy funeral" will also be held.
However, this is only the traditional standard, and in modern society, this standard is not absolute.
In modern society, many people do not strictly follow the traditional standards to decide whether to hold a "happy funeral".
For example, if a young person dies, but his family places a high value on traditional culture, they may also choose to hold a "wedding funeral".
Therefore, in modern society, deciding whether or not to hold a "happy funeral" is more of a cultural choice than a strict rule.
In traditional Chinese culture, the ceremony of "joy and mourning" has its own unique rules and rituals.
During this ceremony, family members dress the deceased in neat new clothes, light incense, and hang white banners outside the funeral home. During this process, people weep, pray, and communicate to express their grief and remembrance for their deceased loved ones.
At the end of the ceremony, family members will give gifts to relatives and friends who come to participate in the ceremony, which are usually snacks, tea leaves, sweets, etc., to show gratitude and respect.
In this process, people also communicate with each other to express their remembrance and gratitude for their deceased loved ones.
In addition, in some places, there is a traditional ritual called "hanging legs". In this ritual, the family places the body of the deceased on a long bed and ties the foot of the bed to a high shelf with a white cloth.
This ritual symbolizes the hope that a deceased loved one can ascend to heaven and become a part of their ancestors.
In modern society, although "joy and mourning" is no longer a strictly regulated tradition, it still has a profound impact on the life and culture of Chinese.
First of all, "happy mourning" makes Chinese value the importance of family and clan. In Chinese culture, family and clan are very important concepts, and people often think that they should contribute to the family and clan throughout their lives.
Holding a "happy funeral" can make people feel more about the importance of family and clan, as well as the sense of responsibility to share family responsibilities with family members.
Secondly, "happy mourning" also reflects the respect and respect of Chinese for their ancestors and traditional culture.
In Chinese culture, ancestors and traditional culture are very important concepts, and people usually believe that they must respect their ancestors and traditional culture in order to have a better future and development.
Holding a "happy funeral" can make people more deeply aware of the meaning and value of life, and then cherish and appreciate their lives and experiences more.
"Joy and mourning" is a unique custom in Chinese culture, which reflects the importance and concern of Chinese people for family, traditional culture and the meaning of life.
Although this custom is no longer a strict rule in modern society, it still has a profound impact on the life and culture of Chinese.
We should do more to respect and protect this cultural tradition and let it continue to be passed on in Chinese society.
The custom of joy and funeral originated in some areas of southern China, such as Shangrao in Jiangxi and Changsha in Hunan. It is a solemn and joyful ritual that is usually held on certain special occasions such as funerals, sacrifices, marriages, etc.
This ritual not only expresses people's mourning for their deceased loved ones, but also symbolizes the continuation of life and blessings.
If a family experiences multiple funerals in a year, then a funeral ceremony can also be performed to pray for good luck and good fortune.
In the traditional funeral ceremony, people usually wear a red turban, a symbol of good luck, wear colorful clothes, hold drum instruments, and walk along the road with songs and dances.
The elders of the family will also light incense candles and burn paper money to express their condolences for the deceased. The ceremony usually lasts for several days, during which there are various games and entertainment, such as cockfighting, card play, singing, etc., so that people can mourn the deceased and enjoy life at the same time.
But there are also some criteria and restrictions for joy and mourning. First of all, funeral ceremonies are usually only applicable to certain families and occasions, and are generally not universally promoted.
The scale and form of mourning can also vary depending on region, religion and culture. For example, in some areas, the funeral ceremony may be simpler, with only family members participating, while in some religious festivals, the funeral may become a grand celebration for the entire community.
Here it tells the story of a special family in a small village called "Blue Sky Village", whose ancestors were one of the earliest residents of the village and have always been the sages of the village. They have always paid great attention to traditional culture and customs.
Because in a small village called "Blue Sky Village", there is a special family, their ancestors are one of the earliest residents of the village, and they have always been the sages of the village.
Whenever the family goes through a moment of grief, they hold a funeral ceremony to express their mourning for the deceased and respect for life.
The sudden death of the head of the family made them very sad and sad. However, they know that traditionally, they need to hold a funeral ceremony to express their grief for their parents and pray for the arrival of a new life.
So, they began to prepare for the funeral ceremony.
First of all, they invited the people in the village who knew the etiquette and tradition best, and asked them to be in charge of presiding over the funeral ceremony. Next, they began to decorate the home, decorating the room and courtyard with a festive red atmosphere.
They hung red lanterns and couplets, and at the same time lit incense sticks and burned paper money. In addition, they brought in several professional musicians and singers to bring joy and movement to the funeral ceremony.
On the day of the funeral ceremony, people from the village come to the family to send condolences and blessings to them. Dressed in red clothes and turbans, they held drums and instruments, singing and dancing along the road. The musicians played the festive ** next to them, making the whole ceremony full of joy and blessings.
During the funeral ceremony, the family also prepares a variety of food and drinks for everyone, such as sticky rice, braised pork, peanut candy, and many more. While eating delicious food, everyone chatted and felt the joyful atmosphere of joy and mourning.
The funeral ceremony lasted for three days, during which the family also offered the last offerings to the deceased parents. On the last day, everyone gathers together to pray for the soul of the deceased to rest in peace and for a new life to thrive.
In the end, the funeral ceremony ended, and the family also prepared for the deceased parents and ushered in the arrival of a new life.
The whole village also felt the joy and blessings of the funeral ceremony, and everyone felt the beauty of traditional culture and customs.
However, when the children of this family grow up**, they also begin to think about the meaning and standards of joy and loss. They realize that mourning is not just a tradition, but a spiritual belief.
So, the family began to experiment with innovative funeral rituals.
This innovation has also been recognized and supported by the rest of the village, and joy and mourning have gradually become a new culture in the village.
Every year, a large-scale funeral event is held in the village, attracting people from all over the world.