Traditional Taiwanese Funeral

By Kang-Hsin Fan


In keeping with the Taiwanese customs, people who are passing away will not actually die at the hospital. When the families decide it is time for them to leave, they are taken off life support, put on oxygen to be transport home by ambulance, and placed on their bed. As the initial part of the ritual, their bodies lay in state on the bed for approximately 10 hours while their families chant to assist there soul in passing to the happy place. Once the 10-hour period passes, their bodies are put in a coffin-like freezer in the house. According to the traditional Taiwanese funeral, the 7-day mourning period is more time given for further assistance to the soul in passing to the happy place. As part of the funeral custom, the homes are prepared including having a tent set up in the patio area for the visitors. Under Chinese customs, friends and relatives literally pay their respects. They bring money in small white envelopes as a donation to the family. Once the funeral is over, the funeral home takes their body, along with the funeral participants, to the local crematorium. After their ashes are secure in the urn, the funeral home transports the family to their interment site. These buildings are almost always located on a hill and have a nice view of the harbor. As part of Buddhist tradition, after the funeral, the families will perform ritual chanting for one or two hours, once a week, for seven weeks, at a designated temple. The process is led by the head nun, in front of a temporary shrine with their favorite fruits, cookies, and desserts set out on a table. The purpose of these rituals is to guide them to the happy land, encourage them to follow the right path, and avoid distractions by evil spirits.



Sources:
http://shelz-lyn.blogspot.com/2009/07/chinese-funeral-costume-and-ceremony.html