What is the ritual folklore of "crossing the bridge with the dead" in the Chaoshan area?

The "crossing of the bridge for the dead" in Chaoshan is a traditional ritual folk custom, also known as "crossing the lonely boat" or "crossing the spirit". This custom stems from the ancient belief of the Chaoshan people in the immortality of the soul, who believed that after death, a person would become a soul, and that the soul would need to wander around in the world until it reached the goal of being reborn. Therefore, in order to help the souls of the dead to cross rivers, lakes and oceans, people in the Chaoshan region would hold the ceremony of "crossing the bridge for the dead".

In this ceremony, people will build a bridge made of paper or wooden boards, called the "bridge of the dead", and set up an offering table at the end of the bridge with offerings, such as chickens, fish, meat, rice, etc. At the same time, people will also burn paper and paper. At the same time, people will burn paper money, incense and candles to show their respect and pay tribute to the spirits of the dead. During the worship, people will silently recite prayers, hoping that the spirits of the dead will cross the river safely and transcend their lives soon.

Besides "crossing the bridge", there are many other rituals and folklore in the Chaoshan area, such as ancestor worship at the Ching Ming Festival, burning paper money at the Mid-Yuan Festival, and ancestor worship at the winter solstice. These traditional customs reflect the Chaoshan people's admiration and belief in their ancestors and are an important part of the Chaoshan culture.