What are the names and customs of ancient people who are about to die?

Birthday farewell" is the most painful thing in life. The old man is sick in the dying, most of the love, will even, miss the children, hanging on to relatives. At this time, the children at home to serve day and night, not to leave the left and right, and to the children outside the message to send a message, urging them to return quickly. Sons and daughters in the receipt of such telegrams and letters, are returning to the heart of the arrow, day and night, looking for the countryside crying run, and strive to meet with their relatives in life. Not only will the old man not rest in peace if they do not see him, but the children will also regret it for the rest of their lives, and they will be accused of being unfilial. Sometimes coincidentally, once the children into the door, the old man will "hand to heaven" a. Therefore, children guarding their parents' deaths is called "sending their parents to their deaths". At this time, the old man in front of the face of the people to command some of the afterlife, such as "the boss of the" who is, the succession of the cause, the handling of the property, the account of the debt of the transaction, the children and grandchildren of the world of teaching and so on, commonly known as the "to the family matter". The old man's last words, children should be promised, so that the old man can rest assured that even after death will not change his mind. If all of the deceased's children, grandchildren, and relatives died with him, it is considered to be a rare "good death". But when the old man is dying and his children and grandchildren are still busy with their own work, he is bound to be criticized by the people and scolded by his neighbors and relatives.

People to the sick and hopeless time, the man to ask the uncle family to visit; women to ask the mother's family to ask about the disease, this is a must in the local rituals, in case of death, so that they know how people die. Otherwise, after the death of the person, suddenly go to ask them to supervise the funeral, they will use the excuse to make things difficult. If, in addition, and uncle's family, the mother's family have other unpleasant things, often is invited but not, then, the only way is the filial son kneeling outside the door, kowtowed back, to seek sympathy and understanding. Uncle's family, the mother's family proposed funeral conditions to try to meet. Because, the local custom is and uncle's family, mother's family fell out, the funeral will not be able to successfully handle.

Dressing

When the deceased was dying, relatives had to shave his head (male), comb his hair (female), wash and groom him. Before breathing must be put on the life jacket (commonly known as "old clothes"), one is not good to wear after death; the second is said to be dead and then wear, it means that naked, to the netherworld or no clothes. Most of the life clothes are prepared early. Local custom, the life jacket should be sewn in leap years and leap months, take "merit moisturize" the meaning of the descendants. Life jacket sleeve talk long, to be able to cover the tip of the hand, avoid short sleeves exposed hand. Otherwise, future generations of children and grandchildren will not be able to cover their bodies, reaching out for food. In the number of pieces of life jacket, to wear a single not to wear double, is to avoid the evil into a double meaning; in the life jacket fabric, to wear plain cloth, avoid wearing twill cloth, for fear of an "evil" word, the next generation of people to engage in crooked ways; especially avoid wearing leather, because the skin is the skin of the animal, wear for fear of the next life into the animal; can be used with silk but can not be used with satin, because satin and "broken son" harmonic, inauspicious; life jacket can not be used with a button, can only be used with cloth tape, because the button and "twisted son" harmonic, for fear of future generations out of the "inverted son". Life jacket to see both ends of the cotton, that is, cotton clothes, cotton pants, winter and summer so, take "to cotton (sleep) for peace" meaning. Life jacket lining more choice of red, means that the next generation of people have a prosperous life. Children first parents and the dead, to be adorned with a white strip of cloth on the life jacket, to show that in the netherworld should also be uniform for parents. In addition to public officials, now the folk old man life jacket look, most of them are still inherited from the Qing Dynasty, the Republic of China, the style of the long robe and short coat, can be seen in the stubbornness of feudal habits.

People just breathe, hurry to prepare the "hold mouth money" in the mouth, "hold mouth money" is also known as "mouth real", is a copper or other metal coins, wearing a Red line, put the deceased in the mouth, the red line another section of the cloth belt tied to the life jacket, to prevent slipping into the abdomen, to be buried when pulling off the red line.

On the deceased's mouth to put "in the mouth of money", there are three folk say. First, the money is called "treasure", put the money into the mouth of the deceased called "mouth with the treasure", the meaning of good luck; the second is to say that people work hard all their lives, no matter how much to stay, "hold in the mouth of the money" is the last take away Third, it is said that when a person dies, he becomes a "ghost", and the "ghost" has to be reincarnated and reborn, and then become a human being. With "holding mouth money", they will not be poor in the next life. Some in the people after death, but also to the hands of the hand clutching a piece of steamed bread, meaning that in the Yellow Springs Road to eat, not starving, the next life is not short of food.

Parking bed

When the patient changed into the birthday suit, it should be moved from the bedroom to the main room of the hall, as the dying person's final farewell to the world's official place, relatives are waiting for its left and right, so that it peacefully away. This is often referred to as the "final resting place".

The body is parked on two long benches supported by the board bed, under the grass, the number of roots of grass and the life of the deceased is equal to the number of commonly known as "invisible grass". Why lay "invisible grass"? In the past, legend has it that after death, the "soul" left the body, but he did not know that he had died, only feel very relaxed, so he traveled around. In order to make him have fun and not to let him see his body for the time being, he used these grasses to hide it. Another theory is that within two days after death, ghosts are not allowed to enter the "netherworld", in the netherworld can not roam around, but also can not be attached, so to lay the "invisible grass" to let him temporarily hide. After death, to smooth his body, so that he lay on his back, with a thin yellow sheet of paper or white paper to cover the face, commonly known as "thatch face paper". Why use paper thatched face after death, say different. One said that because people die face will become ugly, relatives see his face, inevitably some sadness or fear, so with "thatch face paper" cover; one said to observe the dead whether false death, if it is false death, gas out of the paper movement, but also can be salvaged resuscitation; one said is to block the dust, to prevent the noise, so that the dead rest in peace. Only the dead can use the paper to cover the face. Therefore, people are very taboo living people with paper over the face, for fear of causing bad luck.

Bodies into the coffin before the neck of the feet set a rope ring, commonly known as "trip rope. Legend has it that the "corpse" period, if you meet thunder and lightning or cat jumped from the body, the dead will suddenly stand up, touch something or someone, grabbed the dead do not let go, called "dead do not lose hand", very scary. Therefore, to trip on the twine, to the coffin cover and then unraveled.

The body parked on the corpse bed, the foot of the bed tied a white rooster, known as the "funeral chicken". "Mourning chicken" to be tied until the funeral. It is said to prevent cats, rats, insects and rodents rodent. "Mourning chicken" can only be sold at the market, the funeral home can not kill food. It is thought that the chicken is for the old man has guarded the funeral, kill the ominous.

Local custom as long as the patient still has a breath, absolutely can not move the cry, that cry unlucky. Can only be placed in the body after the stop, the whole family to raise the mourning, let out a mournful cry, with a tile pot as a paper pot, burn the first hand on the paper, many places called burning "reverse head paper", the local commonly known as the "lead paper". People believe that burning paper is to send money to the dead, so that the dead with the "coils" on the road peacefully.

How did the custom of burning paper to honor the dead come about? Legend has it that Cai Lun invented the art of papermaking, the world sensation, fame and fortune. Cai Lun's sister-in-law saw red, forcing Cai Lun's brother Cai Mo learn to make paper, Cai Mo did not get the key to go behind his brother's back to make their own paper to make the paper black and coarse, no one to buy, piled up all over the house. Cai Lun's sister-in-law felt guilty, the fire suddenly died, Cai Mo in a fit of anger, in front of his wife's spirit burned paper, burning burning heard his wife in the coffin shouted: "open the door, open the door! People open the lid, Cai Mo's wife sat up, his mouth also muttered: "The world has money through the sea, the netherworld with paper for business. If my husband didn't burn the paper, who would be willing to let me back." Later, people will say, I died, the little ghosts sent me to the Hall of Hades, Hades let me go to suffer, on the way my husband burned the paper, sent money, the little ghosts scramble up, they got the money, they put me back from hell. In this way, Cai Mo made paper can be used as money in the netherworld of the news spread quickly, the original piles of paper was snapped up. Cai Mo knew that his wife had pretended to be dead in order to sell the paper, but he did not blame her. As a result, the custom of burning paper in the funeral home has been passed down, and to this day, the folk funeral offerings are still burning the blacker rough paper, commonly known as "bucket bottom paper", "liter bottom paper".

There are two kinds of paper burned in the local funeral rituals: one is called "burning paper", that is, about six or seven inches of the square rough paper, burned before the use of coins or banknotes in the paper on the top of a little bit, commonly known as the "hit paper", indicating that over the plate into the "money", commonly thought that the paper does not use the money, and that the paper does not need to be burned, and that the paper does not need to be used. ", it is thought that the paper does not use coins to top, in the netherworld can not be "money" with; another called "yin ticket", in the past is a wooden plate topography of banknote-like "paper money ", with the words "Bank of the Underworld", the denomination of thousands, ten thousand, hundred million rounds ranging. These two types of paper are burned to send "money" to the dead.

Mourning

After the body of the deceased is laid to rest, Mr. Yin-Yang will soon be invited to prescribe the time of the deceased's death by the hour of the "disaster", the opening of the guest, funeral and burial, "over seven", "100 days", "one year", "one year", "one year", and so on. ", 100 days, the first anniversary, the second anniversary, the third anniversary of the specific day, and these days and hours with white paper listed out, posted on the wall, the funeral rituals are carried out as scheduled. At the same time, invited the "family father and son," the leading figures together to discuss how to handle the funeral, please "chief", called the "guest", set the chef, about the blowing hand, began to organize the funeral. By the general manager of the overall arrangements, directing the action, the master of the matter is just out of money, out of goods as a filial son.

After the agreement on the funeral ceremony, the first person to go to the uncle's family (male funeral) or the mother's family (female funeral) to report the funeral, and ask them to see whether the death is normal, whether the children are all in, whether the life materials and clothes are complete, whether the funeral specifications are appropriate. When the family members of the mother and uncle come, the filial son kneels in front of the door and welcomes them with howls and cries. If there is no objection after they have seen the deceased's remains, the funeral will proceed as planned. Aunt, aunt, son-in-law, nephews, godfamily, etc., by the "family father and son" in the nephews and men, brothers and sisters door-to-door to report the funeral, tell them when to pay tribute, when to bury, so that they can come to offer condolences as scheduled. Local custom after the death of the first two days do not wear white mourning, commonly known as "black head of filial piety", the third day before "into the service". So the mourning son can only shout across the cliff or across the wall, can not directly into the door, commonly thought "black head mourning son" into the door more "collision", will bring bad luck to the host family. For example, some people's yards may ant a lot, commonly thought to be "black-headed filial son of the results of the punch".

"Five services" outside the neighboring townspeople and clansmen, heard the news, they took the initiative to take the incense, paper to burn paper condolences with the dead farewell, called "send paper", "send paper! "More people, it proves that the deceased was virtuous, goodwill.

Playing graves

People who die generally need to be buried as soon as possible. Therefore, the first important thing in the funeral is to hit the grave. Local people have always believed in "feng shui", "pulse", that the ancestors are in the "hidden dragon and crouching dragon" "feng shui treasure land", and the descendants of children and grandchildren will be buried in the "feng shui treasure land", and the descendants will be buried in the "feng shui treasure land". "and later generations of children and grandchildren will be able to rise in the government and wealth, fortune and prosperity, prosperous people, Yisheng not decline. Wealthy said "graves 'pulse gas' good", poor said "graves did not come out of the next", the descendants of the international luck attributed to the former graves feng shui good or bad. Therefore, people are very careful and serious in the choice of grave site.

After the death of a person, by the eldest male main filial piety accompanied by Mr. Yin-Yang take. On the compass, ruler, rope zhang, wooden pegs, stiletto and so on to the predetermined gravesite. According to the ins and outs of the gossip, the reasoning of mutual success, with reference to the gossip Tai Chi diagram, the four sides of the thirty-six directions, to determine the good and bad luck, choose "feng shui" good "mountain", sketched out the tomb site, commonly known as "hook cave ground This is commonly known as "hooking the grave site". "Hook hole ground" also have to take into account later, husband and wife and buried son for parents "hanging feet" and other matters. If buried in the ancestral tombs (commonly known as "old graves"), the point will be good to determine, because the original are measured well, a little correction can be. If remake new graves, it is necessary to use the gossip compass repeatedly measured, delineated positioning, while inserting the five-color flag, set up incense, ancestors, pay homage to heaven and earth, line into Ying rituals, the local ceremony referred to as "into the tombs". After the liberation of the unified planning of cemeteries, graves in large fields were destroyed, the universal implementation of the cemetery system, the selection of graves of bad habits have been eliminated, but the "grave" please "yin and yang" Mr. survey and positioning of the custom is still in the continuation.

"Yin and Yang" Mr. hooked "point", but also to choose the auspicious day to break ground.

In the past, when the ground was broken, the son of the filial piety, but also burn incense table, perform a great ritual, pray for God's blessing, that is, for the elderly to repair the "foundation ceremony". Local buried people's graves from the construction of two parts: one is the "Ming Tingzi", vertical depth of about 7.5 feet to 8 feet or so, about 4 feet wide; two is the "through the hall kiln", in the "Ming Tingzi The second is "through the hall kiln", in the "Ming Ting Zi" at the bottom end of the big head, digging a size can be put into the coffin of the soil kiln hole, generally more than 3 feet high, more than 8 feet deep. In the past, the local burial in addition to the officials and gentry, generally do not use masonry. Since the reform and opening up, the general improvement of the standard of living of the masses, repair tomb specifications have been upgraded. Now, "through the hall kiln" mostly with brick hoops, commonly known as "brick hoops tomb". Some people also take advantage of the old man alive, on the hoop good tomb. The first is for the elderly after the death of the preparation is not busy; the second is to let the old man look at their own after the death of the "HOS", in order to show the sons and daughters of filial piety.

There are many other things that the local people pay attention to when they "beat the grave": first, the point, the pegs, and the excavation line set by Mr. Yin-Yang are not allowed to be moved or modified by anyone. Secondly, the length of time to hit the grave, to determine the length of time the casket is parked at home. Since the "auspicious day" after the groundbreaking, every day someone digging, but must be completed in the afternoon of the day before the burial, can not advance, nor delay. If the casket parking time is short, very urgent, then the tomb people must not avoid the wind and rain, day and night to dry, never miss the burial hour. Thirdly, the tomb beaters are all relatives and neighbors to help each other, generally not employed. Fourth, the tomb-breakers eat three meals a day and try their best to provide hospitality. In the past, whenever the meal filial son to "kneel with food, no life can not afford, until the end of the food". If time is short, the meal should be sent to the cemetery to eat, sent to the meal to eat no leftovers, in case of leftovers, buried on the spot, avoid bringing home. Now, the custom of "kneeling with food" has been abolished. However, the filial son must go to the cemetery every day to the tomb of the person to smoke tea, kowtow to show respect, eat to the tomb of the person to toast, which is never less than the etiquette.

Sheng base

People die within three days, if there is no special reason, we must wear the body into the coffin, commonly known as "Sheng coffins" or "human coffins". "Sheng coffin" when all the filial son to participate in, relatives and neighbors to help, there must be maternal uncle's family present, or to get their permission, and by the elders of the family to preside over, otherwise not "Sheng coffin".

The body into the coffin, to stabilize the body position, decorated corpse, under the red mattress, covered with a red sheet, but also take the meaning of the future generations of red-hot. Between the body and the coffin wall, tightly inserted with paper wrapped pine sawdust, leaf end or grass ash, in order to fix, to prevent shaking. Arrangements in place, the coffin can be covered, commonly known as the "dragon's mouth", once closed can no longer be uncovered. As the saying goes, "rather than a thousand miles away, not a layer of board." Therefore, if the "coffin" when the mother, uncle family members have not arrived, mourning relatives have not arrived, "dragon mouth" can not be closed, the coffin lid to leave a gap, and so they look at the remains, in order to "close the mouth of the dragon! "

The local community has a lot to offer, and it's a good place to start.

Local dead "people coffin" there is a pay attention to, that is, lifting the body into the coffin, by the eldest son (Chengzong people) to hold the head, other people lifting the body, carefully put the body into the coffin. As a result of the influence of feudal patriarchal thinking, the eldest son "into the alkali" to hold the head, the spirit of wrestling "paper pots", the funeral leader "tugging the fiber", and even the future of the memorial service hold "tablet", burning paper, libation, are the eldest son of a thing. As long as the eldest son, no one can replace.

The dead "into the coffin", the filial son kowtow to burn paper, weeping and mourning. Then, please write "Ming family", the local commonly known as "the main family". The so-called "main family", that is, in 7 feet long, 2.5 feet wide red silk or red cloth, write out the deceased's family name, name, comments and so on. Born with an official position but also in front of the family name plus the official title, the comment called "public comment", no official comment called "township comment", the female comment called "boudoir comment". The next paragraph should be written on the official title or academic title of the writer, and his name is written on red cloth or red paper. "The main gleam" is best to ask the local celebrities to lead the write, write the mourners must be thanked, can invite celebrities, is a very dignified thing. Although the "main gleam" is written in different ways, but generally as follows:

Why write "main gleam"? Because the dead "into the coffin", its appearance has been invisible, it is used to write the name of the deceased flag as a sign. Local funerals will be "the main banner" hanging in front of the spirit, some hanging in the courtyard on the day of the opening, as a symbol for the guests to hang, to show respect for the dead. "The main gleam" at the time of burial, remove the inscription of the name of the person, show the cover on the bier, buried with the dead.

Setting up the spirit hall "spirit hall" is the place where the body is parked, the bier is put, for people to pay homage and filial sons to keep mourning. In the middle of the hall, a large tent is hung to cover the corpse or bier, with the word "Dien" written in the middle of the tent, and a white paper "hanging curtain" with various patterns is hung in the air in front of the tent, with the inscription "A strict father (mother) nurtures like an ocean, and children and grandchildren who have not repaid the favor are still in mourning". It is a regret that my children and grandchildren have not been able to repay them" and other eulogies. Set up a table in front of the tent slow, the table in the center of the tent slow by the sign of the dead casket or statue, the table set up tea, snacks, fruits and other offerings, along the front of the table display incense cones, incense burners and other sacrificial offerings, while lighting white candles. White paper table skirt, white paper wrapped with earth crabs in front of the table, for sprinkling libations with wine, but also put on the "paper basin". For the filial son to burn paper and guests to pay tribute to the paper ash. Table on both sides of the straw or wheat grass, for the mourning son kneeling (male left and female right). The "paper work" is arranged in front of the table and around the door of the house. This "paper work" is by the "paper work craftsmen" with reeds, color paper and paste, the owner of the funeral money to buy. The forms of "paper work" are: spirit court, over the pavilion, the child in the dark, the dark girl, the dark horse, cranes, deer, flowers, and so on. There are also "seven star sword", "twelve pieces" and other names. How much display according to the economic situation of the bereaved family and take it.

Houses and courtyards in large and small doors, in the afternoon of the day before the opening of the funeral should be pasted on the white paper funeral couplets, the local circulation of the "white affair" couplets are generally: "Leaning on the door to go to three months, sobbing staff children sad five nights cold." "I don't know the red sunset of filial piety, and I often look forward to the white clouds flying." "The cuckoo still weeps in the cold moon, and the crane flies in the cloudy sky." "The white horse and the veiled carriage are a sad dream, and the blue sky and the blue sea are a disappointment to the soul." "Peach blossoms and flowing water are nowhere to be seen, where can I find the clear wind and bright moon?" "It's hard to hold back the clouds, and the cries follow the wild cranes." "The cold pines weep with dew, and the broken bamboos in the half-window cry with the wind." "Jing floating outdoors with filial piety, rhyme full of mournful feelings in front of the hall" and other sets of words to mourn the dead. But it should be noted that in the joint language to distinguish between men and women, otherwise it will make a joke.

In short, in the spirit of the hall and courtyard layout to create a white, miserable funeral atmosphere.

Out of the son

After the death of the third morning around eight or nine o'clock, is the local customary "out of the son" day and night. "Izako" is "out of the door to tell", "out of the newspaper obituaries (obituaries)". It is also known locally as the "Sungjak". It is called "Izuko" because it shows the number of children and grandchildren. "It is a serious and solemn part of the funeral ceremony. The actual purpose of the "obituary" is to announce the funeral to the public. There is also a superstition that if the obituary is not published, the deceased does not know that he or she has died, but if the obituary is published, then the deceased will know that his or her life in the world has come to an end. "Obituaries" are the birth and death dates of the deceased, "five services" within the son, nephews, grandchildren written on paper (not female), pasted on a rectangular board, placed outside the front door for people to see and understand. Write "obituaries" in folklore is crucial, if the deceased is childless, there is no established heir, "out of the son" must be temporarily in the nephews in the generation of a person as a son of the clan to write in the "obituaries", who wrote, who will have the right to write the obituary. Whoever wrote it would have the "legal" right to inherit the property. "Who should be written in the obituary, who should be in the front, who should be in the back, who should be far away and who should be near, should be treated with care, and no one should be left out. On the contrary, within the clan, the filial son will fight and make trouble between, make the funeral chaos, family disharmony. "Obituary" written by Mr. Yin Yang, the format is not consistent, generally written as follows:

Obituary

Unfilial male XXX and other sins are serious, Fo perish, woe extends the X House X XX (women write: X House X Ru Ren). Born in XX year XX month XX day, unfortunately in XX year XX month XX day because of the cumulative work into illness, in this house, life and death, at the age of X ten and X years old, unfilial male XX, etc. Knocking on the ground to call for heaven, grief and pain, the pro-visit with the coffin, stopping the bier in the hall, the honorary rituals into the service, Cheng Yen (Ci) order is hereby scheduled to be X month X day to open a laying of the ground, X month X X day, X time to help the hearse buried in X place of mourning the obituaries.

Orphaned (mournful) son XXX tears bow

Qi Wei period service grandson XXX tears bow

Qi Wei May great-grandson XXX tears bow

Small Gong service nephew XXX tears bow

Ma service nephew XXX tears bow

The so-called "become service The sewing of "mourning clothes" has no rules, generally except for son-in-law, nephews, married women have sewed "mourning shirt" (i.e., "mourning coat"), the other "family father and son" in the filial son "filial piety clothes" self-prepared, some only loose shoes of white cloth. After the filial son put on "filial clothes", will be in front of the spirit of kneeling grass mourning, receiving guests to pay tribute, accompanied by wailing and wailing, and has been guarded until the funeral. Filial children, especially biological children during the mourning period, according to the old rituals, do not wash their faces, do not shave their heads, saddle shoes, do not sit on the bench, do not smoke, see people bowed, do not eat meat and fish, bed thatch block, and shall not be messy jokes, jokes, jokes and smiles; women can not be coated with grease and powder. This old rituals, now more has been abolished, but the mourning mourning, it is common sense, has been inherited.

"Out of the child" when all the filial son to be present, maternal uncle's family to be present, son-in-law, nephews and relatives to participate. Blowing the suona, play the drums, all the filial son in front of the spirit of kowtow after burning paper, by the eldest son holding the "obituary" lead, the other filial son on the hands of the "crying stick" followed, lined up in a string, crying run outside the door, the "obituary" in a conspicuous place. "placed in a conspicuous place, the filial son kneeling into a piece, burn paper kowtow, and then return to the spirit of the paper offering rice. "out of the son" when the more filial son, the more huge lineup is the more decent, people use this to show that the deceased children and grandchildren, the family has a lot of power, so the folk of "out of the son" of the ritual is very important.

Please master

Actually, it is to invite the "guests", but the local people call it "please master". That is, in the afternoon of the day before the opening ceremony, the "five services 'within the deceased before the deceased and deceased brother, brother or sister-in-law of the "spirit" to invite back to accompany the new deceased *** enjoy the ceremony. When a man dies, he invites his brother or sister-in-law; when a woman dies, she invites her sister-in-law; men and women cannot be mixed. When "inviting the lord", there are drums and music playing in front of the house, and the filial sons follow in a line. Please who, whose eldest son holding its "tablets" lead the burning of paper, the grave in the grave in the burning, the grave flat in the intersection of the burning of paper. Blowing and beating, all around the depression, but also to the village neighbors to announce the next day to open the meaning of sacrifice. "Please" finished back to their own gate, there are women kneeling filial son, howling to meet, and then back to the spirit, all the "tablets" to the new deceased "spirit card" as the center, divided into left and right, according to the The long and young wild goose-wing shape placed in order. Then kowtow to burn paper, offer rice, so that he (she) together "eat, drink".

"Invite the Lord" finished, son-in-law, nephew or son to the dead sheep, commonly known as "lead sheep" (there are also in advance "lead"). "Leading the sheep" is to pull the sheep to the spirit, the praiser facing the spiritual hall shouting: "xx sheep offering the name), to lead you to the sheep miles!" Someone then pours water into the ears of the sheep, and after pouring it in, he says, "Shake the wool and lead the sheep." Sheep stimulated by cold water shaking all over the body, even if the dead "led", pulled out of the slaughter for the field, the next day to guests. Why give the dead "collar sheep"? Some say it is given to the dead in the netherworld as horseback riding; some say it is for the dead to eat; some say it is for the dead to pack money. People have their own understanding, there is no conclusion.

Opening of the Hanging

Generally, one day before the burial, a banquet is set up for guests to pay their respects. The so-called "open hanging" also means to pay tribute to the public. The local common name "guest" or simply "Dian", "hanging". This is the day with the most visitors, and it is also the climax of the funeral.

Early in the morning on that day, first by the filial son kneeling to burn paper, "guest" hands, outside the door "out of paper". Local people call this "paper" called "big paper", by the "paper craftsman" with a variety of color paper (mainly white paper), chiseling money, patterns and other patterns, with reeds as a skeleton, tied into a pavilion. Pavilions and pavilions model, and then glued string into a long tube-shaped, plus paper flags coiled ribbon, hanging on a high pole about two feet. Its simple and complex by the funeral home to determine their own. "out of paper" has raised the streamers to beckon the soul, recall the soul of the deceased to enjoy the meaning of the sacrifice.

"Out of the paper" after the next is the filial son in front of the spirit of kowtow and burn paper, to the soul of the deceased to offer rice. When the rice is offered, the head of the pig that was killed in the funeral is also offered. Guests look at the pig's head on the sacrificial table, they will know the funeral killed a few mouths of pig.

On that day, friends and neighbors came to pay tribute one after another, the funeral home outside the door set up "gift table", "gift book", someone special registration of guests and gifts, commonly known as "on the gift". All guests are drums and music, a warm welcome, "know the guest" dedicated to receiving guests. Guests first in the "gift table" "on the gift", and then to the spirit of the burning of paper and wine. Gifts, if there are "celebrities" inscribed hanging scrolls and so on, to be led by the chancellor, the band marching, followed by a parade of filial piety to the village side of the kneeling to meet, to show respect. In recent years, the funeral music in addition to suona, and the introduction of the Western drums and horns, it seems more spectacular, solemn, grand.

Come to pay homage to more than gift "burnt paper", incense, table wax, paper work, gift buns, cash (commonly known as "Dien Yi"), etc.; close relatives also have to send Gong Jing, spirit strips (fabric above the eulogy pasted on the), couplets; and wreaths of respect. It is especially worth mentioning that, after the reform and opening up, although the government advocates "generous care and thin funeral", "simple funeral", but with the improvement of economic conditions, the scale of the funeral has warmed up, the trend of comparison spread. Many people take pride in the funeral plaques and hanging scrolls. Regardless of who died, how the former German industry, "quotations" to send gifts to the people have to get together, please have a "title" of the person titled inscription, production of plaque, hanging scroll to show condolences and respect, so the plaque, hanging scrolls on the abusive, vulgar suspicion.

After the guests burned paper and wine in front of the spirit, some people gave them "mourning yarn" to wear. Then by the chief arrangement, the guest of honor to greet him (her) people table dinner. General friends and relatives who do not participate in the next morning's "send buried" can say goodbye to the bereaved and leave after the meal.

Sacrifice

Funeral should be a few days, there is no local rules. First, according to the "yin and yang" Mr. projections selected by the auspicious date of burial; second, according to the preparations for the funeral home; third, according to the seasonal season, such as the height of summer must be buried quickly. Therefore, the funeral over four or five days, seven or eight days. In the past, there is also due to the "life" unfavorable, should not move the earth or other reasons and the custom of the bier to be buried, that is, the casket with soil crab masonry buried and stored, waiting for the auspicious day and time and then over the matter of burial.

The local funeral is roughly divided into three types of ordinary things, official guests, plus sacrifice. Ordinary things without the master, the land official, the guest of honor, there are a few blowers play suona can be. No "point of the Lord" ceremony, only kneeling grass to keep the spirit, burn paper and wine, and receive guests to pay tribute. Officials and guests of the affairs of the band is huge, complex etiquette, spend a lot of money, but only rich people can afford to do. To please have the name of the chief official a person, a magistrate, four guests, wearing the old-fashioned robes, wearing the old-fashioned hat. There are rituals such as offering epitaphs, sacrificing big trees, performing family rituals (i.e., "three offerings"), "pointing to the main" rituals, and "sacrificing to the earth after the grave" before the grave. Each ceremony must be held with drums and music, call for praise, three worship nine kowtow, read the text of the sacrifice. In the past, some mourners also invited monks and Taoists to recite sutras and perform "jiao-festival" to pray for the souls of the dead. Plus sacrifice (also known as "memorial service") is the past due to poverty or other reasons, think that the parents funeral is not prosperous, and then children and grandchildren have become rich, choose an auspicious day to pay tribute to another; or choose another "feng shui" reburial, relocation of graves (commonly known as "turning the buried (commonly known as "turning the grave"). The form of ordinary things can be done, can also be done according to the official guests, mainly to pay tribute to the dead, remembering the old man's kindness to me, read the words of sorrow and sacrifice, for the dead to sing the praises of their own fame and fortune, also known as the old man "make up for the heart".

So, what do you mean by "point master"?

People die, children and grandchildren will be for him (her) to make, write the tablets and cards, tablets for later worship (some billets are made in advance), the parents tablets (cypress) in a wooden seat with a set, commonly known as the "Lord of the gods building. It is said to have originated from the story of "Ding Lan carving water to re-execute filial piety" in the "Twenty-four Filial Piety". Spirit tablets are used to mark the coffin of the deceased and are buried with the coffin. It is especially forbidden to place the plaque and the tablet in one place or to see each other.

Some of the back of the tablet also briefly write the time of the deceased's birth and death and line of description. The local preoccupation is that the "tablets" on the line of writing the name of the deceased's family name, must be taken in line with the "birth, old age, suffering, disease and death" five words in the "birth" or "old", "God", "the", "the", "the", "the", "the", "the", "the", "the", "the" and "the". ", the "Lord" of the "Lord of God" must fall on these two words, "Sheng" is the most auspicious word, "old" is the second, that is, the "Lord" of the "Lord of God" must fall on these two words, "Sheng" is the most auspicious word, "old" is the second. The word "birth" is the most auspicious, and the word "old" is the second most auspicious, which means that the number of words in this line must be 6 or 7, 11, 12, 16, 17 words, and so on.

The "point master" is a ceremony in the official guest affairs, the process is like this: the "master" will be arranged in advance in the neighbor's house (fake "public house"), the filial son of the parade! Led by the salutatorian, drums and music fine blowing fine playing, to the "master" door music three times, "master" out of the road ceremony, pre-arranged to dress up as "eight-carried sedan chair" shape, both sides holding the "Silence and avoidance" sign and banana fan, four colored flags, sounding a gong to open the way, slowly moving forward. As the "master" of the refined, slow and methodical, filial son of a five-step kowtow, ten steps a worship, the sound of crackling guns, drums and music accompanied by a person behind the burning of paper, a person to spread grains and cereals and "paper money", called "playing the money scattered The "playing of loose money". Crossroads to arrange a pretended poor people stop sedan chair "complaint". Back in front of the spirit, the musicians three times "report drums"; cooks with a piece of red paper wrapped in a side of pork offered to the "chief official" called "offer seal", "the chief official "The chef will give them money. After the chef receives the reward, but also said: "wish the master high rise again high rise!" and other auspicious words, and then "point master". Because on the tablet or family tree, family shadow, other words have been written, only the "God" word lacks the last vertical, the "Lord" word is not written first a little bit, the line point "Lord" ceremony, by the When the ceremony of "Lord" is performed, it will be done by the "master" with a brush dipped in red vermilion. The celebrant shouted in a long voice, "Tongyi Shen! The "chief official" then writes the word "God" in a vertical line; then he shouts, "Point the Lord! Then he shouted, "Point a Lord!", and then he wrote the word "Lord" again, collectively known as "Tongshen Points the Lord". After the "point of the Lord", some people also let the "master" to the children's hall of lice a red dot for good luck. The purpose of the "point of the Lord" ceremony is to use the "official authority" point of the dead, so that it is decent in the netherworld, show the power of God, to better protect the wither descendants.

Some of the above superstitious and delusional, the complexity of the mattress section, now more than abolished, but mourning sacrifices, kowtow and burn paper, wearing white mourning is still the main body of the funeral.