Chinese culture has a long and rich history with regards to death and dying. In traditional Chinese culture, death was seen as a natural part of life and was not viewed as something to be feared. Instead, death was seen as a transition from one stage of life to the next and was often accompanied by various rituals and ceremonies.
One of the most important aspects of Chinese culture surrounding death is the concept of filial piety, which dictates that children should show respect and obedience to their parents, including during the process of dying. This can involve caring for one's parents as they near death, performing various rituals and ceremonies to honor them after their passing, and even observing a period of mourning.
In traditional Chinese culture, it was also believed that the deceased could continue to influence the lives of the living, and so there were various rituals and practices designed to appease the spirits of the deceased and ensure that they were at peace. This could include offering food and other gifts at the gravesite, burning incense, and performing special ceremonies on important dates such as the anniversary of the person's death.
Another important aspect of death and dying in Chinese culture is the emphasis on the importance of the family. In Chinese culture, the family is seen as a unit, and the well-being of the entire family is considered to be of great importance. This is reflected in the various rituals and ceremonies surrounding death, which often involve the participation of the entire family and are seen as an opportunity for the family to come together and support one another.
Overall, death and dying in Chinese culture is viewed as a natural and inevitable part of life, and is surrounded by various rituals and practices designed to honor the deceased and support the family during this difficult time.
Chinese cultural dimensions of death, dying, and bereavement: focus group findings
The last three realms of rebirth are regarded as unfortunate whereas the first three are regarded as fortunate Khong, 2003. Newbury Park, CA: Sage Publications. The Spring Festival is held every spring and it is very important to the comfort of the dead. The location of a grave is selected according to fengshui, an ancient art related to the law and order of the universe and the power of nature. A Chinese woman will often be buried with jewelry, particularly jade.
Death And Dying In Chinese Culture Essay
Immigrants to the U. The death is usually announced on the local radio station and mourners will gather over the coming days, coming from surrounding villages and further afield to pray and sing. The structure that was imposed on the people of China was embraced because it brought everyone together. Taoists see death as a natural part of life that we all must accept. If you Fengshui, the Location of a Tomb Generally speaking, graves in China look like earth mounds for marking , some of which are planted with trees which symbolize the continuation of the dead. Cliff coffin burial is an unsolved mystery, because how the ancient people fixed those heavy coffins on cliffs is still unknown. North America In North America, many individuals incorporate specific religious beliefs, as well as contemporary end-of-life options.
Death and dying: How different cultures view the end
We see that strains of Confucians, Taoism, Buddhism, and local folklore superstition appear to co-exist in death attitudes and practices. Hierarchical versus Authority is centralized and leadership Engalitarian comes from the top. It is actually a sign of respect for thecoffin to be kept close to the family over a long period of time. This is evident in Document 2, where Chinese scholar Zhi Dun tried to calm the people of the nation down and stick to their religion even when times are hard Asian Nomads… Confucianism And Communism In China Communism virtues are similar when it comes to knowledge and public service. Burial often happens very quickly after the passing and wakes or visitation are not the norm. This ritual serves as a remembrance for the deceased and a way for family members to ensure that the deceased does not go hungry and is well cared for.
Chinese and Mexican culture on death and dying Essay Example [1259 Words]
Participants had to have experience working with Chinese immigrants or Chinese Americans on issues of bereavement, death, dying, and grief. Revue Europeenne des Migrations Internationales, 8 3 , 91-116. Often a piece of black material will be placed on the clothes of mourners that will be buried with the casket. They do believe that the activities in the present life decide whether a person gets heaven or hell after his death. Hill 1992 asserts that Chinese funerals and rites do not merely serve to benefit families of the deceased. If you don t do it or do it properly, you are going to get bad luck because somebody is going to be angry.
Death and Dying in the Chinese culture
Bodies are cremated but the ashes then separated from the bones, these remains sometimes being divided up between the temple, the family and even the employer of the departed. Under Taoism, an individual is taught to view and accept death as a natural part of life, and if the same individual lived a moral life then he or she will achieve immortality in the afterlife Fersko-Weiss, 2018. Large dinner banquet 1. As a Chinese American who straddled cultures, I could not understand as a child why my father would deceive his mother. Layering of blankets on 1. Finally; because of the tremendous diversity within the Chinese American community, it is important for service providers to. Daedalus, 20 2 , 63-83.
