Many funeral rituals and taboos originate from traditional Chinese culture, encompassing aspects such as religious beliefs, ethics, and customs. For example:
Condolence money, is a gift of money given by friends and relatives to the bereaved family during a funeral to express condolences and support. Traditionally, the monetary value of the condolence money is increased by adding an additional $1 to the whole number, as even numbers are associated with auspicious occasions. Conversely, odd numbers are associated with "injury" and carry a metaphorical sense of sorrow. The monetary value of bojin ends with the number 1, symbolizing a one-time offering.
Jiyi: In Chinese funerals, it is customary for the bereaved family to give a gift of thanks, to those who attend the funeral and offer their condolences. It is usually a small gift, such as a box of candy or a packet of tea.
Mourning clothes, are worn by family members during a funeral to express mourning and filial piety towards the deceased. Traditionally, when an elder passes away, including the spouse, children, daughters-in-law, sons-in-law, and grandchildren, both inside and outside, are expected to wear mourning attire. It is recommended for family members to wear a white belt as a symbol of filial piety within the mourning hall.
Avoid crying out loud in the encoffin ceremony: During the encoffin ceremony, when the body of the deceased is placed in the coffin, it is considered taboo for family members to cry. It is believed that crying will make it difficult for the deceased to leave this world and may cause their soul to linger.
Bow your head to avoid clothing taboos when closing the coffin: Traditionally, there is a belief in the presence of negative energy during the coffin sealing, so the pallbearers would ask everyone to turn away from the coffin to avoid encountering this negative energy. Negative energy, or "sha qi," is considered inauspicious and believed to have a detrimental effect on individuals. Therefore, during the coffin sealing, it is customary for relatives and friends to bow their heads and avoid facing the coffin to prevent being affected by the negative energy.
Jiyi: When giving the Jiyi, the bereaved family should only say "thank you for your kind thoughts." It is considered taboo to say "thank you," as this is associated with happy occasions.
Funeral time: The timing of the Funeral (Funeral), or funeral procession, is also subject to certain taboos. It is considered unlucky to hold a funeral during the seventh month of the lunar calendar, which is known as the Ghost Month. It is believed that during this month, the gates of hell are open and ghosts are free to roam the earth. Holding a funeral during this time is thought to invite bad luck and misfortune.
