As we all know, Chaoshan attaches great importance to funeral etiquette and pays attention to the geomantic omen of burial, forming a unique local custom, especially when buried. Let me introduce the knowledge about Chaoshan burial custom.
Chaoshan funeral custom 1 1 is called oil fire.
Before liberation, wealthy families held a witchcraft ceremony called "oil fire" when their family members were about to die, which was also called "calling for generations", that is, calling for people to die. If someone replaces it, it can save the lives of dying people. The method is: let a wizard paint a large painted face with colored tung oil painting, imitate the ghostly shape, go shirtless and wear a five-color skirt. The utensil is a cursed bowl. This bowl is full of oil. After lighting it, it was entrusted by the wizard. When it is still in the middle of the night, it roars through the streets, especially when it is as gloomy as a ghost fire. If someone screams because of fear, the wizard immediately throws his "oil fire" on the wall and scolds him: "Ah, bah!" In this way, "Hudai" was successful. The person who dies on behalf of the patient is the one who screams at night.
Step 2 move the store
When the old man is dying, he should first move to the hall and not stay in bed, commonly known as the "migration shop". This has two meanings: first, if a person dies in bed, the deceased will bear the "sleeping cangue" of the underworld. Children and grandchildren will not let their parents suffer in the underworld after their death, so it is estimated that they will be helped to the mourning hall when they are dying. Second, when the deceased dies in bed, the ghost will be hung on the bed and can't cross over. Therefore, after the death of the old man, his children spread the mat on the ground, put the body on the mat, with their heads facing the door and their feet reaching to the back wall. In some places, the dead were put on ghost chairs. Then, the descendants of the deceased gathered around him and wept bitterly. This is called "filial piety" or "mourning". At the time of mourning, men cry instead of crying, and women cry for the dead by generation.
Step 3 take a shower and change clothes
After the death of the old man, the daughter-in-law should use the powder of Cao Xian (Cao Rui) to boil water, wash face, brush body, get a haircut and change the shroud for the deceased, which is called "wearing fairy clothes". Shrouds are mostly prepared in advance, depending on the identity of the deceased. Those who have fame are robes, jackets and official uniforms. Ordinary people generally wear robes and paperbacks. Regardless of the number of shroud, generally speaking, men have even-length dresses and women have odd-numbered dresses. Black shoes and white socks on his feet, holding a towel and a fan. After getting dressed, according to the ancient ceremony, the corpse was moved to the ground and covered with a mat, with a red cloth above and a white cloth below. The coffin is covered. It is said that the dead are like tigers, so as not to frighten the living. At the same time, an oil lamp is lit at the foot of the deceased, which is called "foot taillight". Some places turn on the lights behind their heads, which are called "nodding lights". Whether it is a taillight or a nodding light, it is to illuminate the dead on the road. In addition, put a bowl of rice next to the lamp, which is called "ghost rice". At this time, relatives should put on linen and carry it on their backs. If the father dies, they will show their left arm, and if the mother dies, they will show their right arm.
Step 4 report to the scene
One of the funeral customs in Chaoshan is to report to other places. The elders in the village, holding white lanterns, led the male descendants of the deceased to wear mourning clothes and reported the death to the temple in the head. The eldest son of the deceased was holding a wooden pallet, on which were the stickers of the deceased, brown sugar, hemp, incense and other things. When they arrived at the temple, the elders burned incense, took out the Niangeng stickers and reported to the idol: "Life comes from the ground, and death comes from the ground. Read it to master at any time. " Then read the date of birth and death of the deceased and his age. The wish of the temple is to ring the bell according to the reported life span. Every time it rang, the eldest son pulled out a hemp, tied it into a bundle, and sent sesame oil money to the temple to make a wish. After the old man incinerated the annual stickers of the deceased, he led the descendants of the deceased to detour back to the door.
Chaoshan funeral customs II. Build a place to live
Influx people believe in "geomantic omen" and choose a geomantic treasure-house to "build a residence" before they die. The so-called "alive" is a tomb built for the dead. Why build a grave when people are not dead? It is generally believed that the feng shui of a cemetery is good or bad, which will be related to the well-being of a family's descendants. This so-called "rich officials and wealth are all buried; The extension of life is also brought by the grave. " Therefore, people are always very cautious when choosing "Feng Shui", so they must invite "Mr. Feng Shui". After the geomantic treasure land is selected, the construction of "residence" can be started. After the "residence" is built, the tombstone can be built. Generally, the words on the inscriptions after death should be painted in green, while the inscriptions in the living places should be painted in red to show that people are not dead.
Second, buy coffins and shroud in advance.
In addition to choosing a cemetery in advance, some also prepare coffins and shroud in advance. Coffins are usually made of fine, solid and high-quality wood such as catalpa, camphor and cypress. Coffins are mostly rectangular boxes, which consist of a coffin cover and a coffin body. The size depends on the body of the deceased, and the degree is moderate. The coffins used in folk funerals depend on their family assets, and the rich do not hesitate to spend a lot of money to buy coffins, carefully carved and painted, which is extremely luxurious; The thin white coffin of the poor is simple and rough. When making a shroud, choose the right day. When finished, collect them separately and don't be overwhelmed by other clothes. Take it out to bask in the sun on the sixth day of June every year to get rid of mildew.
Some people think it is unlucky to make coffins and shroud in advance. In fact, no one can predict when people will get old and when they will die. If these things are prepared early, once the old man dies, he won't panic.
Third, the funeral procedure.
When the old man is dying, he should be moved to the hall. After death, their relatives must come to the river or spring with pots and pans and drop coins to "buy" the stagnant water. Then use the water to hold a bathing ceremony for the dead. Then he gave the deceased a haircut and plastic surgery. He took off his clothes and put on a shroud. Generally, men wear even-numbered clothes, while women wear odd-numbered clothes. Black shoes and white socks, with towels and fans. The body is covered with the quilt of heaven and earth (that is, the coffin quilt), with red cloth above and white cloth below. The coffin is covered. It is said that the dead are like tigers and don't scare the living. In fact, worrying about family members' injuries is also a big reason. There is a soybean oil lamp at the foot of the deceased, called "foot taillight". It is said that the "foot taillight" can illuminate the dead in the underworld, so it must not be blown out. There is a bowl of rice next to the lamp, which is called "ghost rice" for the dead to enjoy in the underworld.
In the past, there was a procedure of "reporting the death knell": after the morgue, the children and grandchildren of the deceased all went to the land temple or the city god temple with white lanterns to "cry" and "report" the death of their loved ones to the land god or the city god. After the death knell rings, people are sent to the friendly door of relatives and the dead, which is called "catching up". Undertaker can't go directly into other people's homes, but he can only talk at the door. After hearing the news, relatives and friends gave the mourners some "money" to show their surprise and gratitude. This is what the Chaoshan saying goes, "Buy water for the field."
Fourth, collection
The ceremony of burying a body in a coffin. A "feeding ceremony" was held before the funeral. The dutiful son and daughter-in-law put a small piece of tofu and a few grains of rice into the mouth of the deceased with chopsticks. This is the inheritance of "rice bag" in ancient funeral. The ancients thought rice was filial piety. "The dutiful son is loyal and can't bear to show his mouth" ("Biography of the Ram and Five Years of Wengong"), so that the parents of the deceased can enjoy themselves as much as strangers, and at the same time repay the kindness of the deceased. Before you die, you must wait for the brothers, sisters and children of the deceased to meet before you can enter the coffin. Before entering the coffin, put paper money on the bottom of the coffin, and then fold it into five "persimmon flowers" and add them to it. After the coffin is placed, put a "persimmon flower" on the forehead, navel and toes, then seal the coffin and nail six nails with an axe, which reads:
A head nail, everything goes well; Aner nails, children and grandchildren live forever; An San nailed, the elder of the three dynasties; A four-nail, prosperous all year round; Five nails, five generations under one roof; Put six nails in the circle, inside and outside Sun Fugui for ten thousand years.