chinese funeral

[gizmo8]

During visitations is this the correct etiquette..

1) sign the visitation book..there maybe be a white envelope for any money you might want to give to the family of the decease...do you write your name on the envelope?.
2) light a incense
3) bow three time towards the decease
4) bow to the family members
5) meet the family members
6) you either take a seat or you leave


Is this the basics for visitation at a chinese funeral?..

[45ED]

That sounds more like visitation/viewing/wake rather than a funeral.

[tinlunlau]

You forgot the candy that comes with the white envelope.

[gizmo8]

is the steps correct though...yes I know about the candy and the coin...sorry its for a visitation......the incense is lite than place in a vase then you bow..is that correct?...

[45ED]

is the steps correct though...yes I know about the candy and the coin...sorry its for a visitation......the incense is lite than place in a vase then you bow..is that correct?...

Generally, yes. Chinese funeral visitation procedures vary with the family and how they do things, so you won't be able to get exact instructions.

If worse comes to worse, keep an eye out for someone who looks to be a friend of the family or similar and mimic what they do.

Key thing is just being modest and respectful in demeanour as circumstances dictate. Beyond that, it's okay to not do things exactly right, as long as you try.

[kuhai2001]

Dress in black/grey/white. Nothing colorful. Guess that's basic manner for any kind of funeral

[setell]

Yeah, that's visitations. If you do those you're fine. If you're confused just do what others are doing and you'll be fine. For the actual funeral it may vary a bit depending on how traditional the funeral is.

[NEMESIS_2008]

Based on my grandmas funeral (rip grandma!), the actual ceremony involves monks performing a ritual in order to properly administer him or her into the afterlife. After that is done, the deceased is brought to the grave where he/she is lowered. During the lowering of the body, everyone is asked not to look and turn away..... I guess its bad luck to watch a deceased being lowered underground. A bobcat then buries the coffin with the soil that was excavated from the ground. Red packets or envelopes are then given to all the attendees as a amsign of gratitude. after that happens, the ceremony is done and everyone heads off to a chinese restaurant for lunch/dinner. Cemeteries which cater to chinese religious funerals usually have packages which includes the monks, the ceremony, the tombstone, and lunch or dinner.

The ceremony usually continues for days at the deceased's home, however I cannot fully undertand the meaning: a few days after my grandma died, a monk came to our house. He performed a ritual. As for what kind of ritual, I have no idea but my guess is the deceased's spirit returns home and that is why the monk is there.

[Catherine111]

OMG! There seems so many instructions and rules in funeral also. :|

[kklove]

Dress in black/grey/white. Nothing colorful. Guess that's basic manner for any kind of funeral

Not exactly, in ssome culture they celebrate in funeral maybe means a man successfully complete his journey as a human and nothing sad about it cause they are living in another format now. :arrowl::razz:

Think about it, nothing really wrong and sounds really cool

[45ED]

Dress in black/grey/white. Nothing colorful. Guess that's basic manner for any kind of funeral

Not necessarily in Chinese funerals. For some Chinese funerals, the wearing of white or almost all white is restricted to direct (blood?) relatives of the deceased (or those closest to him/her). Other relatives and/or visitors can wear black/grey/some white. So unless you're close to the deceased, stick with black/greys/some white.

On another note -- not sure about watches, but no wearing of shiny things.

[Forhad]

It is quite confusing. Please someone post organisely the chinese funeral process.

[setell]

It is quite confusing. Please someone post organisely the chinese funeral process.

There is no set rule as it will depend on how traditional the family is and what religion they are. My grandmother’s funeral was quite traditional to the point you eat the classic dishes at the reception while the last one I went to wasn’t very traditional. I got to eat fish which is NOT a traditional funeral reception dish at all!

[45ED]

It is quite confusing. Please someone post organisely the chinese funeral process.

There's over one billion Chinese people in the world. Good luck.

[NEMESIS_2008]

It is quite confusing. Please someone post organisely the chinese funeral process.

Its not confusing as long as you follow what others are doing. The funeral home staff will also guide you.

[mbg]

Does it have a buffet at the end?

[stealth]

Does it have a buffet at the end?

Try and keep this serious.
Someone looking for some legit info could get into a real gaffe if they don't pick up on the humour in this thread.