The Funeral Customs in Xiuyan, Liaoning Province: A Study on the Ritual Funeral
Zhitong Yang
Abstract
This article takes the unique funeral form of Jingli Funeral in Xiuyan, Liaoning Province as the research object. Through a combination of literature research and field investigation, it systematically sorts out the historical origins, main rituals, and cultural connotations of Jingli Funeral customs. The funeral procession carries the memories of the Xiuyan people's families and regional culture, and studying its evolution is of great significance for understanding the local history, culture, and social changes.
Shao Piyuan's Memorial Hall photo, 1945
0 Introduction
Funeral customs, as a special cultural phenomenon, carry various connotations such as the life and death concepts, religious beliefs, ethical and moral values, and social order of the people in specific regions. In the process of participating in the compilation of the "Shao Family Genealogy", the author visited the ancestral tombs of the Shao family's Ma Dao Ling and Wang Jia Ying in Xiuyan, Liaoning, and conducted interviews with more than 20 Shao family members to understand the funeral customs in the Xiuyan area, especially to verify the ritual funeral. Exploring the rituals and funerals in Xiuyan is of great significance for gaining a deeper understanding of the historical culture, social changes, and spiritual world of the people in the Xiuyan region.
The cumbersome rituals of funerals in rural China
1 The origin of funeral customs in Xiuyan area
Xiuyan, Liaoning is located in the northeastern region of China, and its funeral customs can be traced back to multiple origins. From the perspective of primitive culture, early humans were influenced by the concept of the soul and believed that the soul would not perish after death, which led to the burial of the deceased. This was the embryonic form of funeral customs. In some sites of the late Paleolithic era, it was found that the bones were arranged neatly and were accompanied by simple burial objects, indicating that there was already a preliminary awareness of burial at that time.
As a Manchu Autonomous County, Xiuyan has strong Manchu characteristics in its funeral customs. The ancestor of the Manchu people, Sushen, was an important part of the early residents of Xiuyan. The Sushen ethnic group had connections with the Central Plains region during the pre Qin period, and later evolved into Yilou, Wuji, Mohe, and others. The Sushen ethnic group mostly lives in the mountains and forests, and is skilled in hunting. Their funeral customs are influenced by their living environment and production methods. In the early days, the Sushen tribe had the custom of tree burial, placing the deceased on a tree to reflect the concept of being closely connected with nature. The Mohe people also have the custom of burying their deceased after death. At that time, there were three burial methods: one was a one-time burial immediately buried underground after death; The second method is to first bury on a platform built in the forest, and then re bury underground for a second time, which accounts for the vast majority. Thirdly, the implementation of 'cremation' accounts for a small proportion.
With the passage of time, forms such as burial, cremation, and water burial have gradually developed. Later, influenced by the funeral customs of the Han ethnic group, most Manchu people carried out earth burials. This is a manifestation of the Han Chinese concept of 'entering the land for safety'. There are certain differences between Manchu burial and Han burial, which can be divided into two forms: cremation followed by burial and burial directly into the coffin. First, cremate and then bury the ashes in a clay jar, which is commonly used for knights who died during expeditions. Traditionally, the hair braid of the deceased is cut off, placed together with the ashes, transported to the home in a jar, and then buried. The Manchu ancestors believed that braids were the resting place of the soul, so they were cherished and preserved. Another common form is to bury the body directly in the ground after burial, and its ritual is the same as that of the Han ethnic group.
Renovate the Shao's Ma Daoling Ancestral Graveyard in Xiuyan, Liaoning
2 The trend of lavish burial is the main reason for the emergence of ritual funerals
2.1 Trend of Lavish Burial
The tradition of lavish funerals has a long history in China. With the emergence of primitive religious beliefs and the concept of the soul, people began to have the custom of burying their loved ones and a simple sense of accompanying burial. Between 6200 BC and 5000 BC, public cemeteries with a certain order began to appear in the Peiligang culture, Baijia culture, and Houli culture. Archaeologists have discovered beautiful jade artifacts in tombs dating back 7500 years at the Chahai site in Fuxin, Liaoning. During the Shang and Zhou dynasties, with the development of slave states, the hierarchical system gradually became strict, and the trend of lavish funerals began to prevail. At this time, there were not only exquisite bronze and jade burial objects in the tombs, but also the phenomenon of human sacrifice to demonstrate their power and wealth during their lifetime. This style of heavy burial reflects the hierarchical order of the society at that time and the superstitious concept of the afterlife, believing that the deceased still needs to enjoy everything they had before their death in another world.
The trend of lavish burial in the Qin Dynasty reached a new height. The the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor is huge, the burial pits of the Terra Cotta Warriors are magnificent, and many Terra Cotta Warriors are lifelike, symbolizing that the First Emperor of Qin will still control a huge army after his death. In addition, there are also a large number of rare and precious treasures hidden in the tomb. The Han Dynasty was also deeply influenced by the concept of lavish funerals, and people believed that the scenes of life before death should be continued after death. The burial items in noble tombs are rich and diverse, ranging from gold and silverware, lacquerware to various daily necessities. The architectural structure of the tombs also imitates the living environment of the deceased.
During the Sui and Tang dynasties, funeral rites tended towards standardization, and officials at all levels must strictly follow the system stipulated by the state to arrange funerals according to the official positions of the deceased before their death or their descendants. However, due to the strong national strength of the Tang Dynasty, the phenomenon of lavish burials still existed in the funerals of some nobles and wealthy merchants. In the following Song, Ming, and Qing dynasties, the state's management of funerals became stricter, basically following the regulations of previous generations. But there are still some wealthy families who set up grand displays, build luxurious cemeteries, and bury a large number of items during funerals.
2.2 The Formation of Xiuyan Jingli Funeral by Mainland Immigrants' Immigration
2.2.1 Impact of Mainland Immigration Migration.The history of immigration from the interior to the northeast can be traced back to before the Zhou Dynasty. After the Qin and Han dynasties, a large number of Han Chinese immigrants from the mainland migrated to Northeast China, especially during the late Qing Dynasty and early Republic of China, where there was a modern wave of immigration to Northeast China. The large-scale export of Han people not only brought advanced agricultural technology, but also brought the lifestyle, customs, family system, ethical concepts, and language and writing of the mainland, gradually forming a unique new type of Kanto culture in Northeast China. The custom of lavish burial among Han people has deeply influenced the formation of ritual funerals in the Xiuyan area.
2.2.2 The Trend of Lavish Burial. In ancient society, lavish burial was not only an individual family behavior, but also had significance at the family and social levels. It is a way for families to demonstrate their strength and social status. Through grand funeral ceremonies, families can gain reputation and respect in society. This concept is also reflected in the formation of ritual funerals. Immigration has brought new ways of life and concepts of goods, which are reflected in burial items. Originally, the burial objects in Xiuyan area were mainly common local daily necessities and production tools. With the arrival of immigrants from the Kanto region, some items with Central Plains cultural characteristics began to appear in burial objects, such as exquisite porcelain and the Four Treasures of the Study. For some families with better cultural or economic conditions, they may choose to add these symbolic items of Central Plains culture to their burial objects, hoping that the deceased can also enjoy a richer material and cultural life in another world.
2.2.3 Formation of funeral rites. The immigrants who ventured into the Kanto region brought the tradition of lavish funerals from Shandong, Hebei, and other places to Xiuyan, and funeral ceremonies gradually became more refined and standardized. From a series of rituals at the beginning and end, to various stages such as embalming, mourning, and funeral, there are strict procedures and requirements. In the formation process of the ritual funeral in Xiuyan area, these ritual elements were absorbed and developed in combination with local cultural characteristics. During the mourning period in the funeral procession, monks or Taoists are invited to perform rituals, which is similar to various religious ceremonies held in ancient times to help the deceased enter another world smoothly and soothe the souls of the living.
Qin Shihuang's Terra Cotta Warriors and Horses，Xi'an City, Shaanxi Province
3 The ceremonial process of the funeral procession
3.1 What is a ritual funeral
Jingli Funeral is a complex and solemn ritual system in the funeral customs of Xiuyan area. The 1928 edition of the "Xiuyan County Annals" recorded in folk customs that "funeral rituals mostly follow the old system, with different complexity and simplicity, depending on the strength of the rich and the poor." "If the mourner sets up a colorful shed, sets up a funeral vessel, or invites someone to recommend dipping, it is called" Jingjing Funeral "; Alternatively, if you invite a scholar to sing praises, it will be called a "funeral ceremony", and invite a respected gentleman to be named as the "Chengzhu". The scale and method of handling the death of elders on a large scale is the most solemn "ritual funeral" in the local area, which is only carried out by wealthy families. If the family is poor, they will be buried three or five days after their death, but there will be a drum and music troupe during the farewell and farewell ceremony, which is much simpler. It emphasizes expressing respect and remembrance for the deceased through a series of strict ritual procedures.
3.2 Ritual Process
1. Beginning and end. When someone in the family is critically ill, the family will move them to the spiritual bed in the main room, with their head facing the door and their feet facing inward. Once death is confirmed, immediately burn a "tipping paper", which is the fare for the deceased's journey in the underworld. At the same time, family members will hang white lanterns at the door to announce to their neighbors that someone has passed away.
2. Mourning. Filial children and grandchildren wear mourning clothes and go to the homes of relatives and friends to mourn. When reporting a funeral, filial sons should perform a kowtow ceremony and inform their relatives and friends of the time and reason for the deceased's death. After receiving the funeral report, relatives and friends will prepare offerings to go to the funeral home to pay their respects.
3. Departures. Prior to embalming, the deceased must undergo purification, cosmetic surgery, and wear a shroud. Longevity clothes are generally odd numbered, often consisting of five, seven, or nine pieces. When embalming, the bottom of the coffin should be covered with grain grass, and a seven star board should be placed on top of it. The deceased should lie on top of it, and around it should be placed items that the deceased loved before their death, as well as some daily necessities, as burial objects. Then cover the coffin lid, but not nail it to death, so that family and friends can finally pay their respects to the remains.
4. Ceasing. During the mourning period, the funeral home will set up a memorial tablet in the mourning hall, place offerings, and offer condolences to relatives and friends. Filial son and filial grandson keep watch day and night, accepting condolences from relatives and friends. At the same time, monks or Taoists will be invited to perform Buddhist rituals or temples to transcend the dead. During this process, there will be ritual activities such as reciting sutras, confessing, and releasing flames, and the duration will depend on the economic situation and wishes of the bereaved family, usually ranging from three to seven days.
5. Funeral. On the day of the funeral, a grand mourning ceremony should be held. The filial son smashed the 'mourning basin' and then carried the coffin for the funeral. The funeral procession is led by a filial son, holding a soul guiding banner, with family and friends following behind. Along the way, paper money is scattered to buy a way for the ghosts and gods in the underworld. After arriving at the cemetery, place the coffin in the grave, bury it, and build a mound.
6. Post burial worship. After burial, sacrificial activities must be carried out for a certain period of time. Such as "first seven", "second seven" until "seventh seven", as well as hundred days, anniversaries, etc. On these sacrificial days, family members will go to the cemetery to offer sacrifices, burn paper money, and offer sacrifices to express their longing for the deceased.
Xiuyan Shao's Family Ancestral Cemetery under Repair
The new Spirit Tablet of the Earth God has been established in the Cemetery of the first ancestor of the Shao's Family in Xiuyan
The Tomb of Shao Piyuan, the Fifth Patriarch of the Shao's Family in Wangjiaying Xiuyan
4. Inheritance and Changes of Rites and Funerals.
In modern society, funeral rites still have a certain degree of inheritance in the Xiuyan area. Despite the impact of modern culture and lifestyle, many families still choose to bury their elderly according to the traditional ritual of funeral rites after their death. Some traditional ritual activities, such as mourning, embalming, and funeral procession, still strictly follow the traditional procedures. At the same time, in some rural areas, the inheritance of funeral rites has also received attention from local cultural protection organizations and family elders. They pass on the knowledge and significance of funeral rites to the younger generation through words, deeds, and cultural activities, striving to continue this traditional custom.
The pace of modern society is accelerating, and people face greater work and life pressures. The ritual process of funeral rites is quite complicated and requires a lot of time and energy. This makes it difficult for some young people to conduct traditional rituals and funerals when facing the death of their elders. For example, in terms of mourning time, due to work reasons, some families have to shorten the mourning period and simplify some ritual activities. Moreover, with the popularization of modern education and the diversification of cultural concepts, the younger generation's cognition and understanding of traditional funeral customs have changed. Some young people hold a skeptical or disapproving attitude towards some religious and superstitious ritual elements in the funeral procession. They tend to simplify rituals and focus on emotional expression rather than the complete presentation of traditional rituals.
5 Conclusion
The funeral customs in the Xiuyan area of Liaoning Province have gone through a long historical process, evolving from simple forms in the early days to the more complex and distinctive ritual funerals today. The formation of traditional funeral rites was deeply influenced by the tradition of lavish burials in Chinese history. Although traditional complete ritual funeral ceremonies are rarely seen nowadays, their influence on funeral customs in Xiuyan area still exists.
A group of teenagers at a funeral in Northeast China before 1945