End-of-Life vigil

When an elderly person is critically ill, children should return home immediately to keep vigil. As the elder approaches death, younger family members are expected to kneel in mourning, remove the mosquito net, and assist the elder in their final moments. At the time of passing, it is customary to burn “spirit money” (joss paper) and set off firecrackers to guide the departed soul to the afterlife.

Washing and preparing the body

After death, family members wash the body, a practice known as “body bathing”. During this process, only the forehead, chest, back, palms, and soles are gently wiped. Following the wash, the hair is combed, clothing is put on, and the body is placed on a “willow bed” in the main room for further preparation. Before sealing the coffin, a layer of lime is placed inside, covered with a white cloth, and sprinkled with realgar. The body is then placed in the coffin. Any gaps are filled with burial items before the coffin is partially closed, remaining open until the funeral service.

Mourning period

The body is typically kept in the home for three days, although in some rural areas, it may remain for up to half a month while waiting for an auspicious day for the funeral. During this time, mourners keep vigil by the body, avoiding meat, refraining from bathing, and sleeping only on the ground beside the deceased, a practice known as “keeping vigil”.

Rituals for the departed

During the mourning period, it is common to invite a Taoist priest to perform rituals, known as "opening the road," to facilitate the deceased's journey to the afterlife. Flags are placed outside the home, and mourners wear mourning clothes and straw sandals. Prayers and chants are recited to seek forgiveness for certain sins, while artistic performances with drums and mourning songs accompany these rituals. Only after the completion of all ceremonies can the funeral proceed.

Funeral procession

The ceremony begins with a Taoist priest leading the procession. After the rites, the priest scatters tea leaves over the coffin and taps it with a ceremonial wooden stick inscribed with symbols. At this moment, the pallbearers shout and carry the coffin out, proceeding slowly to the burial site, accompanied by friends and family who hold floral wreaths and banners, with the sounds of firecrackers and traditional music filling the air.

Burial

Once a person passes away, a geomancer is consulted to choose a suitable burial site, followed by digging the grave. Upon arrival at the burial site, children of the deceased pay respects at the grave. Rice or lime is sprinkled in the grave, and firecrackers are set off, a practice known as "padding the grave." The coffin is then lowered into the grave, adjusted for proper orientation, and the children shovel three scoops of earth into the grave while others assist in filling it. Three days later, the children return to the new grave to add earth and perform rituals, a practice known as "restoring the mound." After the rituals, mourners use an umbrella, carry the deceased's clothing on their backs, and collect a handful of soil from the grave to take home, believing this will allow the deceased to become a "household spirit”.

Mourning songs

Also known as "drum songs," these are popular throughout the region during times of mourning. It is customary to perform "drum songs" that last throughout the night, typically featuring local middle-aged and elderly singers. The bereaved family requests the performance in the evening, signaling with firecrackers to "invite the singers." The singers depart at dawn, again marked by firecrackers to "send off the singers," continuing for two nights. They usually sing "Bai Na Jing" and similar tunes, accompanied by gongs and drums, with soloists and a chorus creating a rhythmic and emotional performance. The lyrics often reflect the life and character of the deceased, composed and sung with deep sorrow, resonating with a tone that is both mournful and poignant.