An Analysis of Traditional Chinese and American Funeral Customs.doc

毕业论文(设计)B.A. Thesis An Analysis of Traditional Chinese and American Funeral Customs B.A. Candidate: Peng DonghuiAdvisor: Yang Yingchun Foreign Language DepartmentJiaying UniversityMay 25, 200820AcknowledgementsI would like to take this opportunity to express my heartfelt thanks to the teachers and friends who have offered me all kinds of help in accomplishing this thesis.A special acknowledgement should be shown to my supervisor, YangYingchun who gave me kind encouragement and useful instructions all through the writing. I am particularly indebted to another teacher, Tian Minggang who taught us how to do the reference last term. Finally, I wish to extend my thanks to the reference room of English Department where I found the important information, and the library assistant who helped to supply me with reference materials of great value.Abstract This thesis analyses the traditional funeral customs between China and America, focusing on the disparities and the similarities between them. Every culture, irrespective of their origin, has its own distinct set of customs, traditions and etiquettes, which is regarded as a distinguished feature of each culture. Yet at the same time, some common grounds are always found in two different cultures. It is true with Chinese and American culture. As part of a culture, the traditional funeral customs between China and America share some common characters while there are obvious disparities existing there. Due to different cultures, China and America may have different way of thinking which is embodied from respective customs, traditions and etiquettes. More specifically, the cultural backgrounds and individual judgment of conviction heavily influence the decision-making process of the funeral etiquettes of different countries. Funeral customs are cultural history themselves. No matter what kind of cultural origin it is from, funeral will be a must thing in peoples lives. For the important status of funeral, people in China and America all pay great respect to funeral; this is particularly reflected in the funeral customs. However, traditional Chinese and American funeral customs differ from each other by the following aspects: first, the arrangement and preparation in the funeral; second, the dressing colors; third, the connection of religious belief and funeral place. The traditional funeral customs are changing and keeping up with the culture life level, but they will not change the fundamental part that is based on tradition and that is suitable for native nation.Key Words: traditional funeral customs common character of cultures disparity of cultures religious impact摘 要本文分析了中美传统葬礼，集中讨论了两者之间的相同点和差异。由于起源的不同，每一种文化都有自己的传统风俗和礼仪；这些独特的传统风俗和礼仪使一种文化与其它文化相区别开来。与此同时，尽管文化起源不同，不同文化之间往往也可以发现一些共同特征。中美文化是两种有很大差异的文化，然而在中美文化中却依然可以找到两者的一些共同之处；这在两国传统葬礼方面表现得比较突出。由于文化的不同，中美两国在思维方式上有一定的差异，这些差异可以在两国不同的传统和礼仪中体现出来。更确切地说，两国不同的文化背景和对思维方式在很大程度上影响了各自的传统葬礼礼仪。然而中美传统葬礼却有着共同之处。无论是哪种文化，葬礼在人们的生命中都具有重要的地位，因此不同国家的人们都对葬礼怀着深深的敬意。总的来说，中美传统葬礼还是有很大差异，特别是在以下三个方面：一，葬礼前的准备与安排；二，出席葬礼时穿的颜色；三，宗教信仰和葬礼地点之间的联系。中美葬礼礼仪随着时代变化，但是不会改变适合本民族，基于传统的核心部分。关键词: 传统葬礼 文化共性 文化差异性 宗教影响ContentsAcknowledgements.iAbstract (English).iiAbstract (Chinese). iv1. Introduction.12. The traditional funeral customs of China and America.22.1 The traditional funeral customs in China.2 2.2 The traditional funeral customs in America.43. Similarities of traditional Chinese and American funeral customs. .63.1 The respect and prayer for the departed saint.63.2 The involvement of family and community.83.3 Drive away evil spirits.94. Differences of traditional Chinese and American funeral customs.104.1 The arragement and preparation.114.2 The dressing colors.124.3 The funeral place and religious belief135. Culture differences on China and American funerals.155.1 Differences in religious culture.165.2 Differences in ethics culture.175.3 Differences in color culture186. Conclusion18References.20An Analysis of Traditional Chinese and American Funeral Customs1. IntroductionEvery culture, irrespective of their origin, has its own distinct set of customs, traditions and etiquettes, which is regarded as a distinguished feature of each culture. Yet at the same time, some common grounds are always found in two different cultures. It is true with Chinese culture and American culture. As part of a culture, the traditional funeral customs between China and America share some common characters while there are obvious disparities existing there. A funeral is a ceremony marking a persons death. Funerary customs comprise the complex of beliefs and practices used by a culture to remember the dead, from the funeral itself, to various monuments, prayers, and rituals undertaken in their honor. These customs vary widely between cultures, and between religious affiliations within cultures. The word funeral comes from the Latin funus, which has a variety of meanings, including the corpse and the funerary rites themselves (Net. 1).The origin of funeral came into being along with the advancement of history and the development of society. After the long development of history, funeral then has become a kind of special social phenomenon which has profound traditional connotation. This paper offers a general review of Chinese and American funeral, prominently emphasizes that social and cultural factors played vital roles in the evolution of Chinese and American funeral. Therefore, as a carrier of culture, funeral can serve as living fossils for the study of society, culture and history, in the meantime they can enhance cross-cultural awareness and improve communication and mutual understanding.This thesis analyses the traditional funeral customs between China and America. Many of the practical funeral etiquettes are exemplified in order to illustrate the similarities and the differences of the traditional Chinese and American funeral customs. Based on historical and cultural background, the thesis exposes the different ways of thinking between China and America. 2. The traditional funeral customs of China and America In both China and America, the traditional funeral is usually divided into three parts. The first part is the wake before the funeral ceremony; the second part is the burial ceremony; and the last part is the mourning after the burial ceremony. According to the complexity of the funeral rituals and the seriousness that people dedicate to the funeral, it can be seen that in both countries people have great respects for the funeral.2.1 The traditional funeral customs in ChinaChinese funeral was systemized into custom in the Warring States period (402-221 B.C.). Due to the vast expanse and long history, there are different customs to follow in different places, although they are generally the same. Traditional funeral can still be seen in the countryside.When a death occurs in a family all statues of deities in the house are covered up with red paper (not to be exposed to the body or coffin) and all mirrors are removed (it is believed that one who sees the reflection of a coffin in a mirror will shortly have a death in his/her family). A white cloth is hung over the doorway to the house and a gong is placed to the left of the entrance if the deceased is a male, and to the right if female (Net.2).Since cremation is traditionally uncommon, the burial of the dead is a matter taken very seriously in Chinese society. Improper funeral arrangements can wreak ill fortune and disaster on the family of the deceased. To a certain degree, Chinese funeral rites and burial customs are determined by the age of the deceased, cause of death, status and position in society, and marital status. According to Chinese custom, an elder should never show respect to someone younger. So, if the deceased is a young bachelor, for example, his body cannot be brought home and must remain at the funeral parlor. His parents cannot offer prayers to their son, either. Since he was unmarried, he did not have any children to whom he could perform these same rites. (This is why the body cannot come into the family home.) If an infant or child dies, no funeral rites are performed either since respect cannot be shown to a younger person. The child is thus buried in silence.There are two main traditions that are observed: (1) The funeral ceremony traditionally lasts over 49 days, the first seven days being the most important( Wu Bingan, 1999: 277). Prayers are said every seven days for 49 days if the family can afford it. If the family is in poor circumstances, the period may be shortened to from 3 to 7 days. Usually, it is the responsibility of the sons and daughters to bear the funeral expenses. The head of the family should be present for, at least the first and, possibly the second, prayer ceremony. The number of ceremonies conducted is dependent on the financial situation of the family. The head of the family should also be present for the burial or the cremation. (2) In the second tradition, the prayer ceremony is held every 10 days. The initial ceremony and three succeeding periods of ten days until the final burial or cremation. After 100 days a final prayer ceremony is conducted, but such a ceremony is optional and not as important as the initial ceremonies.In the Mahayana tradition of Buddhism, to which most Chinese Buddhists belong, it is believed that between death and rebirth there is an intermediate period called Antarabhava in Sanskrit or Bardo in Tibetan. It is an important period that influences the form that the rebirth will take. If the family ensures that proper assistance in the form of prayer and remembrance ceremonies are duly performed, the departed will be more equipped for a favorable rebirth.2.2 The traditional funeral customs in AmericaAlmost every culture has rituals to signal a change in ones life. When someone dies in America, a funeral service is held. Although cremations are permitted and do occur with greater frequency nowadays, the usual method of disposing the dead has traditionally been burial.After death the body is taken to a mortician who embalms it. This is a process by which blood is drained from the corpse and is replaced with embalming fluids. Modern embalming grew from 17th century attempts to preserve anatomical specimens. Formaldehyde infused to replace the blood is the most common embalming agent. The body is cleaned and shrouded with a suit if it is a man and with a gown if it is a woman. Then the face is cosmetically altered to give the appearance of being asleep rather than dead. Color is added to the cheeks and lips as if to recall the days when the dead person was up and about and enjoying life.The body is then brought to a funeral parlor where several other bodies may be waked. The body is placed on display for about two or three days. This is known as a wake. Friends, relatives and associates of the deceased attend the wake in order to comfort the family. The reason for such a lengthy wake is to enable enough time for family who may travel long distances to attend.The room where the wake is being held is at a church. The casket is usually opened and a bench is placed before it so that visitors may kneel and say a prayer while viewing the body. The fragrance of carnations, roses and other strongly scented flowers fills the room to overcome the odor of death. The flowers are usually sent from friends who might not have been able to attend the wake. At times the family may specifically request that no flowers be sent but that a donation is made to a specific charity in the deceaseds name.It is customary at the wake to bestow condolences on the family who has suffered the loss of a beloved member. At church, the family members are asked to be seated in the designated front rows, so they may receive condolences from friends. The widow or widower and the immediate children receive the first priority. It is polite to recall some good quality or memory of the person and not to stay too long. Those in mourning need time to be alone. There was a time when the waking hours for visitors was quite long and the family was left with little time to grieve, but in recent years the hours of public viewing have been reduced and the intimate family has more time to bind themselves to each other at this moment of loss.After the wake, a religious or memorial service is held and then the body is brought to a cemetery where it is buried and laid to rest. At the cemetery a final blessing and prayer is recited at the gravesite before the casket is laid into the ground. For some who are close to the deceased, this may be a deeply traumatic experience. In recent years, to lessen the pain of loss, the final prayer may be given at a chapel in the cemetery away from the actual gravesite. 3. Similarities of traditional Chinese and American funeral customs All of the traditional forms of behavior described above in some way or another support the institution of funeral by prescribing appropriate conduct for the departed saint. While these rules may vary from culture to culture, there are surprising similarities among the funeral traditions of different groups. These traditions of different groups have persisted over long periods of time and many have even survived, remarkably intact, and are transplanted as a social institution with deep symbolic meaning attached to them. 3.1 The respect and prayer for the departed saint Funeral customs are reflection of cultural history themselves (Net.3). No matter what kind of cultural origin it is from, funeral will be a must thing in peoples lives. For the important status of funeral, people show great respect for the departed saint, this is particularly reflected in the funeral customs. For instance, Chinese culture and American culture differ from each other in a great amount of aspects. However, through the traditional funeral customs, it can be seen that people in respective country take funeral as a significant case and pay tremendous attention to the process of a funeral. In both countries, after someone dies, the deceased has been clothed and treated with cosmetics for display. People also put the things which the departed saints loved by their sides, so that they can still enjoy them in the afterlife. In China, paper models such objects as money, cars, statues, ships, etc., are burned, it is believed these will bestow blessings to the departed saints while in America flowers are given to the dead people which also has the same meaning. Funeral is a sad occasion, cry is inevasible. It is Chinese customary for blood relatives and daughters-in-law to wail and cry during mourning as a sigh of respect and loyalty to the deceased. In America, people miss and show respect to the departed saint by crying in front of them. As for the prayer, Chinese people rely upon monks to chant the sutras which will benefit the deceased, and there is a prayer ceremony which is held every 10 days, if the family ensures that proper assistance in the form of prayer and remembrance ceremonies are more equipped for a favorable rebirth. In America, Sentences of Scripture may be read, or a hymn sung, each one say a personal prayer for the deceased, and then the priest announces the funeral is over, several members of the group come forward and speak about their personal experiences with the deceased.3.2 The involvement of family and communitySpeaking of funeral, the first thing appears on our mind is that they are crowds of people, including families, relatives, friends showing their respect in the funeral ceremony for the deceased. In addition, referring to the preparation for the funeral ceremony, there are still much human resource needed for preparing all kinds of necessities for the funeral. Overall, there are families and communities involved in the funeral, which is true with traditional Chinese funeral and American funeral. Despite the individualist trend in modern American funeral, the importance of family and community is still strongly evident. The calls of condolence should be made as soon as possible after hearing of the death. If the friends are very close, you will probably be admitted to speak to them. If you are, you should offer your service to help in any way you can. If they do not need anything, you offer your sympathy and leave without delay (Wu Fei, 2003: 454). The intense involvement of family and friends in Italian American funerals persisted in the town of Roseto, Pennsylvania where in the 1970s there were still huge funeral receptions at which three to four hundred guests participated. In China, at the moment of death, the relatives may set up a wailing both to express sorrow and to notify the neighbors who will then come to be of help. The neighbors gather daily and nightly to cook, feast, visit, and attend the services. It is believed that blessings from the deceased are bestowed upon the pallbearer, so there are usually many volunteers. In both countries, there will be donation box since money is offered as a