Tag Archives: Chinese funeral traditions

Chinese Funeral Traditions Observed in Shanghai

A peek into the Chinese funeral customs of fire, joss paper and xi bo (as seen in Shanghai)

Our founder, Suzette, recently visited China and was able to bear witness to a Chinese funeral in Shanghai. China is known for their visually expressive rituals (especially with their Chinese New Year festivities) and their funerals are no different. Below … Continue reading

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“The Path: What Chinese Philosophers Can Teach Us About the Good Life” by Michael Puett

Michael Puett and Christine Gross-Loh apply ancient ideas to modern problems

When professor Michael Puett started teaching a course on classical Chinese philosophy at Harvard, few people expected his class to become one of the most popular courses on campus. Why did so many students flock to this seemingly dry topic? … Continue reading

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Rural China’s Erotic Funeral Dancers

How globalism and economics influenced Chinese funeral traditions

Hiring professional mourners is a common practice in many parts of the world, especially in rural China. Yet one mourning practice has inspired a country-wide crackdown. In recent years, some families in China have hired exotic dancers to perform at … Continue reading

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Qingming: A Chinese Death Tradition

Have Chinese traditions on death, family and the afterlife changed since the Tang dynasty?

Qingming, or Tomb Sweeping Day, occurs every spring in China. The sacred day has been a call to action for Chinese families since the Tang Dynasty, encouraging them to tend to their ancestors’ graves. Today, Qingming can be observed with … Continue reading

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The Revival of Chinese Funeral Customs

Professional mourners revive Chinese funeral customs with lively, ritual-based performances

The ancient funeral rituals of China have been experiencing a popularity renaissance. In what is described by NPR as a “final, dramatic and tearful farewell,” the revived funeral rituals combine music, food and drink with an emotional performance by a … Continue reading

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