When it comes to death, most of us are not quite ready to deal with the fact that it might be coming sooner rather than later. So instead of consigning ourselves to a world that is increasingly becoming too surreal for our liking, we opt for a little escapism by spending as much time as possible with our loved ones. The cost of a Chinese funeral can run into the tens of thousands of dollars depending on its scale and location. That being said, knowing how much you need to spend can help you make better decisions about other things in life. Chinese funerals are often referred to as kaidan, which means “a journey” in Chinese. This is because typical Chinese funeral services usually involves several different elements including transportation for the family and friends, food for everyone, visits from local temples or shrines, entertainment such as live music or folk dancing performances and finally a proper burial site and grave marker at the end of the day. The following article will give you an overview of what a Chinese funeral entails so that you can plan accordingly based on your financial situation and personal preferences.
Planning for a Chinese Funeral: A Guide for the Recently Deceased
The first step to planning a Chinese funeral is determining what type of ceremony you would like. There are three major types of funerals that can be performed: the simple, the general and the grand. The simple and general funerals usually have fewer elements but they often still include food and entertainment. Grand funerals on the other hand will have more elaborate ceremonies with more people present, more food, more flowers and generally more expensive prices. Another factor for consideration is how close your family or friends live to where you want to be buried. If this is an issue for you then you may choose to either pay for a transport or arrange an additional ceremony before your burial or cremation if possible. In addition to this, if you are looking for a specific tombstone design, then ensure that it is made and delivered before the funeral so that any last-minute changes can be accommodated if needed.
The Day of the Chinese Funeral
Most traditional Chinese funerals are held on a weekday and usually start at 9 a.m. This gives the family and friends enough time to prepare for the event, get themselves together and travel to the funeral location. The day of the funeral will likely end around 5 or 6 p.m., with food being served at around 8-9 p.m. The day of the funeral is divided into two parts: morning and evening, which is when guests arrive and then leave respectively. The morning portion includes visits from local temples or shrines and folk dances, which may be performed by members of the deceased’s family or friends to honor them before they depart for the afterlife.
The Shimen Ni (道日) or Grave Ceremony
The most important and expensive part of a Chinese funeral is the Shimen Ni (道日). This ceremony can cost anywhere from $1,000 to $10,000 depending on its scale. It typically lasts for three days and participants will participate in various activities that are related to death such as eating strange-tasting food, watching performances, listening to music and taking part in various rites. These rites include the sprinkling of rice grain in front of the family members who have passed away or paying respects at temples or shrines. In addition to this cost there are other expenses such as transportation, food and some entertainment. For example, if you opt for a private burial with a coffin then your funeral costs could be up to $25,000. If you want to take part in the ShomenNi then it will cost between $5,000-$10,000. If it’s a large-scale funeral then these costs can quickly add up.
The Siyuan (死陰) or Death’s Breath Ceremony
Most Chinese funerals are performed to meet the needs of the deceased and their family. In return, the living hope for a better afterlife for their dead loved one. The first thing that happens is the siyuan or death’s breath ceremony, which is a Buddhist ceremony honoring death. This ceremony can take place anywhere from two hours to four hours after death. It features various rites and rituals that give the deceased peace and offer both comfort and farewell to them before they pass on. During this time, monks recite prayers of salvation while relatives pay their respects to the deceased person as they prepare themselves for the next life that awaits them. They also set up an altar or platform where offerings such as flowers, food and paper money are usually placed on behalf of friends and family members who wish to pay respect or make offerings in addition to other items like incense sticks or candles lit by friends at home. These items are burned before being placed beside the body in order to release all their negative energy into smoke before it is discarded into water with a prayer that they will not be able to reap any more benefits from this world in addition to offering protection from evil spirits during their journey ahead of them. After this period, a coffin is used since cremation is illegal in China until 2006 when it was legalized for foreigners but forbidden for Chinese citizens due to cultural taboos about burning human remains inside homes. As such, a coffin is presented by local funeral service providers located near the
The Laid to Rest or Awaiting Burial Service
The average cost of a Chinese funeral could be as high as $30,000 or even more depending on the scale of the funeral. A traditional Chinese funeral for someone who has passed away in their 50s would cost about $14,000. The first part of the ceremony is called a laid to rest service, which includes cremation and burial according to your wishes. This service can also include an auspicious or inauspicious send off that depends on your preference. You can also choose to have these services done by a family member without creating a whole funeral service. For example, if you want to avoid spending money on transportation and food for your friends and family members but still want them to come, you could have that done at home instead. The last part of the ceremony is called an awaiting burial service, which allows people to pay respects to the deceased before they are put in their final resting place.
Conclusion
For many Chinese, it’s an unfortunate reality they will have to face at some point in their lifetime. The cost of a Chinese funeral, however, is not something that should be taken lightly. In order to make the most of your money, you should plan ahead and consider what your life will be like after death.