Chinese (Taoism) Funeral Services versus Buddhist Funeral Services

These days, Chinese funeral services are still surrounded with superstitious practices. The list is endless, and a Chinese funeral service can sound like an illogical, funny and absurd performance. For example:
 

• Those who see the reflection of the coffin in the mirror will shortly have a death in the family
• Statues and deities in the house facing the dead body is covered with red paper
• Corpse dressed in red color will turn into ghost
• Departed loved ones have to weep, wail and cry to display an act of gratitude, loyalty and respect towards the deceased
• Cries must be loud if the deceased has left a large fortune
• Basin or towel for washing the deceased's face in the morning
• Rice and chopsticks placed near the coffin
• Joss-stick urn and candles placed in front of the coffin
• Put mosquito netting over the coffin
• Decorative lighting over and around the coffin
• Yellow and white ‘holy’ paper is pasted on the coffin to prevent it from malignant spirits
• Coffin is nailed shut with the wailing of the mourners reaching a crescendo to signifies the separation of the dead from the living
• Ceremony to call the souls of the deceased parents and elder relatives to join the feast with food laid out on the offering table
• Mourners cross the ‘bridge’ by crawling in circles
• Breaking down the door of the city with four gates
• Turning one’s back towards the deceased when the casket is lowered, sealed or taken into the hearse, crematorium or grave
• The eldest son and family members follow behind with their heads touching the hearse
• Burning tons of papers (hell money) and property in bonfire to the deceased
• After funeral, all clothes worn by the mourners are burnt to avoid bad luck associated with death
• Children and grandchildren must not cut their hair after 49 days of the funeral
• Family members wear a piece of colored cloth on the sleeves for the next 100 days after the funeral to signify mourning
• 7 days after the death of a family member, the soul of the departed will return home. A red plaque with suitable inscription is placed outside the house to ensure the soul does not get lost

Chinese funeral services practices is born out of a mix of Taoism, Confucianism, and Buddhism beliefs. In short, the local Malaysian Chinese funeral customs and traditions are considered passive, confusing and purely based on blind faith. This is coupled with undertaker’s exploitation of customer’s fear and ignorance towards the differences of Buddhist funeral and Chinese funeral.

Buddhism generally doesn’t have anything against local Chinese customs and traditions if they do not violate precepts of killing, stealing, lying and the encouragement of intoxication. So, what is a proper Buddhist funeral? A Buddhist funeral can be summarised in 5 ‘CHEAP’ points:
 

• Cost-effective – eg. you pay for what is deemed practical for the deceased than paying for the unnecessary funeral ceremonies and meaningless rites and rituals

• Hygienic - eg. there is no heavy burning of papers (hell money) to pollute the environment

• Easy – eg. there is no need to dress the deceased in special clothings (‘shou yi’ in Chinese) or to adorn the dead body with jewellery

• Affordable – eg. a simple funeral and funeral preplan is encouraged to save money

• Practical – eg. give donations and do other meritorous deeds in the name of the deceased and share merits with the deceased