What is the custom of "cliff burial" in Ningwu area?

Folks generally believe that the soul is immortal after death. Death is nothing but the separation of the soul and the body. After death, the soul not only maintains close contact with the person, but can also be reincarnated. In this issue, the editor will take you to Shanxi culture to learn about the customs and habits of Shanxi funerals. The locals will tear off a piece and give it to their children to wear. It is said that it can prolong life. ?

Tear it home and paste it on a noodle vat to prevent bugs. In the old days, in some places, "taboo signs" were erected outside the gate, with men on the left and women on the right. Not only did they write down the dates of birth and death, and the date of the funeral, but they also listed the taboos. Except for the "cliff burial" custom in Ningwu, "burial in the earth" is common in all parts of Shanxi. That is, "tomb". Some graves are built in advance, and some are opened temporarily after death. ?

In the old days when opening a tomb, one would ask Mr. Yin and Yang to sit down and read the Feng Shui to determine the acupoints. Then sprinkle grains and use silver needles to open the character "ten" on the designated acupuncture points, which is called "kaitu" or "breaking earth". After "opening the soil", the tomb can be dug. Those who are buried together only need to open a new hole next to the old burial place. The deceased is like entering an ancestral grave, and his tomb is at the feet of his predecessors. In the old days, before a funeral, there was a ceremony of "nodding the person off" in various places in Shanxi, such as Qin County and Qi County. That is, ask someone to use a cinnabar pen to add a little bit to the word "王" originally written on the tablet, so that the word "王" becomes the word "lord". Commonly known as "Becoming a Lord", it means becoming a god. The person who points the order is called the "Dianzhu Guan", and a respected local celebrity, scholar or local governor should be invited to serve. This ceremony is generally limited to middle-aged and elderly people who died normally, and is not held for young people who died and those who died due to murder. After the memorial ceremony is held, the eldest son of the deceased kneels down and pays homage, that is, carrying the coffin.

The person who performs the ceremony is called the "officer of the ceremony," and a respected local celebrity, scholar, or local governor should be invited to serve. This ceremony is generally limited to middle-aged and elderly people who died normally, and is not held for young people who died and those who died due to murder. After the public memorial ceremony is held, the eldest son of the deceased kneels down and pays homage, carrying the big head of the coffin on his back, and with the help of everyone, moves the coffin out of the mourning shed, which is commonly known as "coming out of the spirit". Before the funeral, in Qixian County, central Shanxi, the sons of the deceased have to perform a ritual of "pressing the food pressure bowl". They put various dishes and food into a porcelain jar, and then took turns pressing it until it was full. Place a steamed bun on top to cover it, use a pair of chopsticks to pierce it vertically, and place some red vermicelli on top. This can of food, together with "Xiaqi Steamed Buns", "Changming Lantern", etc., will be buried with the coffin during the funeral.