What is the entire funeral process in China?

The main colors of traditional Chinese funerals are white and yellow, so they are also called white events, as opposed to red events (happy events). Depending on the deceased's beliefs and financial situation, the whole process is often accompanied by relevant Buddhist, Taoist or Feng Shui rituals. The main processes are: Small coffin: the body is cleaned and plastic surgery is performed, and the body is put on a shroud. This step should be done as early as possible, sometimes even before breathing out. Because after a few hours, due to the death of muscle cells, a stiffness of the limbs called rigor mortis will occur, which affects wearing a shroud. The shroud cannot be made of leather because tradition believes that the deceased will be reincarnated as an animal. Funeral notification: formally informing relatives and friends near and far about the time and circumstances of death and funeral arrangements. There are often strict situation and sequence regulations. Funeral: Relatives and friends come from other places to attend the funeral, bringing gifts, gifts, elegiac couplets, wreaths, etc. Pause: Also known as temporary residence, the corpse is parked in the mourning hall for a few days, waiting for relatives and friends who come to mourn; it also helps to confirm death rather than coma and suspended animation. The mourning hall can be a room at home, a temporary mourning shed, or a dedicated room in a funeral parlor. The mourning hall contains mourning banners, portraits of the deceased, food (offerings), incense, candles, paper money, etc. for the deceased. In addition, when the deceased cannot be formally buried for the time being, the coffin is stored in a temple or other place to wait for future burial, which can also be called coffin burial. Wake: During the period of mourning, relatives and friends who are already present, especially the deceased’s juniors, take turns guarding the deceased in the mourning hall and accept the condolences of the mourners. During the entire funeral, the deceased's close relatives (called filial sons/daughters) wear white burlap clothes or gowns without seams, tied with straw ropes or hemp ropes around their waists, and wear straw sandals on their feet, which are called filial piety clothes. Big coffin: In the presence of family members, the deceased is moved into a coffin covered with mattresses, covered with a quilt, and nails are nailed to seal the coffin. Wealthy families may have two layers: an inner coffin and an outer coffin for burial objects. Funeral and burial: Take the coffin to the cemetery for burial. The beginning of the funeral is marked by the dutiful son breaking an earthen basin, which is called "breaking the basin". Led by the filial son holding a "soul-inducing flag", a band played and played, and paper money was distributed along the way to the cemetery. The burial ceremony was assisted by a Feng Shui master. Burning Seven: After the burial, relatives and friends visit the cemetery every seven days and burn paper money, seven times a day for forty-nine days. There are also similar activities such as soul calling and paper money burning, which are called "doing seven". The ceremony on the forty-ninth day is called "Broken Seven" and is the end of the formal funeral part. Observing filial piety: According to Confucian tradition, a filial son should guard the tombs of his parents for three years. During this period, he should avoid entertainment, drinking and eating meat, and sexual intercourse between husband and wife. Tablet: Family members use incense and candles as offerings to worship the tablet with the name of the deceased. Tomb Sweeping: Relatives and friends repair and clean the cemetery during the Qingming Festival.