What does it mean for a new tomb to remain untouched for three years?
The three-year ban on groundbreaking for a new tomb means that no renovation or modification of the tomb is allowed within the first three years after a person's death.
This custom is very common in funeral rituals in traditional Chinese culture. Its purpose is to let the deceased rest in peace and express respect and respect for the deceased. The origins, significance, and other customs and considerations associated with this custom are described in more detail below.
No groundbreaking will be allowed for the new tomb for three years. This means that in the first three years after the tomb is built, the soil is not allowed to be touched, nor is it allowed to move or add to the tomb. This is the biggest taboo. Because the tomb at this time contains a certain evil spirit, it is not suitable for groundbreaking.
Every year during the Qingming Festival, the deceased elderly people must visit their graves. This has been handed down since ancient times and is a way of worshiping the ancestors. But when visiting the graves, many people often sprinkle new soil on the graves, which means to build houses for their ancestors.
Filling with soil cannot be done in leap months of the lunar calendar. For example, this year 2020 is a leap month. If there are no major defects in the cemetery and large caves are not necessary, it is best not to fill with soil in leap months. If the cemetery must be filled with soil under these circumstances, be sure to ask someone who knows how to do it and remember to fill it blindly.
The origin and significance of not breaking ground on a new grave for three years
The custom of not breaking ground on a new grave for three years can be traced back to ancient times and is an important funeral ritual in traditional Chinese culture. According to the "Book of Rites", ancient people believed that the deceased in a new tomb needed a quiet and stable environment to rest in peace, so the tomb was not allowed to be renovated or altered within the first three years. In addition, ancient society also believed that a new tomb needs to be stabilized for a certain period of time before its location and direction can be determined, so major changes are not allowed within three years to avoid affecting feng shui and good or bad luck.
The significance of this custom is to express memory and respect for the deceased, as well as to express the grief and condolences of the living. Within three years of the new grave, the family members need to worship once a year to show their thoughts and respect for the deceased. In addition, customs such as not affixing Spring Festival couplets, not paying New Year greetings, and not wearing red or green on a new grave for three years are all to express respect and memory for the deceased, and to comply with funeral rituals in traditional culture.
The above content is for reference only.