ARTICLES
The Origin of DingKouQian (known as KouHan in the olden days) | “掟口钱”的由来 （古时代称为口含）
What is DingKouQian? Why do you want to put DingKouQian? Is this a Taoism practice?This does not originate from Taoism. DingKouQian or KouHan is one of the ancient customs of [...]
“Shou Wei Qian” | 手尾钱
“Shou Wei Qian” is the money held in the hands of the deceased. It symbolizes the last wealth left by the deceased for the family members. This has been a [...]
Scattered Coins | 散花钱的意思和用途
Flowers and coins are two necessities in the scattered flower rituals. The coins will be placed together with the flowers on the tray during the prayers. After the chanting, [...]
Scattered Flowers | 散花
In the past, many Cantonese speaking elderly would stay behind at the funeral wake to wait for Taoist priest to perform the last ritual – Scattered Flowers. In this [...]
Sea Burial | 海葬
Chinese funeral customs in the 1950s and 1960s, family members usually chose to perform cremation or burial ceremonies for the dead. Believers usually choose the burial ceremony because the [...]
To honour a promise to God on behalf of the deceased | 替往生者还愿
In life, when we make a promise to somebody, we have to honour our promises no matter what or how. Only when a promise is honour then we can [...]
Shift-in Ceremony in the netherworld | 阴宅入伙
In the Cantonese Taoist Dazhai customary rituals, there are also shift-in rituals for the deceased to enter into their house in the netherworld. Believers believe that [...]
Giving instruction to the “helper” | 吩咐妹娣 – 俗称吩咐工人
Giving instruction to the “helper” or “worker” is part of the Cantonese “Da Zhai” ritual. The Taoist priest will do chanting and blessing to the paper artefact “helper” followed [...]
Buying water or to ask for water | 担幡买水 或 担幡请水
Buying water or asking for water is one of the rituals at the Chinese funeral, and is responsible by the deceased’s eldest son or grandson. In Cantonese funeral customs, [...]