Continuing from the previous discussion, in this instalment, we will be sharing the common practices and taboos of the “Nail Sealing Ceremony” in modern day funerals.

  1. Sequence of the “Nail Sealing Ceremony”

The “Nail Sealing Personnel” will perform the ceremony under the guidance of a religious personnel or a funeral emcee. In ancient times, coffin nails were hammered to seal the coffin using a hammer, while in modern times, an axe is often used for symbolic gestures. Each nail is accompanied by auspicious words, bringing good fortune and blessings to the bereaved family.

Sequence of “Five Nails Sealing Ceremony”

[For Usual Funerals]:

For Male Deceased:

  1. Left shoulder of the coffin ~
  2. Right shoulder of the coffin ~
  3. Left foot of the coffin ~
  4. Right foot of the coffin ~
  5. Center-top of the coffin [Descendant’s Nail]

For Female Deceased:

  1. Right shoulder of the coffin ~
  2. Left shoulder of the coffin ~
  3. Right foot of the coffin ~
  4. Left foot of the coffin ~
  5. Center-top of the coffin [Descendant’s Nail]

The first four nails are symbolic gestures, only the fifth nail (Descendant’s Nail) is hammered into the center-top part of the coffin. The son or eldest grandson will then bite the nail and place it on top of the incense burner. The entire process forms the shape of the chinese character “出” (chū), representing the departure of the deceased.

*Here comes a point to ponder: Since the “Descendant’s Nail” represents the continuation of the family line, traditionally, it should be bitten by the representative figure, which is the eldest grandson. However, in modern society, where the number of family members are scarce, it is not uncommon to see instances where a son or a granddaughter bites the nail. Whether this practice aligns with etiquette and propriety is open to respectful consideration.

Due to the influence of filial piety culture, ancient societies deeply rooted the concepts of “heritage” and “welcoming the new while bidding farewell to the old”. Behaviors that go against filial piety are condemned by social morality. In the context of funerals, not having descendants is regarded as the greatest form of impiety, and the phenomenon of “the elderly sending off the younger generation” is considered a mourning tradition.

Sequence of “Four Nails Sealing Ceremony”

[For situation where the elderly send-off deceased of a younger generation]:

For Male Deceased:

  1. Left shoulder of the coffin ~
  2. Right foot of the coffin ~
  3. Right shoulder of the coffin ~
  4. Left foot of the coffin ~

For Female Deceased:

  1. Right shoulder of the coffin ~
  2. Left foot of the coffin ~
  3. Left shoulder of the coffin ~
  4. Right foot of the coffin ~

The entire process forms the shape of the letter “X”, symbolising non-departure, representing an abnormal funeral that deviates from the norm. Since it involves the phenomenon of “no descendants” or “mourning traditions”, the “Descendant’s Nail” is not involved, and thus, only four nails are used to seal the coffin.

The methods and forms of nail sealing are diverse and varied. For example, in some regions, they adhere to the practice of “Not exceeding the head for men (dignity), not exceeding the feet for women (nurture life / fertility)” or “Deceased is of utmost importance, not exceeding the head for both genders”. There are also practices such as the “Nail Sealing Circumambulation”, where the procession follows a circular path. The specific path may vary according to local customs, but the positions for nailing remain unchanged.

  1. Taboos of the “Nail Sealing Ceremony”

In traditional folk beliefs, any ritual phase that involves moving the deceased or disturbing the spirits of the deceased generates negative energy or inauspicious influence. The act of nailing involves striking the coffin of the deceased and hence, it falls within this category. Generally, during the phase of negative energy, it is considered auspicious for pregnant women to avoid such situations. Therefore, it is customary to request pregnant women to abstain from participating in the “Nail Sealing Ceremony”.

In modern days, we no longer rigidly adhere to traditional customs, and traditional etiquette has gradually been simplified. The beauty and symbolism of rituals stem from the implicit expressions of life and death in traditional Chinese culture. The essence of this evolution within the ceremony is believed to be an essential professional quality for every ceremonial practitioner.

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介绍传统丧礼仪式“封钉仪式” (下)

接续上一期对”封钉仪式”的介绍, 这期我们要来分享现代丧礼”封钉仪式”的普遍做法和禁忌。

  1. “封钉仪式”的流程

“封钉者”会在宗教人员或司仪的引导下进行”封钉”。古代使用榔头敲击棺材钉来封棺, 现代多使用斧头敲钉比划, 並且每敲一钉时都会配合吉祥话, 为丧家趋吉避凶招福分。

正常”寿终出殡”的”五点钉”封钉顺序:

亡者男

  1. 灵柩左肩～ 2. 灵柩右肩～
  2. 灵柩左脚～ 4. 灵柩右脚～ 5. 灵柩正上 [子孙钉]

亡者女

  1. 灵柩右肩～ 2. 灵柩左肩～
  2. 灵柩右脚～ 4. 灵柩左脚～ 5. 灵柩正上 [子孙钉]

一般前四钉只是比划, 而第五钉则会将「子孙钉」敲入棺木的上方, 再由儿子或长孙用嘴巴咬起「子孙钉」后放入香炉之中。整个流程正好形成一个”出”字, 代表”寿终出殡”。

*在这里有个重点可以思考, 既称「子孙钉」则理应由象徵子孙绵延的代表人物 (长孙) 来进行咬钉。但是现今社会, 家庭成员稀少, 坊间许多丧礼会出现孝子咬钉、长孙女咬钉等现象。此举是否符合礼义, 则可以相互尊重酌情思考。

由于孝道文化的影响, 古代对于”传承”与”送旧迎新”的思想根深蒂固。不孝的行为会受到社会道德的谴责。不孝行为体现在丧礼上则为「不孝有三, 无后为大」的「无后」和「白发人送黑发人」的「丧中」现象。

非正常”寿终出殡”的”四点钉”封钉顺序:

[白发人送黑发人]

亡者男

  1. 灵柩左肩～ 2. 灵柩右脚～
  2. 灵柩右肩～ 4. 灵柩左脚～

亡者女

  1. 灵柩右肩～ 2. 灵柩左脚～
  2. 灵柩左肩～ 4. 灵柩右脚～

整个流程正好形成一个”X”字, 代表不出, 象征非正常寿终的出殡。也由于是「无后」或是「丧中」现象, 按理来说也就不会有「子孙钉」的出现, 因此只有四钉封棺。

封钉的作法与形式是丰富且多样的。比如, 有些地方会遵循「男不过头 (尊严), 女不过脚 (生命孕育)」、「死者为大, 男女皆不过头」、「封钉绕团圆」等等的”五点钉”绕行方式。绕行方式可遵照各地风俗而异，但点钉的位置则是不变的。

  1. “封钉仪式”的禁忌

传统民间思想中, 任何移动逝者或惊扰亡者的仪式阶段都会有”煞气”的产生。”封钉”的动作在于敲打逝者的棺木, 所以也包含在內。一般來说, 冲煞阶段, 有孕之人回避为吉, 所以在进行“封钉仪式”的时候, 都会要求孕妇回避。

如今我们不再死守传统习俗, 传统礼仪逐步简化。礼义的美丽和寓意性皆源于传统华人对于生死的含蓄表达, 而这份演化在仪式中的精髓, 相信是每位礼仪人员所应具备的专业素养。

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