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person's house, overnight, for her spirit to return. In death, mother is able to influence things by her spiritual clout. This vigil was preceded by a family visit, at 4.00 pm, to the Buddhist Hall. After crossing the Harbour back to the dead woman's home, formalities were performed. The table was set with her favourite food and cigarettes. She would invite demons to this meal. Western candles and incense sticks were lit in the passage. A pair of scissors, again signifying lei hei (##), meaning 'weapon', and also ‘gain, interest or profit', was placed on the floor near the door to prevent unwanted spirits entering. Yellow papers with symbols on were lit and, while in flames, circles were made with them around all persons present to ward off evil. Copies of the Buddhist prayer, mentioned earlier, had to be removed from the flat. It is powerful and could keep the dead person's spirit away. This was expected to return between 3.00 and 5.00 am with two companions, one with a cow's head and the other with a horse's face. They could cause trouble.
All mourners dozed off in the early hours although one dreamed of the deceased. Second daughter remarked the following morning, ‘If even it didn't happen, it is better to believe it happened and the mother visited us." That was the attitude throughout the mourning period. This family wanted to do the correct thing and gave the impression of believing, totally, in what it was doing.
An old colleague of the author recounts how an artist relative of his, who specialised in painting bamboo, died. While awaiting the return of his spirit, family members spread a dusting of incense ash on part of the floor. When they awoke the following morning, the old colleague alleges, there were marks in the dust depicting bamboo.
Other Funeral Services
Tradition has it that it is possible, with rituals, to help the departed spirit by holding up to seven further services, one every seven days, for 49 days. These assist a soul with its tribulations through the '10 courts of the underworld'. But with present customs, and to reduce expense, usually not all seven are celebrated. The important ones are 21, 35 and 49 days after demise. For Chinese Catholics, masses can be said once a week to replace them.
In this study, the second tsat (meaning seventh) was celebrated, but the eldest daughter and her husband did not attend. It was close to his
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person's house, overnight, for her spirit to return. In death, mother is able to influence things by her spiritual clout. This vigil was preceeded by a family visit, at 4.00 pm, to the Buddhist Hall. After crossing the Harbour back to the dead woman's home formalities were performed. The table was set with her favourite food and cigarettes. She would invite demons to this meal. Western candles and incense sticks were lit in the passage. a pair of scissors, again signifying lei hei (##), meaning 'weapon', and also ‘gain, interest or profit', was placed on the floor near the door to prevent unwanted spirits entering. Yellow papers with symbols on were lit and, while in flames, circles were made with them around all persons present to ward off evil. Copies of the Buddhist prayer, mentioned earlier, had to be removed from the flat. It is powerful and could keep the dead person's spirit away. This was expected to return between 3.00 and 5.00 am with two companions, one with a cow's head and the other with a horse's face. They could cause trouble.
All mourners dozed off in the early hours although one dreamed of the deceased. Second daughter remarked the following morning, ‘If even it didn't it is better to believe it happened and the mother visited us." That was the attitude throughout the mourning period. This family wanted to do the correct thing and gave the impression of believing, totally, in what it was doing.
An old colleague of the author recounts how an artist relative of his, who specialised in painting bamboo, died. While awaiting the return of his spirit family members spread a dusting of incense ash on part of the floor. When they awoke the following morning, the old colleague alleges, there were marks in the dust depicting bamboo.
Other Funeral Services
Tradition has it that it is possible, with rituals, to help the departed spirit by holding up to seven further services, one every seven days, for 49 days. These assist a soul with its tribulations through the '10 courts of the underworld'. But with present customs, and to reduce expense, usually not all seven are celebrated. The important ones are 21, 35 and 49 days afer demise. For Chinese Catholics, masses can be said once a week to replace them.
In this study the second tsat (meaning seventh) was celebrated, but the eldest daughter and her husband did not attend. It was close to his
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