Buddhist Funerals

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Oct 28, 1897

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 23, No. 42.

Buddhist Funerals.

The coffin is carried by a number of stout coolies. It is cubical in shape, and usually about two feet square and two and a half high. The corpse is therefore buried in a sitting or kneeling position. The grave of course needs to be only large enough to receive the coffin,

and is a little more than two feet square and about five feet deep.

At the temple the priests recite from the Buddhist books long prayers for the peaceful rest of the departed spirit, interspersing ringing of bells, beating of gongs, burning of incense, and waving a huge brush made of hair. The last is an enchantment against evil spirits, while the gongs and bells are for keeping the attention of the gods.

At the close of these services, the company, beginning with the nearest relatives of the dead, pass to the front of the coffin, offer a prayer to the dead and to Buddha, sprinkle a little incense on the charcoal fire, and retire.

At the grave it is customary for all the visitors to drop a clod upon the coffin. No one seems to know the design of this, but it seems to be considered a kind of rudeness not to follow the custom.

After the grave is filled an additional bowl of rice is placed upon it as food for the dead.

The last important event of the funeral is a distribution of cake to all the people who have been present. The expense of this cake is said to be from one-third to one-half of the whole funeral expenses. Possibly, as a preparation for this expense, it is a custom to make a present in money to the family of the deceased. This present is taken as a token of sympathy and respect.—Anon.