ANCESTOR WORSHIP

DHS China Seminar – Day 13

What is Ancestor Worship?

Group Discussion: What do you think ancestor worship is and what it consists of?

Were you right?

Ancestor worship (also called ancestor veneration) is a ritual practice that is based on the belief that deceased family members have a continued existence, take an interest in the affairs of the world, and possess the ability to influence the fortune of the living.

Early forms of ancestor worship were deeply rooted and extensively developed by the Late Neolithic Period in China.

The goal of ancestor worship is to ensure the ancestors' continued well-being and positive disposition towards the living and sometimes to ask for special favors or assistance.

Funerals

Rituals of ancestor worship most commonly consist of offerings to the deceased to provide for their welfare in the afterlife, which is envisioned as being similar to the earthly life.

Ancestor worship begins at the deceased kin's funeral, at which necessities like a toothbrush, comb, towel, shoes, water, or even a computer are placed in the coffin or burned as a sacrifice.

After the funeral, daily or twice-daily offerings are made to ensure the family member gets a good start in the afterlife.

Funerals/Altars

Necessities and luxuries, like the deceased's favorite foods, wine, and small sums of money, are placed on the altar in bowls or burned in front of the altar.

The money is usually symbolic pieces of paper called "spirit money," not real bills.

Fruits and vegetables are the preferred foods for offerings; meats are avoided because of their association with killing.

Statues representing servants or other necessities for the afterlife are also placed on or near the altar.

Family members also bow in respect before the altar.

Home Altar

After a family member's funeral, Chinese families set up a home altar for the purpose of ancestor worship.

The altar normally includes a portrait or photograph of the ancestor, a commemorative plaque and cups for offerings.

Altars are usually taken down after 49 days, the period during which the deceased is believed to be undergoing judgment.

After the 49-day period, the deceased is worshipped along with all the other ancestors of the family.

Regular Ancestor Worship

After the home altar is taken down, the ancestors are believed to dwell in commemorative tablets.

Ancestral tablets are pieces of wood inscribed with the name and dates of the deceased.

They are kept in a small shrine at home and in the clan ancestral temple.

Incense is lit before the tablets daily and offerings of food and prostrations are presented twice a month.

Chinese weddings and funerals often include elaborate rituals honoring deceased family members.

Periodical rites are also performed at the family cemetery and ancestor worship is central to the annual Ghost Festival and Tomb Sweeping Festival.

Source

All information adapted from:http://www.religionfacts.com/chinese_religion/practices/ancestor_worship.htm