In traditional Chinese customs, "Encoffining" (入殓 - Ru Lian) is an important funeral ritual, marking the process of the deceased officially bidding farewell to this world and entering another. Encoffining is usually the final step in a series of preparatory activities after a loved one passes away, and it is also the most solemn and sorrowful stage.
I. Time Selection for Encoffining
According to traditional Chinese customs, the time for encoffining usually requires consulting the Almanac (Huangli) or having a Feng Shui master (Yin Yang Xian Sheng) select an auspicious time based on the deceased's Bazi (Eight Characters of Birth). It is generally believed that choosing a good time can bring peace to the deceased and at the same time bring good fortune to the family.
II. Preparation Work Before Encoffining
- Cleansing the Body: Bathing and changing the clothes of the deceased, which is the final care and respect shown to them.
- Changing Clothes: Dressing the deceased in longevity clothes (Shou Yi - specially made funeral garments) as a sign of respect.
- Cosmetic Preparation: Applying simple makeup or grooming to the deceased's face to make them look more peaceful.
- Handling Belongings: Choosing some items to be encoffined with the deceased, such as jewelry or books, according to their wishes or family traditions.
- Preparing Encoffining Items: Including longevity clothes, gold and silver joss paper, and burial items. The number of longevity garments varies by local custom but is mostly an odd number; burial items depend on local habits and family conditions.
- Selection and Arrangement of the Coffin: The coffin must be prepared in advance and decorated according to certain rules. In some places, plant ashes or other items are placed inside the coffin to signify auspiciousness.
- Mourning Hall Arrangement: Setting up a spirit tablet, enshrining the deceased's portrait or memorial tablet, and placing incense, candles, and fruit offerings.
- Selecting the Time: Choosing an auspicious time for encoffining based on the Almanac. People usually select an "Auspicious Day" (Huang Dao Ji Ri), avoiding days that clash with the deceased's Chinese Zodiac sign.
III. Encoffining Ceremony Process
- Libation: Relatives offer wine to the deceased to express their final farewell.
- Placing Burial Items: Putting the prepared burial items into the coffin.
- Placing the Body: Gently placing the washed and dressed deceased into the coffin. At this time, family members will walk around the coffin a few times to express their grief.
- Sealing the Coffin: After the body is properly settled, professionals or family elders are responsible for sealing the coffin. This process is often accompanied by the sound of weeping and mourning.
- Farewell Ceremony: After sealing the coffin, relatives and friends step forward one by one to bid their final farewells to the deceased. During this period, activities such as chanting sutras to release souls from purgatory are often held, aiming to purify the soul and help it smoothly journey to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.
- Sending Off: Finally, accompanied by family members, the coffin is carried out of the house and sent to the cemetery or crematorium. Along the way, actions such as scattering joss paper or setting off firecrackers may occur to ward off evil and avoid misfortune.
IV. Points to Note
- Throughout the entire process, all participants should remain solemn and avoid loud noises, laughing, or scolding.
- Family members should not be overly sorrowful, so as not to affect the normal life order of others.
- Before and after encoffining, the home should be thoroughly cleaned to remove inauspicious energy.
- Some regions also have the custom that one cannot travel or participate in joyous events for a period of time after encoffining.
V. Modern Significance
With the development and changes in society, many traditional customs have gradually simplified or disappeared, but "Encoffining," as the final respect and remembrance for the deceased, is still widely preserved. It not only reflects the Chinese nation's concept of "serving the dead as one serves the living," but also carries people's reverence for life and deep longing for their relatives. Although the form has changed, the cultural values and emotional sustenance contained behind it have remained unchanged.
