Joy Wu #32

LArts-W/Social Studies Diary One: Tomb Rituals

Hello Journal, It is 113 BC in the Han dynasty. My husband, Guang Lan, has just called out my name. Wu Ming-Zhi, your grandfather, Song Lan, has died! We must go to his tomb immediately to perform the burial rituals, he exclaimed. As a result, we are about to travel to Song Lans tomb. We Chinese believe that life carries on after death, and the deceased live in the afterlife. Of course, they need food, water, and other requirements to live, so their family will provide them with these necessities. The family will also honor the ancestors by attending their ceremonies. Trying their hardest in life so deceased relatives can be proud is another way to make ones ancestors proud. Together, this is known as ancestor worship, which is an essential part of our lives that cannot be skipped. Since I am married, my loyalties do lie in Guangs family, but it is the law by Confucius here in the Han dynasty that I must not join in on burial rituals. Still, I must pay my respect to Grandfather, so my new family took me along with them to his tomb so I could do so. Confucius, the great philosopher who invented Confucianism and lived during 551-491 BC, says that family respect is the most important duty of everyone, no matter what other tasks someone has on their agenda. We have now arrived at Grandfathers tomb. Oh, it is most magnificent! It is an underground chamber that is designed to look like regular homes. As he was a rich government official, our family has paid a lot for him to have been built a great resting

place. His coffin is decorated with dragons, a symbol of luck and long life. Guang places his gift of bronze wine cups next to Grandfathers coffin. My father sets down food and drinks that Grandfather enjoyed, and slowly lifts up the coffins lid. Grandfather himself was buried in a beautiful jade burial suit that will preserve his body. Such a stone that we Chinese value, and one that represents good luck and beauty, will no doubt give him great prosperity in the afterlife. At that moment, just him lying there, so fragile, almost put me to tears- but on the upside, Confucius says great men are rewarded in death. After laying down the objects needed for life after death, the men order me to step back, as I am a woman. I meekly obey, as according to Confucianism, I must be inferior to men. This requires me to be lower in rank to them. Anyway, the men are going to say prayers to Grandfather! Im very curious, even though I know I should be solemn. Stepping forward one by one, they speak words of wisdom. When Guang does so, he says a traditional prayer that Grandfather will definitely bring luck to all of us here on Earth. This saying stems from the beliefs of Confucius and many others that ancestors will be able to talk to the gods and control our fate. Unlike the times of the Shang, my original family told me, we dont sacrifice real people nowadays, (oh, the thought of it makes me want to vomit!) but instead make clay, wood, or bronze replicas. I admire the terracotta servants placed next to Grandfather. They will serve him well in the afterlife.

Guang says Grandfather, since he has only recently passed away, will deal with small issues at first. Once some time has passed, he will begin handling bigger tasks. Even though he has died, he will remain who he is in the afterlife. Oh, look at the time! Ive got to go back home to prepare for the worshipping ceremony at the home altar, or my husband will be furious! As a scholars wife, I dont need to be reminded of the teachings of Confucius, such as how I should always listen to men and work diligently, again! ~Wu Ming-Zhi, government officials wife

Joy Wu #32 Diary Two: Altar Ritual Hello Journal,

LArts-W/Social Studies

Today was the ancestor worship ceremony at the altar for Grandfathers afterlife beginning. One day has passed since his burial ritual. This period of time after the funeral, when we set up a home altar and hold a ceremony for Song Lan (my grandfather), is called the mourning period. Our ceremony started off with offering food, drinks, and other necessities to Grandfather. Normally, after 49 days, we would not do this, but we want to make sure he gets a good start in the afterlife, the priest in charge of the ritual says. Guang (my husband) received the honor of placing the bowls of gifts on the home altar. Im not entirely sure what an altar is, but Father says its a block or table used for a religious ritual like ours, and for making sacrifices or offerings. Instead of having a building to worship in, our home and altar is where we usually honor the dead. Then, Father burned a small amount of money in front of the altar. When I asked him what he was doing, he said this was spirit money, but not real money. This is an important aspect of the ceremonies as Grandfather will spend the money in the afterlife. The priest did the carving of Grandfathers name and placed it on the altar along with the painting of him. This signifies that Grandfather has moved onto life after death. When he is settled there, we can ask him questions that we need help on. Priests will

use oracle bones, tools that enable communicating with ancestors, to ask him advice. I questioned one of them on how it worked, and the response I got was a laugh! Later, though, I eventually found out the process. A priest asks a question, and carves it onto the bone. Then, he heats a bronze pin and presses it to the bone (which was usually an animal bone or turtle shell). He then reads the cracks to find the answer embedded inside. We will continue our ceremony with prayers. Many good luck prayers were said, such as we offer you these gifts and hope you are received well in the afterlife. Then, Guang stepped up Oh, he started reciting the standards of Confucius in his own words! Morality, family, and respect is our key. Our great master Kong-Fuzi taught us to respect our elders. We give you gifts and offerings, and worship you as we should. It was a great prayer for paying tribute to Grandfather, as he was well-learned in the studies of Confucius. Next, all the males of the family knelt three times, and touched their foreheads to the floor nine times. This was the tradition of ancestor worship, which signaled respect. I watch from far, far away. My family does not think women are welcome here, and I have no choice but to obey. Throughout my whole life, I have been meek and inferior to men, and thats changed who I am. Finally, incense was burned in a cup and we concluded the ceremony with heavy hearts and a newfound hope. May Grandfather bring luck to us. We say. He is believed to be able to talk to the gods and control our fate. No one wants to displease

the gods, certainly! Grandfather has left a rich family for us, and we can only reward him with this ceremony of honor. I exit the worshipping room quietly, and pray to Grandfather to settle in the afterlife with ease. ~Wu Ming-Zhi, wife of a government official