Introduction on Coffin (一棺二材三木四添壽)

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Due to some our Friends & Members here requested on doing some intro on the topic on Funeral, in here, I will like to do some sharing on Coffin.

According to Chinese/History Records, the Earliest Coffin that can be found in Chinese Culture was about 6500-7000 Years ago in China Liao Ning Area (中國遼寧省).

Due to the Era is far away from Civilisation Period, so the Coffin that used to contain the body of the Pass-on was simple and not very elaborate. Only when after Yellow Emperor (黃帝) started to take charge of this Chinese Mortal World, Chinese started to aware of what were Culture then slowly, Mortal started to request for Nice & Useful Stuffs and Coffin, also became one of the Nice & Comfortable Item that Chinese wanted to have for their "Temporary Rest".

For Chinese, Coffin can represent the Dark-side of our Life - Death (殁) but can also represent the Healthy-side of our Life - Longevity (生).

In-order to prevent from laying in the Coffin in an Early-age, Chinese started to aware of what are the Healthy-events that Oneself must take part in, what Healthy-food must be consumed and what Healthy-stuffs that Oneself can study on. And slowly, all these contribute to the Gaining of Immortal-hood Issues (修仙).

Even though, some of our Chinese are afraid of Death or seeing Coffin, but when Chinese are still Living-happily in this Mortal Realm, some of them have started to choose for their own Coffins and doing necessary preparation for their "Temporary Departure".

Why? There are a few reasons:

1) Choosing of a Nice Coffin can assist oneself to look good and able to reborn as a Good-life person when returning
2) Not to let Descendants worried about the issues of getting Coffin for the Pass-on
3) To request for the Prolonging of One's Age
4) To request for Fortune Blessing for the Descendants
5) Worried that when Oneself Pass-on, the Descendants will throw the corspe anyhow without a decent Coffin

Besides that, when choosing Coffin, the People will also Tailor-made Shou Yi for Oneself.

Ok, now lets talk about the Chinese Addressing terms for Coffin.

In-order not to add on the Fear in Oneself while seeing Coffin, Chinese will give Nice & Pleasant Names to Coffin, such as:

1) Shou Ban (壽板), Hkk as Siew Bhang
2) Da Fang (大房), Hkk as Tua Pang
3) Da Cuo (大厝), Hkk as Tua Choo
4) Shou Fang (壽房), Hkk as Shiw Pang

So next time, when Oneself see a Coffin, remember not to call out Guan Cai (棺材 Hkk, Ghwa Cha), cos People around you may not be happy with that form of calling and also, it is a form of Disrespect to the Pass-on.

During Funeral-wakes, Coffin will transformed into the representative of the Pass-on. For Descendants or Relatives that wanted to talk to the Pass-on, they can put their Hands on the Coffin-cover, just as to representing Holding the Hands of the Pass-on. This is a form of Bidding Farewell to the Pass-on too.

Besides that, in the Ancient Era, just before the Coffin being sent for Buried, the Descendants, especially the Daughters & Daughter-in-laws, will have to use their Hands to bang on the End-part of the Coffin. While Banging, the Ladies will have to Sob-tragically, this is to show Filial Piety and also the Un-bearable Mood of letting the Pass-on go. Due to nowadays, People have grow to be more "Polite & Humble", such Banging have stopped, only left with Sobbing-sadly.

In Funeral-wake, People might wonder why there is always a Pack of stuff being placed on the Coffin. Actually inside the Bag (made of Mourning Clothe), contains Raw-rice & Coins. There are a few reasons for placing such Bag on Coffin:

1) To represent "Wealth" that the Pass-on left for the Descendants (after the Funeral, the Rice & Coins must be distributed to the Descendants)
2) To represent "Spiritual Order" of not allowing the Pass-on's Body to Jump-up during the Wake
3) To represent "Spiritual Food & Money" for the Pass-on's Soul to bring along while he/she Walk on the Nether-World Path

For Modern People who are Crazy in buying Lottery Numbers, during the Last Day of the Funeral-wake, these People will tend to go near to the Coffin and then speak softly to the Pass-on (near the Pass-on's Head position) and request for Numbers.

After requesting, the People will go around the Coffin and then look for any form of Hints that the Pass-on gave (actually are just Scratch-marks or Painting Marks). Once the People saw it, they will keep quiet and then slowly walk-out from the Coffin area and start to image what the Marks represent. To be honest, this is considered as Very Disrespectful.

For the Choosing of Coffin for the Pass-on, if the Pass-on is Old and have Descendants, the Son & Daughter will have to go to the Funeral Paelour to buy the Coffin. If the Pass-on only left with Wife & young Children, the Wife or the Siblings of the Pass-on can go to get the Coffin. And if the Pass-on only left with Friends, then the Friends can represent the Family to choose a Coffin for the Pass-on.

Usually before stepping into the Coffin Warehouse, the Worker will remind the Family Members not to Pick or Choose any Coffin. Once upon entering into the Warehouse and the Family Members saw any Coffin at their First-sight, the Family Members will have to take that Coffin. Cos according to the Beliefs of the Workers working in such Line, they usually know before-Hand that which Coffin will be Sold-off, cos they believed that such Coffins are usually "Booked" by some Pass-on. The reason of not to choose is that, to respect the Pass-on's decision as in-order not to disappoint him/her.

Once the Family Members agree on taking the Coffin, the Worker will then make Knod and Smile Happily. This is to show the form of Respect. Due to Now, some of the Workers are New in this Line and not being Well-trained, they tend to ask for Double-confirmation, which is not Correct or Upright.

Okay, last of ALL here, I will like to wish ALL who have read this Article:

Fortune is on Your Way. (富貴隨運到)
Luck is there for You. (好運大發財)
No Matter what you Do, (事事項項好)
Heaven will be there to Bless for the Good. (神明保祐來)

(This is a form of Traditional Practice at the end of Sharing such Info, so you all MUST accept it :P)

Wu Liang Shou
Wu Liang Fu
Wu Liang Guan