Vietnamese Culture on Death
Sociology 33
2 April 2014
Culture Assignment
“‘The sense of the dead is that of the final,’ says a Vietnamese proverb, meaning that funeral ceremonies must be solemnly organized,” as stated in the Vietnam Tourism website. The way a funeral is organized in Vietnam is strongly influenced by Chinese; as stated in the article “Culture of Vietnam,” ones with various rites and activities. Most funerals in Vietnam consist of three stages. In the tourism website they also state that, “The date and time for the funeral procession, le dua tang, must be carefully selected.” This is an important factor, as the mourning process of a loved one in Vietnamese customs the funeral goes on for two years. The length of a Vietnamese funeral is after three days of mourning, the family visits the tomb again, le mo cua ma or worship the opening the grave; after 49 days, le chung that, the family stops bringing rice for the dead to the altar. And finally, after 100 days, the family celebrates tot khoc, or the end of the tears. After one year is the ceremony of the first anniversary of the relative’s death and after two years is the ceremony of the end of mourning.
The first stage is called “Nhap Quan” or “Entering the Coffin.” The purpose of this stage is to clean the death body and place it inside the coffin. The death body is cleaned with alcohol or water, removed from the old clothes and worn in the death clothes. The clothes are made from white fabric, and not only the death body but also the husband/wife, the son and daughter and the grand sons have to wear this funeral clothes. Afterwards, the corpse is placed inside the coffin and the relatives begin the rite under the leadership of a shaman. All families and relatives will then go slowly around the coffin, in line, to pay respect and to see their deceased family member for the last time claims Van Nagan in his article “Funera; Rites in Vietnam. All family members will take turns to mourn and say goodbye to the deceased loved
2 April 2014
Culture Assignment
“‘The sense of the dead is that of the final,’ says a Vietnamese proverb, meaning that funeral ceremonies must be solemnly organized,” as stated in the Vietnam Tourism website. The way a funeral is organized in Vietnam is strongly influenced by Chinese; as stated in the article “Culture of Vietnam,” ones with various rites and activities. Most funerals in Vietnam consist of three stages. In the tourism website they also state that, “The date and time for the funeral procession, le dua tang, must be carefully selected.” This is an important factor, as the mourning process of a loved one in Vietnamese customs the funeral goes on for two years. The length of a Vietnamese funeral is after three days of mourning, the family visits the tomb again, le mo cua ma or worship the opening the grave; after 49 days, le chung that, the family stops bringing rice for the dead to the altar. And finally, after 100 days, the family celebrates tot khoc, or the end of the tears. After one year is the ceremony of the first anniversary of the relative’s death and after two years is the ceremony of the end of mourning.
The first stage is called “Nhap Quan” or “Entering the Coffin.” The purpose of this stage is to clean the death body and place it inside the coffin. The death body is cleaned with alcohol or water, removed from the old clothes and worn in the death clothes. The clothes are made from white fabric, and not only the death body but also the husband/wife, the son and daughter and the grand sons have to wear this funeral clothes. Afterwards, the corpse is placed inside the coffin and the relatives begin the rite under the leadership of a shaman. All families and relatives will then go slowly around the coffin, in line, to pay respect and to see their deceased family member for the last time claims Van Nagan in his article “Funera; Rites in Vietnam. All family members will take turns to mourn and say goodbye to the deceased loved
Cited: Page 1. “Culture of Vietnam.” Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation. 30 Mar. 2014. 2. Ngan, Van. “Funeral Rites in Vietnam,” n.d. web. 30 Mar. 2014 3. Vietnam Tourism, Vietnam, n.d. Web. 30 Mar. 2014