Tag Archives: 云南

疫情下的中国民间丧事:从简、安静、“疫”后再别 Funerals to be held after the end of the Coronavirus

据中新社昆明2月18日电 题:疫情下的中国民间丧事:从简、安静、“疫”后再别
  作者 缪超

Writer Miao Chao Kunming, China News Agency. Translator and Editor Xuefei Chen Axelsson

Wangke’s mother’s mother died recently at the age of 80 years old in Kunming Yunnan province. With such a senior age, it was considered a good thing. So children usually gave her a grand celebration of a week by providing over 400 people including relatives, villagers, neighbours, friends and many others. This was called decent funeral.

But currently due to the campaign against the coronavirus, people are not recommended to gather together. The elderly got liver problem and stormack cancer. Without any good solution, they decided to take her back to die at home so that relatives can see her before and after her death.

So her four sons and daughters decided to say goodbye with traditional way later after the end of the virus. Now the ceremony is very simple just asking the truck from cremation place to carry the kofin to the destination. This decision was in discussion with the old lady and she understood that her children will hold the ceremony after the end of the virus.

This story shows that in rural China a lot of traditions are still kept and practiced. Good or bad, sometimes the funerals can become too much for the living people.


  王珂的外婆近日因病去世,享年80岁。在云南昆明农村,高寿老人去世,被认为是“喜丧”,子女会按照传统习俗,为逝者办一场热闹体面的丧事。新冠肺炎疫情之下,王珂外婆的“喜丧”,从简、安静、“疫”后再别……
  “外婆半年前查出肝硬化,在昆明市第一人民医院治疗,住院期间又检查出胃癌。”王珂告诉记者,医治已经无用。数天前,一家人商量将老人接回了家,“农村的习俗,老人必须在家中去世。”
  正常情况下,老人在家的最后时光,会不停有亲戚、朋友和村里人前来探望,“见上最后一面,对即将离世的老人来说,是莫大的慰藉。”
  新冠肺炎疫情下,中国各地民众响应“少外出,莫聚会”的倡议,宅在家里“深居简出”。王珂说,如果通知亲朋,他们无论如何还是会来见外婆最后一面,“这样会有交叉感染的风险,外婆为家人计,不让通知。”
  老人弥留之际,告诉同龄老伴与膝下四个子女,她一生吃苦受累撑起一个家,如今生活富足,原本希望后事能办得体面些。
  疫情防控期间,当地政府要求民间丧事简办、喜事缓办,她外婆在医院时就得知了,“外婆有些难过,她微弱地告诉我们,疫情过后补办吧。”
  16日凌晨4时,王珂外婆在家里,于子女环抱下去世。子女为老人遗体净身、换寿衣入殓后,抬至一楼中央临时搭成的板床上,点上蜡烛、青香等待天亮。
  如果没有疫情,天亮后,老人灵前会热热闹闹,各地赶来的亲戚和同村人,会相继来到老人灵前排队吊唁。为了答谢前来吊唁的人,逝者家属会操办三天的宴席招待。
  “家里人曾粗略算过,外婆和外公的兄弟姐妹多,亲戚也多,”王珂说,“再加上附近村庄的人,丧宴约有40桌,每桌10人吧。”
  按照当地习俗,丧事第一天晚上,要请来主持丧事的“翻书先生”与8位诵经者,为亡者念诵超度。超度期间,不断鸣锣、敲鼓、放鞭炮,持续三个小时。
  第二天出殡,由高亢的唢呐引路,披麻戴孝的送葬队伍长达二百米,“哭丧”着绕村一周,送逝者最后一程。王珂说,“农村是熟人社会,一家人治丧,基本是全村人参与。”
  疫情之下,王珂外婆的遗体仅在家中停留了半天,中午时分,佩戴口罩的子女和孙辈驾车,跟随在殡仪馆遗体接收车之后,送老人最后一程。
  记者在昆明西郊殡仪馆看到,前来办理亲属后事的家庭不多,每个送葬家庭人数在10人左右,殡仪馆几个遗体告别厅大门紧闭,工作人员四处喷洒消毒水……
  昆明西郊殡仪馆一名工作人员告诉记者,殡仪馆于1月28日贴出告示,暂停遗体告别和追思仪式服务,骨灰寄存室也停止一切祭扫活动。
  “听说,隔壁村这几天也有两位老人去世,家属也是叫来殡仪馆的车接走遗体,静悄悄的……”王珂在外婆遗体火化时说,“特殊时期,委屈您了,疫情结束后,我们一定补办。”(完)