ANCESTOR WORSHIP DHS China Seminar – Day 13

What is Ancestor Worship?  Group Discussion: What do you think ancestor worship is and what it consists of?

Were you right?  Ancestor worship (also called ancestor veneration) is a ritual practice that is based on the belief that deceased family members have a continued existence, take an interest in the affairs of the world, and possess the ability to influence the fortune of the living.  Early forms of ancestor worship were deeply rooted and extensively developed by the Late Neolithic Period in China.  The goal of ancestor worship is to ensure the ancestors' continued well-being and positive disposition towards the living and sometimes to ask for special favors or assistance.

Funerals  Rituals of ancestor worship most commonly consist of offerings to the deceased to provide for their welfare in the afterlife, which is envisioned as being similar to the earthly life.  Ancestor worship begins at the deceased kin's funeral, at which necessities like a toothbrush, comb, towel, shoes, water, or even a computer are placed in the coffin or burned as a sacrifice.  After the funeral, daily or twice-daily offerings are made to ensure the family member gets a good start in the afterlife.

Funerals/Altars  Necessities and luxuries, like the deceased's favorite foods, wine, and small sums of money, are placed on the altar in bowls or burned in front of the altar.  The money is usually symbolic pieces of paper called "spirit money," not real bills.  Fruits and vegetables are the preferred foods for offerings; meats are avoided because of their association with killing.  Statues representing servants or other necessities for the afterlife are also placed on or near the altar.  Family members also bow in respect before the altar.

Home Altar  After a family member's funeral, Chinese families set up a home altar for the purpose of ancestor worship.  The altar normally includes a portrait or photograph of the ancestor, a commemorative plaque and cups for offerings.  Altars are usually taken down after 49 days, the period during which the deceased is believed to be undergoing judgment.  After the 49-day period, the deceased is worshipped along with all the other ancestors of the family.

Regular Ancestor Worship  After the home altar is taken down, the ancestors are believed to dwell in commemorative tablets.  Ancestral tablets are pieces of wood inscribed with the name and dates of the deceased.  They are kept in a small shrine at home and in the clan ancestral temple.  Incense is lit before the tablets daily and offerings of food and prostrations are presented twice a month.  Chinese weddings and funerals often include elaborate rituals honoring deceased family members.  Periodical rites are also performed at the family cemetery and ancestor worship is central to the annual Ghost Festival and Tomb Sweeping Festival.

Source  All information adapted from: tices/ancestor_worship.htm