A Study on Traditional Funeral Customs in Rural Areas of Southeast China under the Influence of Christian Culture: A Case Study of XX Village

Abstract

Taking a village along the southeast coast as an example, this paper discusses the influence of Christian culture on traditional funeral customs in rural China and the expression of cultural blending and conflict. From the macroscopic historical background, the spread of Christianity in the southeast coastal areas after the reform and opening up has been promoted by the policy opening and social changes; From the micro-level analysis, Christianity advocates the idea of soul salvation through simplifying funeral rituals (such as canceling the choice of a day, burning paper money, accompanying burial, etc.), which is in sharp contrast to the traditional culture of “emphasizing filial piety” and “emphasizing ceremony”. By using the methods of observation, in-depth interview and focus group discussion, the research found that there were both conflicts and commonalities between Christian funeral culture and traditional culture in terms of dress and ritual process. The Christian prayer ceremony and the focus on the characteristics of community mutual assistance have changed the social interaction pattern in the countryside to some extent. Although multi-faith families often face conflict over funeral ritual choices, the concept of respecting the wishes of the deceased is the key to resolving the conflict. The study believes that the spread of Christian culture on the one hand poses a challenge to traditional funeral customs, on the other hand also promotes the modernization and simplification of rituals. In the future, funeral customs may show a more integrated and open development trend under the needs of modernization and cultural diversity, providing new enlightenments for cultural inheritance and innovation.