Traditional Chinese Funeral Rituals and Customs

Funeral rituals are an integral part of the cultural system of any nation, reflecting its worldview, beliefs and traditions . Special attention should be paid to the funeral culture of China, which is distinguished by its richness of symbolism and depth of philosophical content . The study of this topic allows not only to understand the specifics of the Chinese attitude to death, but also to reveal important aspects of national psychology and cultural identity . The relevance of the research is due to the growing importance of intercultural dialogue between Russia and China, where understanding traditional cultural practices plays a key role in building effective international relations . At the same time, this topic is not fully covered in the Russian scientific literature, which creates a certain gap in the study of the Chinese cultural tradition . The purpose of the study is a comprehensive analysis of Chinese funeral rituals, their symbolic content and cultural significance . To achieve this goal, it is necessary to solve the following tasks: to study the classical historical literature of China on the subject of funeral rituals; to describe the features of the ritual of saying goodbye to the deceased; to analyze the nature and meaning of traditional symbols; to reveal the cultural and psychological aspects of funeral rituals . The scientific novelty of the study is determined by the fact that Chinese funeral rituals are considered not only as a set of rituals, but also as a system reflecting the deep features of the national mentality . Special attention is paid to the fact that in Chinese culture, even such a tragic event as death is filled with a life-affirming meaning, which is reflected in the names of objects and rituals associated with funerals . The practical significance of the work lies in the fact that the results of the research can be used to deepen mutual understanding between representatives of different cultures, which is especially important in the context of the development of Russian-Chinese relations . Understanding traditional cultural practices helps overcome cultural barriers and promotes effective intercultural dialogue.

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