| Summary: | 碩士 === 國立臺南大學 === 台灣文化研究所教學碩士班 === 98 === This paper discusses the incense burner reunion ceremony (spiritual reunion) in
funerary customs. The theological concept holds that when people pass away they
become ghosts who will still hold on to their belongings. Those who cannot find their
belongings will become evil ghosts. After a ritual process, the ghosts eventually
become ancestors. The ritual in either the traditional funeral customs of the Han
people or the Taiwanese have lasted over a long time and still considered very
important.
This book consists of five chapters:
Chapter 1 describes research motives and purposes.
Chapter 2 illustrates funeral customs in Taiwan. It is difficult to observe ancient
rituals in modern society, but we cannot deny that although traditional funeral
customs now are simplified they are likely to resist most changes. After comparing
field study and personal experience as well as literature review, this study finds that
the “incense burner reunion ceremony” plays the role of a spiritual reunion ritual in
funeral customs in which a memorial tablet of the dead and the ancestors. This also
signifies the end of funeral customs and the return to normal life.
Chapter 3 defines the “incense burner reunion ceremony” as a part of traditional
funeral customs that normally include “ritual,” “article,” and “instrument.” This study
on traditional Chinese funeral customs indicates that the “incense burner reunion
ceremony” represents the cultural tradition of “reuniting with the ancestors.” Article
and instrument evidence also shows the same reunion meaning in the funeral customs
of the Han people. The transition of the memorial tablet during the period of Japanese
rule transformed this part of the Min and Yue tradition into a local characteristic “life
ritual” of Taiwan.
Chapter 4 clearly states the important role of the “incense burner reunion
ceremony” in funeral customs by punctuating the importance of this ceremony to
maintain ancestor worshiping customs and the return to normal life after a funeral. If
this ceremony can help us to understand the purpose of funerals and understand an
alternative ritual for extending life, an in-depth study on this extraordinary teaching
material should be encouraged.
Chapter 5 concludes the important points and makes suggestions based on the
research results.
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