Why Tuck a Green Onion Into Your Shirt When You Go to a Funeral?
Patricia W. Nishimoto, DNS, FAAN
I hope you will use this reference in the manner that it was offered, as an opportunity to begin a discussion with your
patients of how best you can assist them and their families at this time. Bereavement customs are not static but
evolving for each person as they age and as they gain a wider life view.
I. Chinese Traditions
 Many traditions are from Taoism, Confucianism, or Buddhism.
 Some Chinese Buddhists may believe that the body should not be disturbed for at least 8 hours
after death since the consciousness may still be separating from the body.

Lisee (red paper wrapped money) and a piece of hard candy may be given to mourners. Money is
to be used to buy a sweet to sweeten the bitterness of sorrow. The candy is to be eaten
immediately & the wrapper discarded before arriving home to ward off bad luck.
 Lighted oil lamps or candles (larp jook) may be lit under or in front of the coffin to provide light
for the soul.
 Clothing for the deceased: women are dressed in an even number of pieces of clothing; ment are
dressed in an odd number. The deceased may have additional clothing placed in the casket for the
next world.
 A silver coin might be placed in the mouth of a man & a pearl in the mouth of a woman to protect
the body from decay & to light the path for the soul into the next world.
 Paper offerings may be burned in special receptacles. Servants to lead the way, a trunk to carry
the possessions, a house, a boat, and/or a car.
 Date & time of the funeral may be held before noon based on the date & time of the person’s birth
& also death. Location of the grave should be harmonious with the natural elements.
 If it is a Taoist service, women who are menstruating or are pregnant may be expected to not
attend. Those who are Taoist may bow 3 times with their hands together, light 3 sticks of incense
and offer a prayer.
 People may turn away from the coffin when the lid is closed or when it is put into the grave. This
is to prevent the deceased from seeing who is there since illness or misfortune may occur if they
are recognized. Some may believe the soul of a living person can be captured by the deceased &
sealed in the coffin if you do not turn away.
 If a child dies, parents may choose to not attend the service. The paternal uncle or aunt is to
assume the funeral planning.
 Female family members may wear white clothing and male family members may wear black/dark
colors.
 A banquet after the service is often held. Usually there are 5 courses to include jai. Often family
will gather & eat jai at the home of the deceased prior to attending the funeral.
 The morning of the day of the funeral, all lights in the house may be left turned on & pictures
covered with white paper. Red decorations are temporarily removed.
 Family may purify themselves by washing their face and eyes with water that has pomelo leaves
in it. It is also used to wipe away their ‘sorrowful expressions’.
 They may wrap a piece of green onion in plastic & wear it under clothing to make a tea if someone
feels ill from the grieving, wailing, or sadness of the day.
 The mourning period may last up to a month during which family are not to visit friends to avoid
‘visiting their grief’ (or delivering bad luck) upon others. No jewelry or makeup to be worn
during that period of time.
 Festivals of the Dead: Ch’ing Ming (Festival of Pure Brightness, 5 April) & Feast of the Hungry
Ghosts (15 July)
II.
Japanese/Okinawan Traditions
 Japanese may view body & mind as one. This can affect understanding of ‘brain death.’
 Patients or families may request the patient be moved to another room if they are in Room #4
since the Japanese word for ‘4’ is similar to the word for death (shi).
 Different generations or age groups may have divergent attitudes about death.
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III.
Shikata ga nai” is "it cannot be helped." This view takes any blame or feeling of failure off of the
person and his or her family. It embodies an almost stoic acceptance of a difficult circumstance.
Funerals are to help families to bond & to fulfill obligations. Promptness & attendance are noted.
Dark or black clothing is to be worn by mourners.
Yukan, a ceremonial washing of the body, may be done by family members. Often that is done
symbolically by covering the body with a white sheet & family pours warm water over the body
from the chest down.
Tomobiki are the days when a funeral cannot be held or else the dead will take a family member of
friend with them.
After a funeral, salt may be thrown over the shoulders to purify themselves before entering their
homes.
Rarely done today, but previously the father or oldest son would go to the crematorium & pick up
the bones with chopsticks & pass them to the rest of the family. THAT is why it is bad manners to
pass food from chopstick to chopstick when eating. (It is symbolic of the bone ceremony.)
Shojingyo is the 49 day period of mourning (Buddhist tradition). Today it is often 7 days.
It may be believed that the spirit is present during that 49 day period of shojingyo. Thus, candles
burn continuously at the altar to provide light to the spirit.
The number of dishes served after the funeral must be even in number, which is the opposite of
everyday practice. Musubi are shaped round, not triangular.
If the deceased is buried in a kimono, the opening is crossed right over the left.
If Buddhist, memorial services are held at 1,3, 7, 13, 17, 25,33, 37, & 50 years after the death.
O Bon Festival celebrates the temporary return of the dead to visit the living. Often squash are
brought into the house and chopsticks are stuck in them as a sign that the ancestors can come into
the house.
Filipino Traditions
 There is no one Filipino custom since people come from over 1,000 islands & speak more than 70
different languages 7 dialects.
 Bahala na – to leave things in the hands of God. Talaga – destined or inevitable.
 After a death, all the windows might be opened to allow the soul to leave the house/hospital. In
rural areas, a log might burn outside the house to keep away bad spirits.
 Many will burn a candle continuously in the house for days to help the spirit not ‘get lost’ if it
returns to the house. Food & drink may be left out for the sprit to eat.
 If the dead person is brought home before burial, the body is to be positioned with the feet toward
the front door. (This helps explain why some Filipinos and Japanese will not have their bed facing
a doorway.)
 If the body is brought home in a casket, there will be great care that the casket does not touch the
doorway. When removing the casket, some family members may be adamant that the casket be
removed through a window since leaving through the doorway may result in another death in the
family.
 Often coffins are dark wood & are filled with clothes & personal items so the deceased will not
return for them. Shoes are put in the casket but NOT on the feet so the family will not hear the
spirit walking around the house. Jewelry is removed from the body before burial for fear it will
damn the soul to hell if it remains in the casket.
 Pallbearers might hold the casket high so relatives can walk under it after the service in belief it
will prevent illness or great calamity. A basin of water with lemon grass, lemon leaves, guava
leaves or vinegar is at the door way to wash faces & necks to ‘wash away the grief’ & as a
purification act.
Clarke, J. (1994). Family Traditions in Hawaii. Honolulu: Namkoong.
Lipson, J.G., Dibble, S.L., & Minarik, P.A. (eds.) (2005). Culture & Nursing Care: A Pocket Guide. San Francisco: UCSF Nursing Press.