AN INTERACTIVE BAI
FUNERAL
By: Vincent Chang
WHAT IT IS ALL ABOUT
I am part of a group of 16 students from Shanghai American School
who have come to Xizhou and stayed here for a month. We each
chose our own Inquiry Topic in which we would research and create a
final product. I chose to do Bai Funerals and this PowerPoint is my
Final Product where I will share all the information that I have
gathered. You can find more at sasmicrocampus.org.
INSTRUCTIONS
 You will be presented with a slide which has a question and two or
more answers on it, or a slide with a comment/remark and only one
option.
 Please select an answer/option which will lead you down a path.
 Any answer is OK, there are no wrong answers (sort of), and you
can always start again to explore a new path.
PART ONE: THE CASKET
This is where your road will split, choose wisely (even though it does
not matter). Have fun!
Start
QUESTION ONE
Has your relative, friend, whoever this “funeral” is for
passed away yet?
Yes
No
QUESTION TWO
How old is your friend, relative, whoever?
Younger
than 80
80 or older
STILL SO YOUNG
Well, your friend, relative, whoever this is for, is still young and
doesn’t need a casket yet. Wait another few years or until they pass
away.
After a few
years…
QUESTION THREE
Has your friend, relative, whoever bought a casket?
Yes
No
BUY A CASKET
They should have bought a casket.
Click here to go
buy a casket
QUESTION TWO
What age were they upon death?
Younger
than 80
80 or older
BUY A CASKET
Go buy a casket for them (if someone has not done so yet).
Click here to go
buy a casket
QUESTION THREE
What color is the casket painted?
Red
Black
Other
WHY RED?
A red casket is only bought by people who pass away at an age of 80
or greater.
Go back and buy a
different colored one.
WHAT IS OTHER?
The Bai Minority only have red and black caskets. They do not have
any other colors
Go back and buy a
different colored one.
QUESTION THREE
What color is the casket painted?
Black
Other
QUESTION THREE
What color is the casket painted?
Red
Black
CHECK-POINT ONE
Good job! In the Bai Minority anyone who passes away at an age under 80 is
given a black casket because they did not live a long life. Those who pass away
at an age of 80 or above are considered lucky for living a long life and are
allowed to have a red casket (red is a lucky color in China). You have the basic
preparations done. You can now proceed with the planning of the funeral.
Click Here to Proceed
Click Here to Start Again
QUESTION FOUR
What color is the casket painted?
Red
Black
Other
WHY BLACK?
A black casket is bought when the deceased person is younger than 80
when they die. Your friend, relative, whoever was 80 or older when
they passed away, they can get a different colored casket.
Go back and buy a
different colored one.
WHAT IS OTHER?
The Bai Minority only have red and black caskets. They do not have
any other colors.
Go back and buy a
different colored one.
QUESTION FOUR
What color is the casket?
Red
Other
QUESTION FOUR
What color is the casket?
Red
Black
CHECK-POINT ONE
Good job! In the Bai Minority (at least) anyone who passes away at the age of
around 80 or above is considered to be lucky because they lived a long life,
therefore they are allowed to have a red casket instead of a black one (red is a
lucky color in China). Caskets should be bought before death and made in the
house by a casket maker. You have the basic preparations done. You can now
proceed with the planning of the funeral.
Click Here to Proceed
Click Here to Start Again
PART TWO: THE HOUSE
Congratulations, you have made it through Part 1! Now you are
entering Part 2, where we will assume your relative, friend, or whoever
has passed away a day ago. Take a moment to stretch, then get going.
Moving on…
QUESTION ONE
What will you put on the doors?
Nothing
Picture
Couplet
(对联)*
*An antithetical couplet written on red
scrolls. It consists of two lines in which
each character or phrase corresponds with
the same one in the other line.
MOURN THE LOSS
You need to mourn the loss of this friend, relative, or whoever.
Go back and put
something on your door
QUESTION ONE
What will you put on the doors?
Picture
Couplet
(对联)*
*An antithetical couplet written on red
scrolls. It consists of two lines in which
each character or phrase corresponds with
the same one in the other line.
NOT A BAD IDEA
I can see why you would want to put a picture of the deceased on the
door, but that is not the tradition for the Bai minority. I have to say,
they do keep a picture of the deceased in the 灵堂* (mourning hall)
that is in the house.
Go back and try
something else
*Pinyin is
líng táng
QUESTION ONE
What will you put on the doors?
Nothing
Couplet
(对联)*
*An antithetical couplet written on red
scrolls. It consists of two lines in which
each character or phrase corresponds
with the same one in the other line.
WOOHOO, YOU GOT IT
You were right, they do use 对联, but do you know what color?
Red
White
Black
WELL, SORT OF…
For the Bai Minority, white is the color of 对联 normally, but because
this relative, friend, whoever was over 80 when he/she passed away,
that is not the case.
You probably know the
answer, but choose again
WOOHOO, YOU GOT IT
You were right, they do use 对联, but do you know what color?
Red
Black
HOW IS IT POSSIBLE
We are thinking tradition here, I do not think many cultures had ink
that would show up on black. I understand how black is a symbol of
death, especially in Western countries, but white is more the color of
death in China than black.
Sorry, but you need to
choose again
WOOHOO, YOU GOT IT
You were right, they do use 对联, but do you know what color?
Red
White
PART TWO: THE HOUSE
Congratulations, you have made it through Part 1! Now you are
entering Part 2, where we will assume your relative, friend, whoever
has passed away a day ago. Take a moment to stretch, then get going.
Moving on…
QUESTION ONE
What will you put on the doors?
Nothing
Picture
Couplet
(对联)*
*An antithetical couplet written on red
scrolls. It consists of two lines in which
each character or phrase corresponds
with the same one in the other line.
MOURN THE LOSS
You need to mourn the loss of this friend, relative, whoever.
Go back and put
something on your door
QUESTION ONE
What will you put on the doors?
Picture
Couplet
(对联)*
*An antithetical couplet written on red
scrolls. It consists of two lines in which
each character or phrase corresponds with
the same one in the other line.
NOT A BAD IDEA
I can see why you would want to put a picture of the deceased on the
door, but that is not the tradition for the Bai minority. I have to say,
they do keep a picture of the deceased in the 灵堂 (mourning hall)
that is in the house.
Go back and try
something else
*Pinyin is
líng táng
QUESTION ONE
What will you put on the doors?
Nothing
Couplet
(对联)*
*An antithetical couplet written on red
scrolls. It consists of two lines in which
each character or phrase corresponds
with the same one in the other line.
WOOHOO, YOU GOT IT
You were right, the Bai Minority does use 对联, but do you know what
color?
Red
White
Black
WELL, SORT OF…
For the Bai Minority, red is the color of 对联 when someone is older
than 80, but because this relative, friend, whoever was under 80 when
he/she passed away, that is not the case.
You probably know the
answer, but choose again
WOOHOO, YOU GOT IT
You were right, they do use 对联, but do you know what color?
White
Black
HOW IS IT POSSIBLE
I do not think there is any ink that would show up on black but black
is the color of death in many countries. But that is not the case for
the Bai Minority.
Sorry, but you need to
choose a different color
WOOHOO, YOU GOT IT
You were right, they do use 对联, but do you know what color?
Red
White
NEXT, WHAT TO WEAR
You got the doors finished, those who die before 80 use
white 对联, and red ones if the deceased passed away at
an age of 80 or older. Now you need to move onto
clothing. What do you think the mourners wear?
Black Clothing
White Clothing
Normal Clothing
Click here to go back to the beginning to restart your path and see the differences when passing away at
different ages
WHY ALWAYS BLACK
If you chose black, you must not have read the slide earlier on. Long story
short, in China, black is not the color of death, white is. You should go
back to check other paths and learn some more after you finish your path.
Before you do that, go back and
choose again
NEXT, WHAT TO WEAR
You got the doors finished, now you need to move onto clothing.
What do you think they wear?
Normal Clothing White Clothing
IT DEPENDS
White is the color of death/mourning in China, so it is a possibility.
But as the title says, it depends. So, what is your relationship with the
deceased?
Stranger
Relative
Friend
WHITE DOES NOT FIT YOU
Traditions have changed a little, but strangers and friends do not wear
white, only relatives do. Sometimes distant relatives do not wear white
either.
Go back into the closet
and change your clothing
WHITE IS RIGHT
White is the color relatives wear in a funeral. This comes in the form
of a 孝布 (xiào bù) and white clothing. The 孝布 is a white cloth that
is wrapped around the head and it “keeps” the spirit of the deceased
inside. Friends and strangers who attend the funeral wear normal
clothing and sometimes a white pin shaped like a flower if they were
close with the deceased.
Continuing on...
NEXT, WHAT TO WEAR
You got the doors finished, now you need to move onto clothing.
What do you think they wear?
Black Clothing
White Clothing
Normal Clothing
IT DEPENDS
Wearing normal to a funeral is a possibility, but according to this
slide’s title, it depends. So, what is your relationship with the
deceased?
Stranger
Relative
Friend
BE UNIQUE
You should not wear normal clothing to the funeral of your relative.
Go back into the closet
and change your clothing
BE NORMAL
As a stranger or friend, you do not need to wear white to the funeral.
If you are a close friend, you could have a white flower shaped pin to
pin to your clothing, otherwise, there is not much else you need.
Relatives on the other hand need a lot more.
Continuing on...
You can see what
relatives wear if you
click on this string of
text
CHECK-POINT TWO
Congratulations, you have finished Part 2. I hope you have invited all
friends and family, and hired a Dong Jing music band and a person to
read the scriptures. If you have not, please do so now, I may be
attending the funeral as a stranger and see exactly how much you
learned.
Moving on to Part 3
PA RT T H R E E : T H E
P RO C E S S I O N
Congratulations for completing Part 2! You are now moving on to
Part 3. Stand up and jog in place for a while if you start feeling tired.
Once ready, get started.
When Ready…
GETTING A MOVE ON
Before the procession starts, the family of the deceased need to
prepare a big meal outside or in their courtyard for anyone who cares
to join. The scripture reader reads the proper scripture and the casket
is placed into a carrier. The procession starts from the house
Start the Procession
WHERE WILL YOU GO
Once the procession starts, where will you go?
The Big Tree
Burial Grounds
Si Fang Jie (Town Square)
WRONG ORDER
You do have to go to the Big Tree in the procession, but not first.
Go somewhere else
first, you can go to the
Big Tree next
WHERE WILL YOU GO
Once the procession starts, where will you go?
Burial Grounds
Si Fang Jie (Village Square)
REALLY WRONG ORDER
You do not go to the gravesite at the beginning of the procession, you
go there at the end and bury the casket there.
Go there at the end, for
now, go somewhere else
WHERE WILL YOU GO
Once the procession starts, where will you go?
The Big Tree
Si Fang Jie (Village Square)
AT THE FIRST STOP
You have made it to Si Fang Jie, your first stop. What do you want to
do now.
Keep on going
Attract attention
Weep and cry loudly
YOU WANT ATTENTION
Why would you keep on going? You want everyone to know about
the death.
Go do something before leaving Si
Fang Jie
AT THE FIRST STOP
You have made it to Si Fang Jie, your first stop. What do you want to
do now.
Attract attention
Weep and cry loudly
THAT’S NOT ALL
In the Bai Minority, the wife, daughters, sisters are expected to weep
uncontrollably, especially the wife while walking behind the casket.
But not everyone is expected to.
Choose something
else to do
AT THE FIRST STOP
You have made it to Si Fang Jie, your first stop. What do you want to
do now.
Keep on going
Attract attention
IN THE SPOTLIGHT
Correct, at Si Fang Jie, you attract attention by setting off firecrackers,
playing loud music, weeping/mourning loudly etc. It is also a sign of
respect to the deceased. Now you will continue on past Si Fang Jie.
Continue walking past
Si Fang Jie
CROSSING RIVERS
On the way to your next destination, the Big Tree, you find yourself
at the bank of the river at one end of a bridge, how will you cross?
Backwards
Normally
Walk over the sons lying on the bridge
FACE FORWARDS
I do not see why you would choose to cross the bridge walking
backwards.
Turn around and walk
facing forwards
CROSSING RIVERS
On the way to your next destination the Big Tree, you find yourself at
the bank of the river at one end of a bridge, how will you cross?
Normally
Walk over the sons lying on the bridge
TRADITION
The Bai Minority believe that the deceased are unable to cross rivers
or bridges. In other words, you cannot walk normally.
Try crossing in a
different way
CROSSING RIVERS
On the way to your next destination, the Big Tree, you find yourself
at the bank of the river at one end of a bridge, how will you cross?
Backwards
Walk over the sons lying on the bridge
OVER THE SONS
Because the Bai Minority believes that the deceased cannot cross
rivers or bridges, the sons of the deceased must lie down on the
bridge and have the casket brought over them. In this way, the
deceased is able to cross the river.
Head on to the big tree
THE BIG TREE
You have almost made it to the end of the procession!
But before moving on, what will you do at the big tree?
Walk around it
Burn items
All of the above
HALF RIGHT
You are half right, go try again
Choose something
else to do
THE BIG TREE
You have almost made it to the end of the procession! But before
moving on, what will you do at the big tree?
Walk around it
Burn items
All of the above
HALF RIGHT
You are half right, go try again
Choose something
else to do
THE BIG TREE
You have almost made it to the end of the procession! But before
moving on, what will you do at the big tree?
Walk around it
Burn items
All of the above
PAST THE BIG TREE
At the Big Tree, you must walk around it three times, symbolizing the soul of
the deceased going up into heaven. You then burn clothe, blankets, and items
the deceased frequently used so that they may use it before re-incarnating. You
have gone past the big tree and are on your way to the grave site. But before
you leave, do you know where to bury the casket?
On the mountain
By Lake Er Hai
At a graveyard in Dali
IT IS POSSIBLE
It is possible to bury the body next to Lake Er Hai, but that is only
the case for those who have drowned in Er Hai; otherwise, the
deceased is buried somewhere else.
Go bury the casket
somewhere else
PAST THE BIG TREE
At the Big Tree, you must walk around it three times, symbolizing the soul of
the deceased going up into heaven. You then burn clothing, blankets, and
items the deceased frequently used so that they may use it before re-
incarnating. You have gone past the big tree and are on your way to the grave
site. But before you leave, do you know where to bury the casket?
On the mountain
At a graveyard in Dali
NO PLACE TO BURY
The deceased are not buried in a grave yard in Dali.
Go find somewhere else
PAST THE BIG TREE
At the Big Tree, you must walk around it three times, symbolizing the soul of
the deceased going up into heaven. You then burn clothing, blankets, and
items the deceased frequently used so that they may use it before re-
incarnating. You have gone past the big tree and are on your way to the grave
site. But before you leave, do you know where to bury the casket?
On the mountain
By Er Hai Lake
CHECK-POINT THREE
You have made it to the burial grounds! Give yourself a pat on the
back and take a nap. You will be moving onto planning in the future.
Get your minds ready and start planning ahead.
Planning the future
PART FOUR: THE
FUTURE
You have buried the casket and are planning your calendar for the
next few years. You need to include some special days and items to
use.
Let’s get started
THE NEAREST DATE
You start with the days closest to now. When will you have your first
date that is funeral related?
In a month
In a year
First Chinese New Year
A LITTLE TO LONG
One year is a little too long, you need to plan earlier.
Click here to choose a
different date
THE NEAREST DATE
You start with the days closest to now. When will you have your first
date that is funeral related?
In a month
First Chinese New Year
NOT THE FIRST STEP
Chinese New Year should not be your first date.
Click here to choose a
different date
THE NEAREST DATE
You start with the days closest to now. When will you have your first
date that is funeral related?
In a month
In a year
HELP THE SOULS
After a month, you have 五七 (five seven) where you help the soul 超
度. 超度 is to help the soul re-incarnate as soon as possible. It gets it’s
name because five times seven is 35, which is the actual number of
days after burial that you need to wait.
Moving on to
the second date
THE SECOND DATE
After 五七 you need remember something special for Chinese New
Year. What is the special thing?
Couplet
Clothing
(对联)
Firecrackers
NO EXPLOSION CHANGE
Firecrackers do not change during first Chinese New Year after
burying the deceased.
Try finding
something else
THE SECOND DATE
After 五七 you need remember something special for Chinese New
Year. What is the special thing?
Couplet
(对联)
Clothing
NO NEED TO CHANGE
You do not wear special clothing for the first Chinese New Year after
the funeral.
Go choose
something else to be
special
THE SECOND DATE
After 五七 you need remember something special for Chinese New
Year. What is the special thing?
Couplet
(对联)
Firecrackers
COLOR CHANGE
The Bai Minority are not allowed to use red 对联 for a certain
number of years after someone has passed away. They change the
color instead. But how long are they not allowed to use red ones?
One year
Two years
Three years
ONE IS TOO SHORT
One year is too short, you need to repay all the work your parents
have done for you.
Go wait another
year or two
COLOR CHANGE
The Bai Minority are not allowed to use red 对联 for a certain
number of years after someone has passed away. They change the
color instead. Purple for the first year, and green for the second. But
how long are they not allowed to use red ones?
One year
Two years
Three years
IT DEPENDS
How many years depends on the gender of the deceased. What is the
gender of the deceased?
Male
Female
INCORRECT GENDER
You do not wait two years before being allowed to use red 对联 if the
deceased was female.
Click here to
change the time
COLOR CHANGE
The Bai Minority are not allowed to use red 对联 for a certain
number of years after someone has passed away. They change the
color instead. Purple for the first year, and green for the second. But
how long are they not allowed to use red ones?
One year
Two years
Three years
IT DEPENDS
How many years depends on the gender of the deceased. What is the
gender of the deceased?
Male
Female
INCORRECT GENDER
You do not wait three years before being allowed to use red 对联 if
the deceased was male.
Click here to
choose a different
time
THIS IS 戴孝
戴孝 (dài xiào) is keeping the soul of the deceased with the family for
two or three years depending on gender before the soul reincarnates.
The Bai Minority believe that females have done much more for you
in raising you up, which is why three years is the time for 戴孝 for
females, and only two for males.
Almost done
THE FINAL STEP
脱孝 (tuó xiào) is the final step. This is when the family hires another
scripture reader to read scriptures and the family takes the 孝布 (xiào
bù, a white cloth) off and releases the soul which allows it to reincarnate. The 孝布 is not worn everyday, only on the funeral related
days.
Continue
CONGRATULATIONS
You have finished the whole process of a Bai Minority Funeral. You
can start again.
Start Again
Finish
THANKS FOR VIEWING
Sources
SOURCES
1: http://factsanddetails.com/china.php?itemid=178&catid=3
2: http://www.chinahighlights.com/travelguide/nationality/bai.htm
3: http://rsc.byu.edu/archived/deity-and-death/1-what%E2%80%99s-funeral-korean-american-mormon-and-jewish-rites-compared
4: http://www.amiwa-trek.com/htm/index_nature.htm
5: Mr. Zhao (Guard in YZR) 4/24/13
6: Mrs. Yan (Works in YZR and the Linden Center) 4/25/13
7: Antique store owners near SiFangJie 4/25/13
8: http://www.nianw.com/zt/2011-9-21/ZT_679.htm (Chinese)
9: http://zhidao.baidu.com/question/319339237.html (Chinese)
10: Xiao Tang
11: Mr. T
12: http://www.ynws.gov.cn/Detail.aspx?ID=11233 (Chinese)
13: Mr. Yang the Casket Maker
14: Owner of Noodle and Dumpling Shop in SFJ
15: Mrs. Hong
16: Mr. and Mrs. Yin near the East Gate
17: Mrs. Yang from the Linden Center
18: Mr. Yang owner of the Golden Flower (did not want to talk about the topic)
19: Funeral of Mr. Yang (looking around)
20: Colton/Ying Yang (went to a funeral feast thing)
21: Mr. Duan
22: Mr. Zhao, the younger guard