Abstract
This thesis analyses the traditional funeral customs between China and America, focusing on the disparities and the similarities between them. Every culture, irrespective of their origin, has its own distinct set of customs, traditions and etiquettes, which is regarded as a distinguished feature of each culture. Yet at the same time, some common grounds are always found in two different cultures. It is true with Chinese and American culture. As part of a culture, the traditional funeral customs between China and America share some common characters while there are obvious disparities existing there.
Due to different cultures, China and America may have different way of thinking which is embodied from respective customs, traditions and etiquettes. More specifically, the cultural backgrounds and individual judgment of conviction heavily influence the decision-making process of the funeral etiquettes of different countries. Funeral customs are cultural history themselves. No matter what kind of cultural origin it is from, funeral will be a must thing in people’s lives. For the important status of funeral, people in China and America all pay great respect to funeral; this is particularly reflected in the funeral customs. However, traditional Chinese and American funeral customs differ from each other by the following aspects: first, the arrangement and preparation in the funeral; second, the dressing colors; third, the connection of religious belief and funeral place. The traditional funeral customs are changing and keeping up with the culture life level, but they will not change the fundamental part that is based on tradition and that is suitable for native nation.
Key Words: traditional funeral customs common character of cultures disparity of cultures religious impact
摘 要
本文分析了中美传统葬礼,集中讨论了两者之间的相同点和差异。由于起源的不同,每一种文化都有自己的传统风俗和礼仪;这些独特的传统风俗和礼仪使一种文化与其它文化相区别开来。与此同时,尽管文化起源不同,不同文化之间往往也可以发现一些共同特征。中美文化是两种有很大差异的文化,然而在中美文化中却依然可以找到两者的一些共同之处;这在两国传统葬礼方面表现得比较突出。
由于文化的不同,中美两国在思维方式上有一定的差异,这些差异可以在两国不同的传统和礼仪中体现出来。更确切地说,两国不同的文化背景和对思维方式在很大程度上影响了各自的传统葬礼礼仪。然而中美传统葬礼却有着共同之处。无论是哪种文化,葬礼在人们的生命中都具有重要的地位,因此不同国家的人们都对葬礼怀着深深的敬意。总的来说,中美传统葬礼还是有很大差异,特别是在以下三个方面:一,葬礼前的准备与安排;二,出席葬礼时穿的颜色;三,宗教信仰和葬礼地点之间的联系。中美葬礼礼仪随着时代变化,但是不会改变适合本民族,基于传统的核心部分。
关键词: 传统葬礼 文化共性 文化差异性 宗教影响
Contents
Acknowledgements……………………………………………………..……..………i
Abstract (English)………………………………………………..………..……………ii
Abstract (Chinese)……………………………………………………..……..……… iv
- Introduction………………………………………………………………………….1
- The traditional funeral customs of China and America……………………….…….2
2.1 The traditional funeral customs in China……………..…………………………2
2.2 The traditional funeral customs in America..……………………………………4
- Similarities of traditional Chinese and American funeral customs………. ………..6
3.1 The respect and prayer for the departed saint…..…………………….………….6
3.2 The involvement of family and community..…………………….……………..8
3.3 Drive away evil spirits…………………………………………………………..9
- Differences of traditional Chinese and American funeral customs…..…………….10
4.1 The arragement and preparation…….………………………….……………….11
4.2 The dressing colors…………………………………………………………….12
4.3 The funeral place and religious belief…………………………………………13
- Culture differences on China and American funerals……………………………..15
5.1 Differences in religious culture………………………………………………..16
5.2 Differences in ethics culture……………………………………………………17
5.3 Differences in color culture……………………………………………………18
- Conclusion…………………………………………………………………………18
References…………………………………………………………………………………….20