Taoist
Taoist Funeral Services in Singapore
Our Taoist funeral services in Singapore are carried out in accordance with the family dialect. Hokkien, Teochew, Cantonese, Hainanese, and Hakka are among the dialect groups in Singapore, each with its own set of Taoist funeral practices. Depending on the preference of the family, funeral arrangements can be either conventional and elegant, or quiet and simple. Our experienced funeral service directors will guide and cater to the specified needs of the grieving family throughout the service process.
Why Select A.LifeGrad Taoist Funeral Package?
We offer Taoist funeral packages in Singapore that comply with different Taoist customs, assuring families in mourning a dignified send-off for their departed loved ones. Our affordable Taoist funeral packages consist of all essential requirements for a Taoist funeral service, including the complete casket services, a lantern with the bearer, the paper house, the Taoist priest chanting conducted in accordance with the various dialect practices, and other funeral arrangements. We are dedicated to ensuring the proper organisation of Taoist funeral ceremonies and take great pride in our services to the bereaved families.
Taoist Funerals in Singapore
Taoist funeral rituals are rooted in Taoist philosophy, which emphasises the significance of living in harmony with the universe and maintaining the natural balance of yin and yang. While Taoist funeral customs allow the living to pay their respects to the departed, their ultimate purpose is to guide the soul in its journey to the afterlife through prayer, chanting, and offerings. The concept that the soul of the deceased must travel to the next realm is central to Taoist funeral customs, and the rituals and ceremonies performed during the funeral are meant to bring comfort to the deceased and ease their passage into the afterlife.
While Taoist funeral customs vary depending on the family dialect, certain practices are common among all dialects. Some of the most noteworthy ones are the summoning of the soul to ensure resurrection, ritual cleansing symbolising dissociation from earthly attachments, the burning of paper near the coffin indicating necessities essential for the afterlife, and chanting asking for repentance of misdeeds. Certain actions are also considered taboo during Taoist funerals, as they are seen as being harmful to the soul of the departed or funeral guests.
FAQs
A Taoist funeral is usually held in a funeral parlour, a void deck, or a communal area in the neighbourhood. The cost of a Taoist funeral package in Singapore can vary based on the venue of the funeral.
The length of a funeral service will be determined by the preference of the deceased or the family. It will also depend on the scale of the Taoist funeral wake, with ceremonies spanning between 3 to 7 days. It is typically held over an odd number of days, and the customs observed during the service vary according to the family dialect.
Priests will begin the funeral service by chanting Taoist scriptures, accompanied by musical instruments such as drums and symbols. Various chanting rituals will be performed throughout the service to separate the deceased from the living and to seek forgiveness from deities, among other things.
Taoist funerals contain an altar with a portrait of the deceased, joss sticks, and candles for guests to offer their prayers and pay their respects. The favourite meals of the deceased will be displayed as an offering. Mourners are encouraged to weep as loudly as possible and burn joss papers shaped after various luxurious items that the departed would require in the afterlife. Once everyone has paid their respects, the coffin will be nailed shut, and it is forbidden to watch this taking place. Then white and yellow papers are attached to the coffin, and it is placed outside. When the time comes for the burial, the bereaved relatives and friends should turn away as the body of the deceased is lowered to the earth.
Out of concern for potential negative repercussions, Taoism restricts the performance of certain behaviours or gestures during or after a funeral service. One such taboo is adorning the deceased in red, which Taoists believe will cause the person to reappear as a ghost. Mirrors are also not allowed in the vicinity of the coffin, as Taoists feel that if one sees the coffin through the reflection of a mirror, death may befall their family.
A plain white envelope with money inside is one of the most traditional and widely accepted consolation gifts at a Taoist funeral. While it is possible to offer this to the grieving family during the funeral, nowadays, there is a sympathy box at the welcome table where guests can deposit cash directly. This money is often used to cover funeral expenses. Flower wreaths adorned with lilies, daisies, roses, and chrysanthemums are another consolation gift that guests can offer the grieving family.
The attire worn by the family of the deceased indicates their place in the family. The children of the deceased will dress in white tops and black pants, while the grandchildren will wear white tops with blue trousers. In some dialects, the paternal grandchildren wear black rather than blue trousers. Guests attending a Taoist funeral service in Singapore should dress respectfully in neutral colours such as black, blue, and white.
Following the burial or cremation, the family will hold a funeral feast to express their gratitude to all who came to pay respects to their loved one. One seat will be designated for the deceased during the feast.
At Taoist funerals, verbally expressing your grief is not only permitted but also encouraged, as Taoists believe the crying of mourners is a gesture of love and affection to the departed. Following the funeral, the family of the deceased will enter a 49-day mourning period, during which prayers will be recited every seven days.
