Tradition holds deep significance across Asian cultures, especially when it comes to honoring loved ones who have died. Asian funeral customs offer families meaningful and respectful ways to say their final goodbyes. Spanning a vast and diverse range of ethnicities, religions and regions, Asian families often incorporate Buddhist, Hindu, Taoist, Muslim, Christian or other faith-based rituals in their farewell ceremonies.
General characteristics of Asian funerals
Asian funerals are rich in cultural and spiritual symbolism, shaped by centuries-old traditions. Though practices may vary by region and religion, many Asian funeral customs share common themes: respect for elders, rituals for ensuring peace in the afterlife, and a deep sense of family and community connection. These characteristics create solemn and significant memorial services.
Extended visitation
A deep reverence for elders is a cornerstone of Asian culture and an important part of Asian funerals. It’s common for Asian families to honor their loved ones with three full days of visitation before the funeral. During this time, they prefer not to move their loved ones. If the funeral home allows, a family may choose to stay with their loved one day and night, throughout the visitation period, even preparing meals on-site.
An open casket
In many Asian cultures, an open casket is considered a sign of respect. Seeing a loved one before cremation or burial offers mourners a sense of closure. It is seen as an opportunity for family and friends to show their care by ensuring the deceased is presented with dignity and grace, reflecting the values of filial piety and reverence for ancestors. An open casket also allows family and friends to pay their final respects to their loved one in a personal and direct way.
What’s more, an open casket symbolizes transparency between the living and the dead, helping ensure a peaceful transition to the afterlife.
Preferred colors
In many Asian cultures, the preferred colors for funerals often symbolize mourning, respect and the transition between life and death. The colors for dress and flowers vary by region and religious tradition. There are, however, a few colors to note:
- White: In East Asian countries, such as China, Japan and Korea, white is the primary color of mourning. It represents purity, peace and the natural cycle of life.
- Yellow or gold: In Buddhist traditions, particularly in Southeast Asia, yellow or gold may be used to symbolize spiritual purity and the path to enlightenment in the afterlife.
- Blue: In certain regions, blue may be worn as a sign of respect and mourning, particularly in rural or traditional settings.
- Black: In modernized or urban areas, the influences of Western funeral traditions show up in Asian funerals.
- Red: In most Asian cultures, red is avoided for funerals. As a symbol of happiness and good fortune, it’s an inappropriate choice for mourning. One exception: If the deceased loved one was 80 or older, flowers and the clothing of friends and family may include pink or red in celebration of a long life.
Incense burning
Prevalent in Buddhist, Taoist and Confucian traditions, the ritual of burning incense at funerals is said to purify the environment, creating a sacred space for family and friends to express reverence and respect. The smoke from the incense is also thought to symbolize a bridge between the physical world and the spiritual realm, carrying prayers and offerings to the deceased and their ancestors, guiding their spirits toward peace and enlightenment.
Regional customs
Regional customs, religious beliefs and family preferences shape the diverse funeral traditions across Asia. While some incorporate Western ideas, they often do so in a hybrid way, mixing ancient Asian practices with more modern ideas about end-of-life services.
Chinese funeral traditions
Family plays a crucial role in Chinese funeral traditions. Often with the guidance of monks, priests or feng shui masters, family members will organize a lavish traditional service. The mourning period may include a three-day visitation.
Lots and lots of white or yellow mums are common at Chinese funerals. Women may wear mourning flowers in their hair. Incense and joss paper, also called spirit money, are burned to aid the loved one's journey to the afterlife. Guests may give the family money in white envelopes (or red envelopes, for loved ones who lived to age 80 or beyond).
A procession to the crematory or gravesite typically follows the funeral. A family may opt to participate in the cremation of a loved one.
Indian funeral traditions
Asian Indian funerals emphasize community support, with friends, family and neighbors showing up to care for and assist those who are grieving. Mourners typically wear white, symbolizing purity and mourning.
During the funeral, offerings such as flowers or rice are made to the loved one to help ensure a peaceful transition. A funeral procession, in which the loved one is carried to the cremation or burial location, symbolizes life's final journey. After the service, friends and family share a meal in order to spend time together offering comfort and support.
Japanese funeral traditions
Japanese funeral ceremonies usually begin with a wake or gathering of family and friends the night before the funeral. The funeral ceremony usually follows Buddhist customs, with attendees wearing navy or black clothing, chanting, burning incense and giving eulogies.
Whether a family follows Buddhist or Shinto customs, the loved one is usually cremated. Close family may opt to attend the start of the cremation process and return at a set time to use special chopsticks to place the loved one's bone fragments into an urn. The latter is a ritual called kotsuage. The loved one’s ashes are sometimes divided for burial or scattering.
Korean funeral traditions
Korean funerals vary depending on the economic status and religious preferences of the person whose life is being honored, but there are many common practices.
A funeral is usually held three days after the loved one has passed. An open casket is common. Mourners, who dress in black, may take part in the burial process by helping to cover the casket with dirt, a custom also seen at Jewish funerals. Family members often return to their loved one's gravesite over the next few days to pray.
Gifts of money are also a traditional part of Korean funerals.
Vietnamese funeral traditions
Vietnamese funeral rituals may last several days and include cleansing the loved one, dressing them in new clothing and covering them with a white sheet. The family or funeral director will set up an altar adorned with white flowers (especially the lotus), fruit, candles, incense and a photograph for the viewing or visitation. The casket stays open during the visitation, and guests are expected to bow to the casket three or five times (odd numbers are considered lucky). Meals may be offered to the loved one’s altar.
A monk may conduct the funeral service, which may include chanting and meditation. A procession to the crematory or gravesite usually follows it.
Religious customs
Religious customs offer familiarity, peace and comfort to those mourning the loss of a loved one. Each faith tradition incorporates unique rituals, such as prayers, music and readings, which honor the loved one and help their friends and families feel a sense of closure.
Buddhist funeral traditions
Buddhist funeral traditions revolve around a belief in reincarnation and the soul's journey toward Nirvana, a state of bliss. These understated yet dignified funerals are typically held within a week of passing, often in a funeral home. Visitors pay their respects the night before the funeral at a viewing filled with candlelight and incense. Visitors offer the family their condolences before respectfully bowing to the casket.
The funeral service, conducted by a monk, includes an open casket and a period of meditation. The color white is used to symbolize mourning for the family; friends of the deceased wear black. Post-funeral visits to the grieving family’s home are allowed, but visits are not appropriate before the funeral. Guests may offer donations or flowers, but they should not give gifts of food.
Hindu funerals
In the Hindu tradition, death is an opportunity to remember a loved one and to celebrate their life. When a loved one dies, a lamp is promptly lit by their head, which serves to guide the soul. Usually, the loved one is moved to a funeral home, where they are washed and dressed in white. The funeral, often conducted by a Hindu priest, includes songs, chants and scripture readings.
Because Hindus believe the body might hinder the soul’s journey, cremation happens as quickly as possible after the funeral. A 13-day mourning period follows, during which family and friends offer prayers and condolences. Sometimes a family will hold a second memorial service within a month of their loved one’s passing to provide another opportunity for the community to bid the loved one farewell.
Muslim funerals
Muslim funeral customs provide an opportunity for friends and family to grieve, pay their respects and support the immediate family of the loved one. Soon after death, the loved one is washed and wrapped in white cloth by family members. Burial as soon as possible is the priority, so there's usually not a visitation before the service.
The funeral service is typically held in a mosque and follows formal customs that include recitations and ritual chanting from the Quran. Guests may then approach the casket to say goodbye to the loved one. Cremation is discouraged in the Muslim faith, so the funeral procession ends at the gravesite.
The focus is not on elaborate demonstrations of love in the form of flowers or fancy headstones, but rather on prayer, humility and honoring Allah. The graveside service involves a reading from the Quran, prayers and the throwing of three fistfuls of dirt. Islamic graves usually have simple, flat markers with inscriptions in Arabic.
Special days for remembering loved ones
The Chinese dedicate specific days each year to show respect to elders and ancestors. One of these special days is Chung Yeung, also known as the Double Ninth Festival. It takes place on the ninth day of the ninth lunar month. Families often hike to the mountaintop graves of their ancestors or have picnics in cemeteries, enjoying traditional foods like Chung Yeung cake to celebrate this day.
Another important occasion is Ching Ming, also known as Qingming or Tomb Sweeping Day, which is observed in early April. During this time, families clean their ancestors' graves, offer food and burn joss paper (spirit money) to honor the deceased. Since this day also signals the arrival of spring, families also often engage in outdoor activities like kite flying and picnicking, which may include traditional Ching Ming foods like peach blossom porridge, snails and sweet green rice balls.
Plan an Asian funeral
Dignity Memorial® professionals specialize in honoring the customs and traditions important to your family. Our caring experts can help you plan a service for yourself or a loved one that speaks to your cultural heritage and family preferences. Please reach out when you're ready to plan.