Coping+With+Death+And+Loss+Confucian+Perspectives+And+The+Use+Of+Rituals

Chen, Biao. "Coping With Death And Loss: Confucian Perspectives And The Use Of Rituals." Pastoral Psychology 61.5/6 (2012): 1037. Advanced Placement Source. Web. 14 June 2016.

Biao Chen's writing goes in depth in explaining the significance of death in the Chinese culture. Chen explains that, in this culture that is deeply rooted in Confucian ideals, individuals cope with the passing of a loved one through meticulous detail in rituals. This attention to detail allows one to release the difficulty of losing a loved one through the act of memorialization. One way the dead are memorialized is by showing in the funeral ceremony the level of filial piety that the dead portrayed in their lives. Filial piety, a core tenet of Confucian ideals, is the virtue of respect on has towards his parents and ancestry.

Chen's article gives an interesting and detailed perspective into the ceremonies regarding the Chinese dead as well as insight into the psychological effects these ceremonies have on those close to the deceased. The article also provides some depth on the root of these cultural norms in regards to the Confucian philosophies the culture stems from.