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When my mum unexpectedly passed away from covid-19, we had to make all the arrangements for the traditional Chinese funeral with Covid-19 as our obstacle. With no parents to guide and support us, we battle through a number of emotions. Monday 1st November 2021 It was 21:40 when my siblings and I sat around the hospital bed as my mum took her last breath... "she's gone now..." the doctor confirmed... It was only a couple of days ago that we spoke to Mum, and she was in good h

When someone dies, they are brought to Hell (DIYU/地獄) by cow head and horse face (Niútóu mǎ liǎn/牛頭馬臉). Here they will cross the bridge to hell (Nai He Qiao/奈何橋) where they are now at the entrance of Hell. Hell is beneath the sea bed. The kingdom of Hell has 10 palace halls with a respective king in each. In Each of the respective Palaces lies a Court in which the deceased will report to one by one. These courts are known to be as the Ten courts of HELL. Each court of hell h

Traditional Chinese funerals can feel overwhelming, especially if you have never had to prepare one before. When my father passed away during the pandemic, my family had to learn and organise many of these customs ourselves. This guide is based on how we prepared his funeral in the UK, and I hope it helps anyone going through something similar. Altar Arrangements Continuously burn candles and incense until the day of the burial to guide the deceased to the afterlife Incense p