Everyone is faced with the moment of life and death, and for the death of a loved one, we not only have to bear the pain of loss, but also have to face a series of follow-up matters, including how to properly arrange the portrait of the deceased.
The portrait, as the image carrier of the deceased relatives, carries the thoughts and memories of the family members.
So, what should be done with the remains of the elderly after they are buried?
1. Do the portraits of the old people have to be burned after they pass away?
The remains are not unique to modern times, and before the invention of the camera, our ancestors also had a trick
They use paintbrushes to leave the appearance of their loved ones, just like we do now with our mobile phones to take pictures.
It is recorded in the "Chronicles of the Three Kingdoms" that after the death of some officials, the common people directly picked up the paintbrush and painted them vividly.
Later, photographic technology was invented, and the posthumous image became the form of a photograph.
Therefore, now people remember their deceased relatives, in addition to burning incense and kowtowing, they will also find a good photo gallery before they die, take a portrait, and put it at home for offerings.
Every time I miss my loved ones, I look at the portrait as if my loved ones are right in front of me.
Although we can't touch or hold it, the warmth and comfort in our hearts are real, and it suddenly pulls us back to those good times with our loved ones.
After the old man dies, do they have to burn their posthumous photos? This is actually a traditional custom in many places.
Burning the posthumous photos means that the deceased can rest in peace and no longer be disturbed by the distractions of the world.
It is also a kind of psychological comfort for the living, so that they can gradually accept the reality of the death of their loved ones and start a new life.
Of course, some families may not choose to burn their photos for a variety of reasons.
But at this time, it is no longer advisable to hang the posthumous photo at home.
This is because the posthumous photo will evoke sad memories for the family, which is not conducive to the family member to get out of the grief and start life again.
Moreover, according to the traditional concept, leaving the photo at home may bring some bad aura and affect the harmony and tranquility of the family.
There is an old saying that "it is better to hang the tiger king than the portrait of the dead", which means that the family would rather hang a portrait of a tiger than hang the portrait of an old man.
This is not to say that tiger portraits are better than posthumous photos, but it emphasizes the negative psychological effects that posthumous photos can bring.
Although the tiger portrait is ferocious, at least it does not evoke the sadness of the family.
Of course, there is also a misunderstanding to be clarified here.
Although the posthumous photos may not be suitable to be hung at home, the life photos taken by the elderly in the past are definitely treasures.
These photos are like "memoirs" of old people, recording their bits and pieces, as well as those happy times.
Especially those family group photos, the way the elders smile from ear to ear is simply priceless.
These photos not only allow us to remember the past, but also make us cherish the present and the future even more.
So don't throw these photos away as garbage, keep them, and turn them out from time to time to look at them, so that you can reminisce about the past.
2. What are the "bad" effects of leaving a posthumous image?
In some cities in the north, as soon as the old man dies, the portrait becomes the "VIP guest" of the family.
It is usually placed in a dignified position in the north of the home.
The reason for this placement is that in the traditional concept, due north represents authority and status, like the dragon chair in the palace.
In this way, every time the whole family sees the statue, they will feel respect and remembrance.
The way the statue is placed not only reflects the respect for the elderly, but also is full of profound cultural connotations.
Family members will also offer some fruits, food and other items in front of the statue, which is not only a tribute to the elderly, but also an expression of their longing.
Although this traditional way of dealing with the elderly reflects a deep affection for the elderly, there are some potential problems.
For those who are timid children or pregnant women, the presence of the statue can indeed cause them a lot of fear.
For example, when a child was playing at home, he accidentally caught a glimpse of the portrait.
They may not understand what that means, but the serious face is enough to make them afraid to come any closer.
For pregnant women, their bodies are undergoing dramatic changes and their emotions are becoming more sensitive and vulnerable.
The heavy and sad atmosphere brought by the portrait will make them feel even more depressed and uneasy.
Being in such an environment for a long time will not only affect their mental health, but may also have adverse effects on the development of the fetus.
Therefore, we need to take into account the feelings of children and pregnant women at home when dealing with the posthumous images.
It's not that we can't remember our loved ones who have passed away, but we need to find a more appropriate way.
In addition, placing the portrait at home for a long time is also easy to over-immerse the family members in sad emotions.
As the last portrait of the old man's life, every time I see it, my family can't help but recall the bits and pieces spent with the old man.
Those warm images and deep emotions are intertwined, forming an emotional bond that is difficult to part.
Over-immersion in grief can easily make it difficult for family members to extricate themselves and make it difficult to come out of the shadow of losing a loved one.
Being immersed in memories for a long time makes it impossible to concentrate on real life, and even affects the normal progress of work and life.
For the elderly, they definitely want to see their families live happily and joyfully, rather than drowning in grief.
Therefore, as family members, we need to learn to face and deal with this emotion correctly.
If the statue is kept at home, what should be done?
3. The retention of the posthumous image follows 2 do's and 3 don'ts
Regarding the placement and storage of the posthumous statue, there are also many particularities and evasions, which we usually call "3 don'ts" and "2 wants".
First of all, let's talk about the "3 don'ts", don't hang the statue in front of the gate.
Why? This is because the door of the house is a very important place.
It is not only the main passage for the family to enter and exit on a daily basis, but also an important gateway for the exchange of air currents in the home.
There are people coming and going at the gate, and if the portrait is hung there, then every time someone enters or leaves the house, they have to face the face of the deceased.
In this way, it will not only bring discomfort and panic to the visiting guests, make them feel uncomfortable, but also may disturb the peace of the deceased, and make us feel sorry for ourselves.
Moreover, Chinese pay attention to "harmony and wealth", and there must be a harmonious and peaceful atmosphere at home.
Hanging the portrait in front of the gate may make the atmosphere in the home heavy and depressing, which is not conducive to the physical and mental health of family members.
Therefore, when dealing with the posthumous image, you have to be thoughtful.
If you really want to place a portrait in your home, you can choose some places that are relatively hidden and not often passed by, such as the bedroom or study of the elderly.
Don't be in a bedroom where people live, the bedroom is a place for the family to rest and recharge, and the yang energy is stronger.
The posthumous statue has a certain amount of yin energy, and if it is placed in the bedroom for a long time, it is easy to break the balance of yin and yang, affecting the health and fortune of the family.
Of course, the bedroom is also an important place for family members to communicate emotionally, and placing the portrait is easy for the living to see things and think about people, resulting in sad and depressed emotions.
Do not store the statue in a warehouse, which is usually a place to store items.
The air circulation in the warehouse is often poor, which can easily lead to excessive humidity.
For the remains of paper or wood, it is easy to get damp and mildew, or even deformed.
We originally wanted to preserve the image of the deceased so that we can always remember it, but it turned out to be unrecognizable because of improper storage, which is undoubtedly a great disrespect to the deceased.
In addition, due to the closed environment in the warehouse, it is easy to breed various pests, which may eat or destroy the remains.
Those statues that originally carried the images and memories of the deceased were bitten by insects, which is undoubtedly a desecration of the memory of the deceased.
On a psychological level, a warehouse is usually a darker, deserted place.
Storing the remains in such an environment is also easy to make the family feel more sad and heavy when remembering the deceased.
Next, let's talk about the "2 musts", which can be placed in a special Buddhist shrine.
Placing the statue in the shrine allows the deceased to feel the respect and respect of the family.
However, this shrine is not something that can be placed in a random place.
You have to choose a quiet and solemn corner of the house, so that the statue can quietly "enjoy" the offering.
In this way, the family can also feel a sense of tranquility and peace while remembering the deceased.
The image can be wrapped in a bag or cloth, and wrapped tightly with a special bag or cloth.
Not only makes it look decent, but also protects against dust and moisture "sneak attack".
When choosing a "coat", you have to keep your eyes open and find a good quality, which must be the kind that is tightly fitted, moisture-proof and dust-proof.
If you put it in a wardrobe or drawer, you have to pick a good place, it has to be a dry and ventilated place to store it.
Don't let it get damp or moldy, or you won't feel good.
epilogue
The dead are gone, and the living are like us. The true passing of a person is not the departure of the body, but the forgetting of all people.
As long as someone remembers him, his spirit lives on.
Therefore, we should respect personal choices and feelings on the premise of respecting personal choices and feelings, and choose the most suitable way for ourselves and our families to remember our deceased loved ones.
Resources:
1. Yanmei said Finance 2024-03-12
"After the old man is buried, how to deal with the portrait? Can you keep it? Here comes the answer!"
2. Ferryman funeral service2023-05-18
"How to deal with the posthumous image after the funeral? "4 wants and 4 don'ts" about the posthumous image, you must not make a mistake
3. Sannong Xiaomao 2023-05-25
""If you don't burn the four relics, you will leave your descendants rich", which four relics can't be burned? It's a pity to burn the wrong one"