Funeral rituals in Taiwan and Korea

To explore the diversity of rituals and attitudes surrounding death in the context of the Asian cultures of China and Korea.

Published books and journal articles; author experience.

The death of any family member can evoke a myriad of emotional responses, and the bereavement processes and the expression of grief may vary among cultures. In the Chinese and Korean cultures, the principles of Confucianism, Buddhism, and Christianity strongly influence many aspects of daily living, including bereavement. The most prominent example is displayed in the complexity of funeral rituals and postfuneral ceremonies.

Integral to the tenets of Confucianism and Buddhism are the notions of dignity and harmony. The funeral ritual is vitally important because it ensures safe passage of the deceased into the afterlife.

As healthcare professionals in a culturally diverse nation, nurses should begin to understand what takes place during funeral rituals as well as increase their sensitivity to the underlying cultural contexts.