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Chinese Ancestral Traditions Culture Studies Analysis

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Running Head: ANCESTRAL TRADITIONS 1

Analyzing African and Chinese Ancestral Traditions

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Institution Affiliation

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ANCESTRAL TRADITIONS 2

Introduction

Culture is central to the stability and functioning of societies. It is described as the

beliefs, symbols, artifacts, value systems and perceptions observed by a certain community. The

culture influences key social dimensions such as diets, marriage, justice system and the way

societies interact with life and death. In particular, each society has a way in which it manages

death. Some societies share similarities while others are significantly different. The African and

the Chinese societies have notable similarities and differences in the ways they handle death or

the afterlife.

Similarities

The African and the Chinese societies have remarkable similarities. To begin with, both

societies have a strong fidelity to the ancestral dead. The Africans societies, particularly the

Abaluyia and the Dembele have a strong connection to the dead in which the names and their

wishes are respected and upheld. The relatives of the departed remember them by name and

deeds. The concept of immortality practiced in African societies is also common in the Chinese

culture. The dead in the Malay culture are immortalized as monks. Both cultures have a strong

concept of the living-dead in which the dead are part of the living societies (Goss, & Klass 2005;

Mbiti, 1990). In addition, both cultures have a systematic and well-arranged plan through which

the dead are escorted. The larger community is expected to have an input in the burial ritual. To

put it differently, both cultures adopt a collective burial approach. In an Abaluyia burial ritual,

family members and relatives are expected to be present during the final moments of the dead

(the sasa moment).

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Running Head: ANCESTRAL TRADITIONS Analyzing African and Chinese Ancestral Traditions Name Institution Affiliation 1 ANCESTRAL TRADITIONS 2 Introduction Culture is central to the stability and functioning of societies. It is described as the beliefs, symbols, artifacts, value systems and perceptions observed by a certain community. The culture influences key social dimensions such as diets, marriage, justice system and the way societies interact with life and death. In particular, each society has a way in which it manages death. Some societies share similarities while others are significantly different. The African and the Chinese societies have notable similarities and differences in the ways they handle death or the afterlife. Similarities The African and the Chinese societies have remarkable similarities. To begin with, both societies have a strong fidelity to the ancestral dead. The Africans societies, particularly the Abaluyia and the Dembele have a strong connection to the dead in which the names and their wishes are respected and upheld. The relatives of the departed remember them by name and deeds. The concept of immortality practiced in African societies is also common in the Chinese culture. The dead in the Malay culture are immortalized as monks. Both cultures have a strong concept of the living-dead in which the dead are part of the living societies (Goss, & Klass 2005; Mbiti, 1990). In addition, both cultures have a systematic and well-arranged plan throug ...
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Tags: Africans societies Malay culture Malay community Chagga community in Africa African societies