“The Chinese have always been interested in their past -- worship of ancestors is worship of origins." (Heinz 1999:225) Ancestor Worship “The social or nonreligious function of ancestor worship is "to cultivate kinship values like filial piety, family loyalty, and continuity of the family lineage." (Yang 1957:278)

Ancestor Worship In China, the practice of ancestor worship has existed since ancient times, and it emphasized continuity of family lines. The practice of ancestor worship, can be seen as an extension of this reverence. Additionally, the family was viewed as a closely united group of living and dead relatives. Unity of the entire family was also reinforced through religious acts at temples that honored all ancestral spirits.

Regular Ancestor Worship After the home altar is taken down, the ancestors are believed to dwell in commemorative tablets. Ancestral tablets are pieces of wood inscribed with the name and dates of the deceased. They are kept in a small shrine at home and in the clan ancestral temple. Incense is lit before the tablets daily and offerings of food and prostrations are presented twice a month.

What Happens Before and After the Funeral Ancestor worship begins at the deceased family’s funeral, at which necessities of the ancestor, like a toothbrush, comb, towel, shoes, or even a computer are placed in the coffin or burned as a sacrifice. After the funeral, offerings are made to ensure the family member gets a good start in the afterlife. Necessities and luxuries, like the deceased's favorite foods, wine, and small sums of money, are placed on the altar in bowls or burned in front of the altar Fruits and vegetables are the most common foods for offerings; meats are avoided because of their association with killing. Statues representing servants or other necessities for the afterlife are also placed on or near the altar. Family members also bow in respect before the altar.

Books on Ancestor Worship Bary, Wm. Theodore de, with Wing-tsit Chan and Burton Watson, Sources of Chinese Tradition (Columbia UP, 1960). Ching, Julia, Chinese Religions (Orbis Books, 1993). Heinz, Carolyn Brown, Asian Cultural Traditions (Waveland Press, Inc., 1999). Keightley, David N., Heritage of China. Early Civilizations in China: Reflections of How It Became Chinese. Paul S. Ropp, ed. (University of California Press, Ltd., 1990), pp. 15-54. Latourette, Kenneth Scott, The Chinese: Their History and Culture. (The Macmillan Company, 1964). Soothill, W. E., The Three Religions of China (Hyperion Press, Inc., 1923). Yang, C. K., Chinese Thought and Institutions. The Functional Relationship Between Confucian Thought and Chinese Religion. John K. Fairbank, ed. (The University of Chicago Press, 1957) pp. 269-290.

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