Funeral rites are conducted in many procedures, however they can be divided largely into two rituals. First, the funeral to treat the body before burial or cremation. Second, a ritual to sublimate the dead as the ancestor god after holding a funeral....
Funeral rites are conducted in many procedures, however they can be divided largely into two rituals. First, the funeral to treat the body before burial or cremation. Second, a ritual to sublimate the dead as the ancestor god after holding a funeral. That is, it includes the rituals of enshrining ancestral tablets in Jongmyo or Sadang, etc. and ancestral rites. Funeral rites are the rites that are continued so far since the ancient times, which can inform of our life and mental culture.
Funeral rites are the rites of body treatment. Since death inevitably comes, everybody experiences once in their life. However, one’s own death cannot but be perceived by others’ death. Therefore, funeral rites are for the dead, however they are very important rites, since they make everyone who attend the funeral recognize death, including the bereaved. As the funeral procedure is progressed, all funeral participants including the bereaved can realize their own death while they observing death of the dead.
Long ago, nevertheless no basic cosmetics or various color cosmetics as today, there was also a rite to wash and arrange in traditional funeral rites.
Basic concept of the body restoration is the dead make up. The dead make up performed in the process of Susi and Yeomseub is mostly performed at once a day in modern funeral procedure.
In traditional dead pearson make up, they washed hair up with Hyangtangsu, then bathed, wore shroud, then performed Banham with pearl, beads, or rice, etc. The reason of Banham was, as explained in the above,『Yegi』says, “Using rice and jewelry is to fill the mouth with beautiful things”. Also, female death wore make up beautifully with rouge on the cheeks and the forehead.
In the rapidly changing modern society, they are highly interested in quality of death along with quality of life, accordingly, many changes have occurred in funeral rites. There are various changes, including appearance of funeral hall and body make up.
The dead make up is not much different from general make up in respect of make up materials or treatment method, etc. However, one big difference is consideration more on color combination technique, etc. to well express the figure of their lifetime, besides the knowledge of the body along with time after death.
The fundamental purpose of dead make up is to recover dignity of the dead and show a peaceful figure to the bereaved family. That is, to create the figure of naturally alive figure covering physical change and color change, etc. after death with make up. Also, it can promote psychological stability of the bereaved, remaining with good memories of farewell to the dead.