Customs everyone follows,few explain.
Customs differ by place and dialect group. These are for reference.
What Is “Hand Money” at a Chinese Funeral?
The money placed by the hand of the deceased is not for them to take away. It is “hand money” (手尾钱), left for the children and grandchildren, and shared out before the casket is closed.
Getting Married During the Mourning Period: What Chinese Custom Says
In the past, children mourned their parents for three years before marrying. The older generation also say that a wedding already agreed on can be held within the first 100 days.
Why Does the Son Carry a Mourning Staff at a Chinese Funeral?
Long ago, the mourning staff was a real walking stick. Bamboo is used when a father dies, and wood when a mother dies.
Why Do Some Mourners Wear Red? Chinese Funeral Clothing Colours by Generation
The coarse hemp worn by the children is meant to be uncomfortable. Grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren wear different colours, and red means the deceased lived to see five generations.
Foot-End Rice: Why Chopsticks Stand Upright in Rice at a Chinese Funeral
The bowl of rice placed at the feet of the deceased, with chopsticks standing upright, is food for the journey ahead.