CHINESE FUNERAL SPECIALISTS IN SINGAPORE

Abstract

In the anthropological study of death of the Chinese, many approach from the point of view of the common people - the bereaved. The funeral specialists are people dealing with death all the time, and so they will have a different perspective of death. This study is to examine how consciousness of funeral practices is being constructed differently by different people. In chapter one, background information on the Chinese view of death is given before I go on to define who are the people involved in my study. The theoretical framework and methodology are also discussed in this chapter. Chapter two is on the social organisation of the undertakers and the Taoist priests. An ethnographic description of their work is included. Chapter three deals with the self perception of the undertakers and the priests with the notions of service; death pollution and occupational prestige. Chapter four discusses how the clients perceive the funeral specialists and the relationship between these two groups of people. All the points will be tied up to give a conclusion in the fifth chapter.