The Influence of the Buddhist View of Life and Death on the Forms of Traditional Chinese Funerary Apparel.

Abstract

Traditional Chinese funerary apparel reflects the historical interplay between indigenous patriarchal ethics and introduced Buddhist concepts of karma and rebirth. Using historical literature and visual data, this study explores how Buddhist views on life and death reshaped the form and structure of mourning attire.The research reveals three main findings:1)In terms of form and tailoring,the Buddhist pursuit of liberation inspired loose-fitting garments that replaced buttons with ribbons, metaphorically symbolizing the release of worldly ties and karmic hindrances.2)At the level of visual symbols,integrating motifs like lotus flowers and Sanskrit transformed these garments from rigid markers of patriarchal hierarchy into functional ritual implements used to pray for soul deliverance.3)At the level of the game of etiquette and law,to navigate strict Confucian clothing regulations, folk mourning apparel developed a dual structure. People outwardly adhered to orthodox Confucian norms while concealing Buddhist elements within their inner layers.