Preamble:
In the traditional culture of a large eastern country, there is a unique sense of ritual and respect for life and death, and "white things", as a part of it, condenses the feelings of neighborly mutual assistance, emotional exchange and longing for the deceased. Under the impact of today's material society, people's understanding and participation in the custom of "white things" may have undergone some changes, but the spirit of traditional oriental culture behind it is still worthy of our in-depth conjecture and inheritance.
1. Behind the custom of "white things".
In the traditional culture of large eastern countries, white is often regarded as the color of funeral, and the funeral is therefore tactfully called "white thing". When handling the "white affairs", there are usually about 30 people in the neighborhood relatives and friends to help, they will spontaneously divide the labor and cooperate, some are responsible for the management, some are responsible for digging pits, and some are responsible for carrying the coffin, each performing its own duties, and completing a funeral together.
In the process of participating in the "white service", these helpers do not receive any salary, but they receive white cloths and cigarettes from the bereaved family, which is regarded as a kind of gratitude and reward, and is also an expression of respect and affection from the bereaved family.
2. Neighborly mutual assistance and emotional exchange
In the current social context, people may pay more attention to material rewards and money exchanges, but in the custom of "white affairs", we can see selfless mutual assistance and emotional exchanges between neighbors.
Behind the help of 30 people is the deep longing and reverence for life of the deceased, they use practical actions to support the bereaved family, comfort relatives and friends with spiritual exchanges, and jointly bear the heavy emotional and spiritual pressure contained in the funeral.
The white cloth and cigarettes given by the bereaved owner's family are not simply material returns, but contain gratitude and blessings to the helpers, through this special "return gift", the emotional connection between each other can be deepened, and the "white matter" is no longer just a funeral, but a transmission and cohesion of neighborhood friendship.
3. Respect and maintenance of traditional culture
In addition to neighborly mutual assistance and emotional exchanges, the custom of "white affairs" also contains respect and maintenance of traditional culture, which is reflected in the details of various aspects.
In the "white matter", the person who helps needs to pay special attention not to "use" other people's things, whether it is daily necessities or tools and appliances, they need to be expressed, which is the observance of traditional etiquette and the respect for the labor and emotions of others.
In the process of participating in the "white thing", the people who help will not get any salary, but they can feel the sense of responsibility and emotional experience given by the traditional culture, they use practical actions to practice traditional values, and feel the philosophy of life and death with the perception of the soul, and the significance of this participation is far beyond the material rewards that can be compared.
In today's multicultural blending, there may be some people who are alienated and misunderstood about the custom of "white things", but it is through such discussions and conjectures that we can better inherit and carry forward the essence of traditional culture, so that it can radiate new vitality and meaning in contemporary society.
Epilogue:
The spirit of traditional oriental culture contained in the custom of "white things" is not only a ritual expression of death, but also a profound conjecture of life, emotion and humanistic care.
In today's fast-paced and utilitarian society, perhaps we need such a custom more often, so that people can more truly feel the warmth of emotions, the support of neighbors and the preciousness of life, and can also draw strength from it, and face various challenges and variables in life more bravely and firmly.