One of the incomprehensible rural customs: Why do the dead sing operas?

The first is to worship God. In ancient China, people worshipped gods. When there are important activities at home, they should worship the gods and pray for their help. Of course, the funeral may be related to God, because people hope that Buddha, God, can lead their relatives to Elysium. Therefore, in dealing with the funeral, worshipping God and Buddha is an essential link. Therefore, it is necessary to sing and worship God. When singing opera, the first performance is "Shen Opera" (commonly known as stepping on the opera). In this play, seven actors will play the role of immortals. The first is Hei Hu, wearing a black wing crown, black face, dressed in black, holding Strafe. His facial makeup symbolizes a strong nature in China's traditional dramas. In Chinese opera, it belongs to the net, that is, drawing faces. He is a general who opens the way for the gods. His prototype is Zhao Gongming in The Romance of the Gods. Later, he was named a fairy by Jiang Ziya, who was the pioneer of Taoism. The second place is: Lingguan. Red face, wearing a red envelope and a red crown. Powerful and solemn. Take the pestle. It can ward off evil spirits. His facial makeup symbolizes loyalty in China's traditional dramas. It belongs to the grand voice in the opera line. Lingguan is the patron saint of Taoism. Taoism has the saying that there are five hundred spiritual officials. One of the most famous "Wang Lingguan", in the first hall of many Taoist temples, the Lingguan guarding the entrance of Taoist temples is generally this Wang Lingguan. Third, the famous Taoist immortal: Fu Tianguan. He wore an official hat, royal clothes and a guard in his hand. The jade belt on the waist was raised by Hu Zisheng in the opera lines. Heaven, earth and water are the three gods of Taoism, and Tianguan is one of them. Tianguan was named Shang Yuan Yi Pin Fu Tianguan, and the emperor Wei Zi was owned by Yu Qing. Celestial officials are composed of green, yellow and white gases, and are in charge of the emperors in heaven. On the fifteenth day of the first month, when people come to earth, the school will punish people for their sins and blessings, so it is called "God bless people". Auspicious words used in old times to pray for blessings and eliminate disasters. Tianguan should say a few words of blessing to his host family after taking office. The so-called "God bless the people". People hope to get good luck from it. Because the ancients thought it was unlucky to have a funeral at home, when writing an obituary, they usually wrote a soliton (or bereavement) to serve, and there was no sign of disaster to show that they were in trouble. I hope that people blessed by God can change the luck of their families, so I want to invite Tiangong. The fourth place is: Guanyin Bodhisattva came to power. She was dressed in white, and was called a scholar in white, with a willow bottle in her hand. In China traditional opera, it belongs to an important role. She comes from Buddhism and usually declares her identity when she preaches on the stage, that is, "I live in the South China Sea for safety, I am the master of the South China Sea, my Buddhist disciples are charitable, and my disciples worship three times before the spirit." Guanyin Bodhisattva is widely believed in China, so it has a high status in people's hearts. She is famous for her kindness and compassion, so people hope that she can bless her host family. In addition, Guanyin Bodhisattva is also one of the three saints in the West. People who believe in Buddhism hope that she can help Amitabha to lead the dead to the Elysium. The fifth one came on stage: Father Land, wearing a Kowloon crown, a yellow gossip suit and a cane. White eyebrows and white beard, a pair of old people. In Chinese opera, it belongs to old students. He is the local official in charge of Yin and Yang, so he must be invited to worship, because according to superstition, the deceased will be in charge of the land of the city god after death, complaining that the county official is not as good as the current one, so we should respect this god very much. The sixth place is: Chef Jun, dressed in a blue robe and holding dust in his hand. Chinese opera belongs to Taoist students. He is a god worshipped by every family and is called "the head of the family". I am instructed by the Jade Emperor to check the words and deeds of the people, so I must give preferential treatment to the Kitchen God and Bodhisattva when I have something at home. The last one on stage was Liu Hai, the god of wealth. He was wearing a black jacket and holding a golden bucket in his hand. The movements on the stage are clean and neat. In China traditional opera, it belongs to pentatonic. According to historical records, "Liu Haisheng came from immortal roots and was born in Qubao Village, Huxian County. The Jade Emperor personally sealed me and made me a living god of wealth, and the water of Fuquan spilled over the world. Walking and walking, the money is scattered step by step, everything has changed, and happiness and wealth are immortal. " This is a folk song about the god of wealth, Liu Hai, which spread in Huxian County, the ancestral home of Taoism. He usually throws money on stage (the coins prepared in advance are grass flowers). People should hope to get rich by this.

Before singing a magic play, you usually shoot. On the stage of magic drama, the host family will go to the stage and cover the "fairy" with red. Burn incense and drink libation on the stage. Say support for your Buddha.

Second, it is also the need to pay homage. Rites and music system prevailed in ancient China. Music should be accompanied when making gifts. My hometown is called "the hometown of Duke Zhou", which was named "the system of rites and music" by Duke Zhou of Yuan Dynasty. Therefore, we attach great importance to the etiquette system. Inviting Shaanxi opera to participate in the sacrifice is also in line with the requirements of the ritual and music system. Therefore, in the eulogy, it is usually written as "Celebrating the Sacrifice with Elegant Music in the Qin Opera ...". In addition, in funeral scenes, crying is usually the main repertoire that plays a commemorative role. The plays usually performed are: Sacrifice to the Spirit, Mourning for Zhu, Mourning for Zhou Ren, and Zhuge Liang's Sacrifice Lamp. And some classic aria related to grief, such as: 56 "Cry" in "Catch a Frame in the Lower East River" and 72 "Never Again" in "Chop Li Guang". Dramas and classic arias play a mourning role. In addition, there will be some magic plays to comfort the gods, such as "Wish at Xiangshan Temple" and "Hei Hu Sitting on the Platform". As well as "Three Mothers and Godsons" and "Four Sages", to illustrate the good upbringing before death. The last scene is often "Ascending to Heaven" or "Ascending to Heaven Hall", which indicates that the host family will be promoted and made a fortune from now on. It is also a kind of spiritual sustenance, so the funeral drama is very particular, not only acting, but also those crosstalk dramas will not be staged. Therefore, singing opera is for sacrifice, not for entertainment, which should be clear.

Third, in order to continue filial piety. Because almost all the old people in Shaanxi love to watch Shaanxi Opera, their children want to watch it once when their relatives leave home. Even if it is the return of the soul, we should be filial. Therefore, in the process of funeral, after passing through the land temple and crossroads, when the funeral stops, we must sing operas, hoping that our relatives can watch more operas. Really? Take your time.

Fourth, exorcism. In ancient times, people thought that in the process of funeral, because many people came and burned paper at home, it was commonly called burning paper to attract ghosts. Will lead to an unknown omen. So I hope singing can exorcise evil spirits, because Hei Hu and Lingguan in the play are the immortals who exorcise evil spirits. In addition, beating gongs and drums with music can also exorcise evil spirits.

Fifth, singing in vain can embody a kind of fraternity. The ancients said: "I am old, and people are old." Because old people love watching plays, they can't be filial because of their death. So take this opportunity to sing a play, let the old people from all over the country come to see the play, and add the following contents to their spiritual life, because the old people in rural areas rarely have the opportunity to enjoy cultural programs. Therefore, it is a kind of "fraternity" to spend money to sing for the living elderly.

In addition, it is also to increase the solemnity of the following funeral and attract more condolence guests. Because according to tradition, the funeral service for the elderly should be grand, which can reflect filial piety, but we are not advocating "caring and burying with heart" here. Filial piety should be performed before the death of relatives, and the necessary procedures for funeral after death should also be carried out. Otherwise, there will be no material carrier for mourning, and of course thrift is also necessary. Some customs should be abolished. It also depends on people's local customs and beliefs. Don't speak lightly.