Folk customs begin with the entire funeral procession

Chapter 7 Sacrificing to the Ghosts
As a funeral director, Chen Miao naturally knew that there were specific customs and etiquette associated with offering incense.

The saying "three for gods, four for ghosts" refers to the practice of offering three incense sticks when worshipping deities and ancestors, and four incense sticks when worshipping the dead or wandering ghosts.

There are many theories about "Shenzhou III".

For example, in the "Three Powers" concept, three sticks of incense symbolize the three powers of "Heaven, Earth, and Man," expressing reverence for the universe and nature.

For example, in the "Three Jewels Offering", three sticks of incense represent the Three Jewels of "Buddha, Dharma and Sangha" in Buddhism, and correspond to the Three Jewels of "Tao, Scripture and Master" in Taoism.

There is also the "Three Pure Ones," with the three incense sticks representing the Three Pure Ones, the highest deities in Taoism.

As for "Ghost Four", there are different interpretations.

Some say that the number "four" is associated with "death" and "yin" in traditional culture, so four sticks of incense are lit.

Some say that the number "four" represents the "four gates of the underworld" in the east, west, south, and north, symbolizing the salvation of "wandering souls from all directions".

Some say that the number "four" represents the "Four Symbols Suppressing Yin," using the Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Vermilion Bird, and Black Tortoise to suppress yin energy and prevent the spirits of the dead from causing trouble.

There are various versions of these claims if you really want to list them all.

But no matter how it's explained, the saying "Gods three, ghosts four" is generally accepted and should not be confused!
Otherwise, you will offend the gods and ancestors, and attract ghosts and spirits.

At this moment, Chen Miao looked at the four precious incense sticks in his hand, not thinking about reselling them for several thousand yuan, but wondering if they could be used on Old Wang!

Qian Xiaomei's last wish was fulfilled, but then Old Wang's resentment arose.

So Chen Miao was thinking, wouldn't it be more appropriate to use the items that could be exchanged in the book to solve the situation that appeared in the book?
But whether his guess was right or wrong, Chen Miao felt he had to try it out first.

Looking at the four incense sticks in his hand, Chen Miao decided to find a box to store them in order to avoid breaking them.

If you're going to try, you shouldn't use these four sticks, since his "virtue" is only two coins, which can only be exchanged for eight sticks of incense in total.

While looking for the box, Chen Miao suddenly remembered something: there was also an "Item List" in the catalog. Since the incense could be taken out of the book, could it also be put back into the book?
Chen Miao immediately turned to the page for the "Item List" in the book.

Recalling how he took out the incense stick, Chen Miao placed the incense stick in his hand onto the pages of the book.

Without blinking, the four incense sticks vanished from Chen Miao's hand.

When he looked at the book again, there was a new line of text under the [Item List].

Four incense sticks

Despite having experienced many amazing things, Chen Miao is still amazed by them.

Chen Miao put the book away, placed it on the table, and left the office.

Once he realized that the book was not the same as what others saw in him, he no longer worried that the book's true nature would be discovered.

Soon, Chen Miao arrived at the funeral supplies store located inside the Tianmen Funeral Home.

This shop was run by my uncle himself. It has a full range of funeral supplies and can be used as both a shop and a warehouse for the funeral home.

Don't underestimate this funeral supplies store; it's fair to say that half of the funeral home's revenue comes from it.

After all, you can't bargain for things that belong to the dead.

The prices at the Tianmen Funeral Home shop are considered normal, but even at normal prices, the profit margin is still over 50%.

"Sister Li, could you please get me a small incense burner, a stack of paper money, and a bundle of incense sticks... a good quality bundle of incense sticks?"

Li Fang, who was watching a video on her phone, saw Chen Miao and said with a smile, "Sanshui, okay, wait a minute."

After pausing the short video on her phone, Li Fang went to get Chen Miao what he needed.

"how much is it?"

"What nonsense are you talking about? If you want to give money, go to your uncle."

Sister Li chuckled and continued looking at her phone, completely ignoring the somewhat embarrassed Chen Miao.

Chen Miao wanted to say that this was his private matter, not a matter for the museum.

Can I give my uncle money?
Chen Miao shook his head, picked up the black plastic bag and headed towards the cafeteria. He grabbed a handful of sand from the sandy area next to the small pond behind the cafeteria, filled the incense burner more than halfway, and then left.

Chen Miao's task was simple: to try using ordinary incense sticks first. As a funeral director, he knew a thing or two about proper etiquette for paying respects to the deceased.

Old Wang's resentment is just that—resentment. Although it seems troublesome, it's actually not as powerful as Qian Xiaomei's kind of ghost that can directly kill.

If he were to encounter a ghost that could kill directly, Chen Miao wouldn't even consider trying; instead, he would simply use the four incense sticks from the book.

Carrying the items, Chen Miao did not go directly to the cold storage, but waited in the office until after 5 p.m. before going there.

The time for offering sacrifices to ghosts is usually at dusk, between 5 pm and 7 pm.

At this time, the yang energy gradually diminishes, while the yin energy begins to rise.

Some say that offering sacrifices to ghosts at midnight is more effective, but midnight is from 11 p.m. to 1 a.m., and Chen Miao was afraid something might happen, so he chose to do it at dusk first.

During the waiting period, Chen Miao familiarized himself with the ritual procedures, and gradually, he gained some confidence.

Soon, the time came, and Chen Miao arrived at the cold storage and began to get busy.

He placed a chair in front of Old Wang's cabinet, put down the incense burner, paper money, and a bowl of white rice he had ordered from the canteen, then went out to get a glass of water, washed three apples, and brought them back on a plate.

Generally speaking, odd numbers are considered yang and even numbers are considered yin. There are many interpretations of the use of the yang number 'three' here.

For example, 'the end of the mortal world', 'the perfection of yang', 'the end of yang and the birth of yin', etc.

After placing the rice and apples in front of the incense burner, Chen Miao neatly stacked the paper money and placed it aside.

As for the water, it was placed to the left of the offerings.

Clear water symbolizes purity and rebirth, signifying the washing away of the sins, pain, or resentment of the deceased in their previous life, and helping them to find liberation.

Another theory suggests that water is a "medium of yin and yang" because water is formless and can connect yin and yang. It is believed that the souls of the deceased can receive sustenance through the "reflection" or "steam" of water.

However, compared to the above statements, there are some more down-to-earth folk sayings.

People believe that the souls of those who die violently are often tormented by hunger and thirst in the underworld, and that clear water can temporarily alleviate their suffering.

If served with white rice, it symbolizes "being well-fed and watered, and traveling with peace of mind."

What Chen Miao is doing now are relatively basic offerings. If there is enough time, there are many other options for water.

However, the conditions weren't right now, and since this was just an experiment, there was no need for it, so Chen Miao didn't waste his time on it.

Looking at the offerings on the table, Chen Miao reviewed them again, and after confirming that there were no problems, he began the next step of his work.

He took four incense sticks from the bundle, held them in his left hand, and lit them.

After lighting the incense sticks, Chen Miao fanned out the flames with his hand.

You can't blow out the flames here!

Incense is an offering, equivalent to food for ghosts and gods. Blowing on it is like spitting into the food of ghosts and gods.

Before the existence of ghosts was discovered, Chen Miao respected these folk taboos, and now he dares not break them.

After lighting the incense sticks, Chen Miao inserted them into the incense burner side by side, with even spacing and no particular order.

This method of insertion represents "equal offerings." In addition, there is also the method of insertion in four directions, which represents "four-directional barriers" and is mainly for suppression.

Old Wang didn't harm anyone, so there's no need to suppress him.

Of course, Chen Miao was also afraid of backfiring and angering Lao Wang.

After inserting the needle, Chen Miao clasped his hands together, bowed twice to Old Wang's cabinet, and silently prayed, "May I be free from suffering and attain happiness, and ascend to the celestial realm soon."

After saying this, Chen Miao drew a circle on the ground with its opening facing southwest, burned the paper money inside the circle, and muttered to himself, "This money is offered for your use on the road; do not return to the mortal world."

After watching the paper money burn completely, Chen Miao continued to wait in the same spot.

Chen Miao waited until the four incense sticks had burned out before leaving the offerings behind and leaving the cold storage without looking back.

……

(End of this chapter)