Chinese cultural dimensions of death, dying, and bereavement: focus group findings

Journal of Cultural Diversity, Summer, 2002 by Alice G. Yick, Rashimi Gupta

   "It has to do with remembering. If you saw a grave that was not cared for,
   you think no one in the family even cared enough to come and clean the
   grave ... But there is also the spiritual aspect of it. If you don t do it
   or do it properly, you are going to get bad luck because somebody is going
   to be angry." (LH, Pastors Focus Group)

These death practices and rituals are performed for a host of reasons. Some tap into traditional Chinese cultural value systems that are embedded not only in death practices but daily behavior. Saving face and filial piety, for example, are longstanding cultural values that the Chinese adhere. However, some of these reasons also provide a glimpse into views about the relationship between the dead and the living. Many of these rituals are performed because the Chinese fear evil spirits and desire to abate them. They believe that their ancestors bring good fortunate or bad luck if these codes of conduct are not adhered. Finally, participants in one focus group noted that these death rituals and practices are not merely religious activities, but they serve to maintain Chinese identity. It is a mechanism to preserve the Chinese culture their new homelands. Table 4 displays a summary of the reasons as to why many Chinese perform these death rituals.

Beliefs About Organ Donations

In general, participants unanimously agreed that the Chinese do not adhere to the practice of donating organs. The Chinese believe that the body should remain whole and dissect parts of the body would compromise the integrity of it.

   "The concept of wholeness--you should leave the world whole. Otherwise, you
   are missing parts. They serve fish with the head. So if you leave the
   world, you need to be whole, too. It is also the assumption that you do not
   donate your organs (IC, Service Provider Group).

   "The Chinese are against organ donation. Actually, Asians are very cautious
   with the body. It is very important that the body is whole (MV, MSW Student
   Group).

Implications for Interventions

One of the predominant themes that surfaced in all the groups was that the notion that talking about or ventilating your grief is not common to the Chinese. Service providers cannot assume that a bereaved family not seeking outside help is pathological. This stems from Asian cultural values that emphasize that family problems or issues are private and not shared with outsiders. As a result, support or bereavement groups for Chinese are not common-place.

   "The first step is not to fix it. You let the family or person grieve. And
   if they seek help, that's when you (the service provider) comes in. It is
   culturally inhibitive to talk about death or grief. They may never talk
   about it (IC, Service Provider Group).

   "In Western society, you put your emotions out ... In Chinese culture, the
   grieving process involves more of showing the respect for the deceased.
   Except for the immediate family, people do not expect to see a lot of
   emotion (ST, MSW Student Group).