{"id":3841,"date":"2026-04-10T10:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-04-10T10:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/flsgroup.com.my\/2026\/10\/26\/buddhist-and-christian-funeral-process\/"},"modified":"2026-10-27T02:52:51","modified_gmt":"2026-10-27T02:52:51","slug":"buddhist-and-christian-funeral-process","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/flsgroup.com.my\/en\/2026\/04\/10\/buddhist-and-christian-funeral-process\/","title":{"rendered":"Buddhist and Christian Funerals: How Each Is Usually Arranged"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Buddhist and Christian Funerals: How Each Is Usually Arranged<\/h1>\n
\"Buddhist<\/div>\n
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Buddhist and Christian funerals each rest on their own beliefs and follow their own order. In Buddhist tradition, death is understood as wang sheng<\/em> (\u5f80\u751f, passing on to a new life), and the funeral centres on chanting and prayers for the departed, often followed by observances such as the seven-day prayers. Christians believe the departed has returned to God, and the funeral uses hymns, prayers and scripture to comfort and encourage the family. Both value solemnity, and the details are usually worked out with the family’s temple or church.<\/p>\n

How do Buddhism and Christianity understand death?<\/h2>\n

Each faith has its own understanding of death, which is why the two funerals are arranged differently. The views below come from a forum on religion and funeral rites reported by Sin Chew Daily.<\/p>\n

Buddhism: passing on<\/h3>\n

Venerable Jue Cheng (\u89c9\u8bda\u6cd5\u5e08) described death not as an ending but as a transition, like a seed growing into a tree, which is why it is called “passing on”. A person’s words and deeds in life, he said, are the record of that life; a funeral can be solemn and simple, without extravagance. He encouraged families to chant for the departed with a calm heart, and to arrange their affairs in advance to reduce disagreements later.<\/p>\n

Christianity: returning to God<\/h3>\n

Pastor Chew Kien Kee (\u5468\u5efa\u57fa) said a Christian funeral is held for the living. It is simple but serious, centred on hymns and sharing, and meant to comfort and encourage the bereaved.<\/p>\n

Catholicism: life is changed<\/h3>\n

Father Wong Tai Wah (\u9ec4\u5927\u534e) shared that Catholics believe the soul enters eternal life after death, and that death changes life rather than ending it. A farewell rite and Mass are held on the day of the funeral, and prayers and Masses may continue afterwards; a loved one’s passing also reminds the living to cherish their families.<\/p>\n

At a glance: what does each funeral include?<\/h2>\n

Both funerals have stages for the wake, encoffining, farewell and burial, with content shaped by each faith. The table summarises common practice for reference.<\/p>\n

\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Stage<\/th>\nBuddhist funeral<\/th>\nChristian funeral<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
At or after death<\/td>\nZhu nian<\/em> (\u52a9\u5ff5), chanting the Buddha’s name to accompany the departed, often for several hours (some sources say 8 to 12; practice differs between temples)<\/td>\nA pastor or church members come to pray and comfort the family<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Wake<\/td>\nMonks or Buddhist groups chant; flowers and vegetarian offerings at the altar<\/td>\nMemorial service: hymns, prayers, scripture, a short message and a life tribute<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Encoffining<\/td>\nEncoffining after chanting by monks<\/td>\nEncoffining service: scripture, words of comfort and prayer<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Funeral day<\/td>\nChanting, then the family and friends say farewell<\/td>\nFuneral service (service of rest); Catholics hold a farewell rite and Mass<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Cremation or burial<\/td>\nEither, with remains placed in a cemetery, columbarium or Buddhist hall, as the family decides<\/td>\nDecided by the family and church; under Vatican guidelines, Catholics may cremate, with ashes kept in a sacred place such as a cemetery<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Paying respects<\/td>\nPalms together, a bow or incense<\/td>\nA bow or flowers<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Afterwards<\/td>\nSeven-day prayers, the 49th day, the 100th day and the first anniversary, simplified as the family wishes<\/td>\nCatholics may continue prayers and Masses; Chinese churches often pray quietly and lay flowers at the grave<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n

What does a Buddhist funeral usually include?<\/h2>\n

A Buddhist funeral usually includes zhu nian, chanting during the wake, encoffining, farewell and the procession, followed by the seven-day prayers, with chanting and prayers for the departed throughout.<\/p>\n

    \n
  • Zhu nian:<\/strong> after a loved one passes, family members or a chanting group recite the Buddha’s name to accompany them. A Taiwanese source mentions 8 to 12 hours; Malaysian temples differ, so families can ask their own temple.<\/li>\n
  • Wake:<\/strong> monks or Buddhist groups chant. A local report notes that Buddhist altars are mostly decorated with flowers and vegetarian offerings, generally without joss paper, in gentle colours such as white, cream or yellow.<\/li>\n
  • Encoffining and procession:<\/strong> encoffining follows chanting by monks; on the funeral day there is chanting, then family and friends say farewell before the procession.<\/li>\n
  • Burial:<\/strong> both cremation and burial are practised, with remains placed in a cemetery, columbarium or Buddhist hall, as the family decides.<\/li>\n
  • Seven-day prayers:<\/strong> Buddhist sources say families can arrange these to suit their circumstances, for example only the first and final sevens, the odd-numbered sevens, or all seven; offering incense and paying respects to the Buddha is acceptable, or the family can gather once to complete them together.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    On the East Coast, Buddhist groups also support bereaved families. Field notes from a folk-custom researcher in Terengganu record that in urban areas, chanting groups from the Buddhist Association, Tzu Chi and True Buddha School come to chant, and some families keep the ancestral tablet at the Buddhist Association.<\/p>\n

    What does a Christian funeral usually include?<\/h2>\n

    A Protestant funeral usually has a memorial service, an encoffining service, a funeral service and a burial (or interment of ashes), each built around hymns, prayer and scripture, with time for family and friends to remember the departed. The examples below follow the liturgy of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Hong Kong; denominations and churches in Malaysia may differ.<\/p>\n

    Memorial service<\/h3>\n

    Usually held the evening before the funeral, it typically includes silence, a prelude, a call to worship, hymns, prayer, scripture, a short message, a life tribute, another hymn and a blessing. The liturgy explains that it lets family and friends express their remembrance and say goodbye, and find comfort and encouragement through prayer, song, sharing and God’s word.<\/p>\n

    Encoffining and funeral services<\/h3>\n

    The encoffining service is brief: the officiant calls the gathering to worship, prays, reads scripture and offers words of comfort to the family, followed by prayer and a blessing before the coffin is closed. The funeral service, often called the farewell service, includes a prelude, the bringing in of the coffin, a call to worship, hymns, prayer, scripture, a life tribute and a sermon, with an overall emphasis on hope.<\/p>\n

    Burial and remembrance afterwards<\/h3>\n

    The final stage is at the cemetery or crematorium, where the pastor prays and reads scripture. A common practice in Chinese churches is to have no memorial tablet or incense, and to pray quietly and lay flowers at the grave at times such as Qingming; some Christians also visit the grave whenever they miss their loved one.<\/p>\n

    Catholic practice<\/h3>\n

    Catholics hold a farewell rite and Mass on the day of the funeral, and may continue prayers and Masses afterwards; a priest at the forum noted that pallbearers generally do not turn their backs on the coffin. On cremation, the Vatican’s 2016 guidelines permit it and ask that ashes be kept in a sacred place such as a cemetery or church, not scattered, divided or made into keepsakes.<\/p>\n

    How can visitors pay respects?<\/h2>\n

    At a funeral of any faith, following the arrangements on the day is a common way of showing respect.<\/p>\n

      \n
    • Buddhist funerals:<\/strong> you may put your palms together, bow or offer incense; during chanting, you can listen quietly or join in.<\/li>\n
    • Christian funerals:<\/strong> there is generally no incense or joss paper; you may bow or offer flowers, and stand or sit with the congregation during hymns and prayers.<\/li>\n
    • When unsure:<\/strong> watch what other guests do, or ask the family or temple or church members present.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      How do mixed-faith families arrange a funeral?<\/h2>\n

      There is no single approach; many families follow the departed’s own faith while also considering the feelings of those left behind.<\/p>\n

      Parents who are Buddhist and children who are Christian, or the other way round, is a situation many families know. Singapore’s National Heritage Board notes that as more families include members of different faiths, many rites have been adapted to family circumstances. Some families talk through their wishes while elders are well and calm; others invite their monk and pastor to discuss together and find an arrangement everyone is at peace with. For specific guidance, the family’s own monk or pastor can advise.<\/p>\n

      Practical tips: how can families prepare?<\/h2>\n

      Knowing a little in advance gives the family direction when the time comes. A few ideas:<\/p>\n

        \n
      1. Talk with elders about faith and wishes:<\/strong> which religious rites they would like, and which temple or church they would like to lead them.<\/li>\n
      2. Note the contacts:<\/strong> the monk at your temple, your pastor or priest, and any chanting group or choir.<\/li>\n
      3. Understand the options for burial and placement:<\/strong> cremation or burial, a cemetery, columbarium or other resting place.<\/li>\n
      4. Tell the funeral staff your religious background,<\/strong> so they can work with your temple or church on the order of service and decoration.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        In summary: different faiths, the same solemn care<\/h2>\n

        A Buddhist funeral bids farewell through chanting and prayers for the departed; a Christian funeral comforts the family through hymns, prayer and scripture. Each follows its own faith, and the family’s own monk or pastor can advise on the details.<\/p>\n

        The pre-planning service of FLS (\u798f\u7984\u5bff) Kuantan includes Buddhist and Christian packages, so elders can choose in advance a farewell that fits their faith, with zero-interest instalments from RM88 a month and no down payment. Talking it through early can also give the family clearer direction later.<\/p>\n

        This article is from the FLS (\u798f\u7984\u5bff) Kuantan Life Education Column. To learn about Buddhist and Christian pre-planning packages, WhatsApp +60 12-960 2222 or visit flsgroup.com.my\/en\/preplanning\/<\/em><\/p>\n

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        Quick answers<\/h2>\n
        \nWhat are the main features of Buddhist and Christian funerals?<\/summary>\n

        In Buddhist tradition, death is understood as passing on, and the funeral centres on chanting and prayers for the departed, often followed by seven-day prayers. Christians believe the departed has returned to God, and the funeral uses hymns, prayer and scripture to comfort the family, generally without incense or seven-day prayers. Families can ask their own monk or pastor about details.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n

        \nWhat are the parts of a Christian funeral?<\/summary>\n

        A Protestant funeral usually includes a memorial service, an encoffining service, a funeral service, and a burial or interment of ashes. Each part centres on hymns, prayer, scripture, a short message and a tribute to the person’s life. The exact order is agreed between the family and their church, and may differ between denominations.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n

        \nDo guests offer incense at a Christian funeral?<\/summary>\n

        Christian funerals generally do not include incense or joss paper; guests usually pay respects with a bow or flowers, and stand or sit with the congregation during hymns and prayers. If unsure, guests can follow what others do or ask the family or church members present.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n

        \nDo Catholics allow cremation?<\/summary>\n

        Yes. Under the Vatican’s 2016 guidelines, the Catholic Church permits cremation and asks that ashes be kept in a sacred place such as a cemetery or church, rather than scattered, divided among family or made into keepsakes. Catholic families in Kuantan can discuss the resting place with their priest.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n