In folk funerals, a coffin is prepared for the living person when he is old, and the corpse is put into the funeral. Folk Taoist priests are asked to perform the rituals and arrange the burial, which is called doing white things.
Since the young ones had few heirs, no one offered sacrifices to them. They did not follow the normal routine. Most of the time, they were wrapped in straw mats or banana poles and buried. No one offered sacrifices. They were buried in random pits and no rituals were performed.
The elders follow the normal routine of the funeral. They place the coffin in the lobby, burn three incense and two waxes to worship the soul, and ask Taoist priests to perform the ritual. The descendants will make sacrifices to observe filial piety.
Huang Daoling led Xiao Yu and Liu Fei to pull hemp ropes to hang the black and yellow posters of heaven and earth and the statues of the Three Pure Ones. He also popularized these folk customs to Xiao Yu and Yu Liufei. .
In the ranking of Daojiazhai, there are three people of the father generation. The head of the family is Dao Qingqing, the second eldest brother is Dao Dan, and the third eldest brother is Dao Chenghuan. As for the other generations, most of them are under these three, and they are all one or two generations shorter. Not mentioned much.
It didn't take long for them to complete the construction of the dojo:
'Behind the coffin was the enshrined Master Guan Er. They could not hang the statue of the Three Pure Ones on the wall, so they pulled a thumb-thick hemp rope behind the coffin and used it as the main hall to hang the statue of the Three Pure Ones.
The Three Pure Ones: Yuqing Yuanshi Tianzun, Shangqing Lingbao Tianzun, and Taiqing Daode Tianzun.
According to common custom, the coffin is placed in the center of the hall, vertically, with the head backward and feet forward, with the feet facing the door, which means that it means traveling far away.
An Eight Immortals table is placed in front of the coffin, the deceased's memorial tablet is set up, and the inscription "Dao Family Dao Family Dao Dan" is placed. On the left and right, half a piece of radish is inserted for sacrifice, and three incense and two waxes are burned each. On the side of the Eight Immortals table against the coffin, there is a black and yellow picture of Tai Chi and Eight Diagrams. On both sides of the Eight Diagrams, the Land Judge and the King of Hell are painted. A couplet is written vertically on both sides of the corner.
The first couplet reads, "Tao gives birth to one life, two, two, three, and three give birth to all things." The second couplet reads, "Man follows the law of the earth, the law of the earth, the law of heaven, the law of the Tao, and the law of nature."
There is a bowl of wine, a bowl of rice, a plate of peanuts and a bowl of braised beef on the Eight Immortals table. There are three scriptures in the front, one is "Three Yuan Water Repentance", one is "The Sutra of Delivering People", and the other is "Repentance for Saving Suffering".
There are two long stools with tall legs on both sides of the Eight Immortals table. There are gongs hanging on the left side, brass cymbals on the table, and wooden fish and drums on the right side.
There are Sanqing bells and peach wood swords on the table near the middle of the door.
Further outside, there are two rows of futons on the floor in front of the table, three in a row, six in total.
Further outside is the main hall.
A white nine-story banner was hung up against the door with a large bamboo pole about three feet tall. There were five-color silk ribbons hanging on the banner, with various Taoist charms painted on it.
Another horizontal rope about six feet long was pulled at the entrance of the main hall, with short flags of various colors hanging on it. '
On the side hall on the side, there is another piece of yellow paper written on it, but it is not arranged by them, but a list of dishes that need to be arranged by the kitchen in the village.
The list of dishes reads 'Stewed elbow', 'Steamed chicken', 'Sauce-fried fat beef', 'Braised duck', 'Cold shredded shredded vegetables', 'Soy tripe strips'... and the like, a total of twenty-three dishes. Finally, One line made a note: 'High-quality Wujiapi, one table and three altars'.
Everything is ready.
Huang Daoling arranged for four little Taoist priests to sit on both sides of the Eight Immortals Table, using gongs, cymbals, wooden fish, and drums respectively. He himself took the Sanqing Bell and Taomu Sword from the table and stood directly in front.
As for the extra Taoist priest, he was resting in the side hall as a substitute for several other Taoist priests' shifts.
Huang Daoling is the presiding Taoist priest and has no rest time.
Xiao Yu and Yu Liufei had no experience to speak of, so they could only stand on both sides and watch what Zodiac Spirit could do.
Huang Daoling then ordered Xiao Yu and Yu Liufei: "You two disciples, come here."
Xiao Yu and Yu Liufei stood over and bowed.
Huang Daoling continued to arrange: "You two go back to your room and rest for a while. After the first ritual is completed, your senior brother will come to inform you to come. You go back to your room to find the double-sided embroidery for the next ritual." The Five Dragon Flags and fragrant rice bowls are set aside, and when your senior brother comes to ask you to have lunch, bring them over."
"Okay, let's go back now." Xiao Yu and Yu Liufei held peach wood swords and turned to leave.
"Put the magic weapon in your hand in the side hall." Huang Daoling looked at the two people who were leaving and warned.
Xiao Yu and Yu Liufei turned around and replied, "Yes."
The two of them couldn't ask this guy to call him master. They both felt that he was not worthy, so they only replied 'yes'.
Upon seeing this, Xiao Dezi immediately took Xiao Yu and Yu Liufei back to the house to arrange for them to rest.
At this time, it was not yet noon, and it was still half an hour before noon. They only needed to beat the gongs and drums for a while.
When doing rituals, we should avoid noon time, so we chose noon time for lunch.
As for the reason for avoiding noon time, it is because it is when the sun is in the sky and the souls of the dead are easy to disperse. This is why the execution time at the execution ground is chosen at 3:00am, because it is said that at 3:00am, the yang energy is at its strongest. It is said that the souls of the dead at 3:00am will be killed and disappear, and they will not be reincarnated.
Xiao Yu and Yu Liufei arrived at the room. Xiao Dezi closed the door for them and warned: "Two little Taoist priests, please rest here for half an hour. I will come to treat you when we have lunch at noon."
Xiao Yu cupped her fists and said to Xiao Dezi, "Thank you, brother."
Xiao Dezi hurriedly waved his hand and replied: "No, no, that's what the two Taoist priests call me Xiao Dezi. How dare you use the word 'brother'? I'm just a handyman in the village. You guys should rest first." , I’ll be busy right now.”
After Xiao Dezi finished speaking, he turned and left.
Xiao Yu and Yu Liufei didn't need to prepare anything in the room at all. Huang Daoling had prepared it for them before leaving and put it on the table at the side. They only had to wait for Xiao Dezi to inform them about lunch. Just go out.
They would not use the time now to take a nap. They were here to find someone. Xiao Yu called Yu Liufei, and the two of them pushed open the window and climbed out, directly to the backyard.
At this time, everyone in Daojiazhai was preparing for the funeral of their second master in the front courtyard. Naturally, no one was paying attention in the back. Xiao Yu and Yu Liufei climbed up on the tile roof and carefully explored every room in Daojiazhai. No one should be left behind in the house, especially the woodshed and the house with a cellar.
They only had half an hour, so they couldn't delay too much.
.......
In the main hall, Huang Daoling jumped up onto the Eight Immortals Table. He had the Sanqing Bell in his left hand and the peach wood sword in his right hand. He was wearing a zodiac robe. He was walking back and forth on the table, muttering "Three Yuan Water Repentance" in his mouth. The four Taoist priests on both sides were beating gongs and drums while reciting the scriptures of "The Sutra of Delivering People" and "Repentance of Suffering" in a long voice.
About half an hour later, Huang Daoling turned over and jumped off the Eight Immortals Table. As the Taoist priest on the left rang the gong loudly, the first Taoist practice of "Inducing Souls" came to an end.
