Exploring Local Funeral Supply Shops
Following my conversation with my grandmother, I asked her if it would be possible to find the funeral shop where my grandfather’s burial clothes were purchased. She mentioned that the shop is still around, located in the neighborhood near our old family home.
My first interview with the funeral supply wholesaler gave me insights into the broader industry, covering product offerings and consumer demand. Now, I plan to approach the local funeral supply shops from a different angle. These smaller, community-based stores may offer a more intimate look at how funeral traditions are preserved and adapted on a more personal level.
Interview Process
Interviewer: Me
Interviewee: Funeral Clothing Shop Owner
Location: Near the Old Family Home
Me:
Thank you for taking the time to speak with me. I was curious—do people in the community ever express discomfort or think it’s unlucky to have a funeral clothing shop nearby?
Shop Owner:
It really depends on the person. Some of the older residents don’t see a problem with it. They understand it’s a necessary service, something everyone will need eventually, so they tend to take it in stride. Shops like ours generally do better in older neighborhoods where the residents are more traditional. But in newer neighborhoods, where the population is younger, there’s less demand for these services. Some people do find it a bit unlucky or unsettling to have a funeral shop nearby unless they absolutely have to deal with it. In Chinese culture, there are many taboos related to death, and people often prefer to keep their distance unless they need to engage with it.
Me :
That makes sense. Do you notice any significant differences in what younger and older customers tend to buy?
Shop Owner:
There are definitely different preferences. Older customers usually stick to the basics—traditional items like paper money, spirit currency, and gold ingots. For them, following tradition is very important. These items have been passed down through generations and are seen as essential.
Younger people, on the other hand, are often drawn to items that reflect the deceased’s lifestyle, like paper cars, bottles of liquor, or even mahjong sets. They want to personalize the offerings and make the rituals more reflective of the person’s life. However, even though they choose these more modern items, they still hold a deep respect for tradition. For example, even if they select more personalized items, they still follow traditional practices like wrapping the urn in red cloth or using red thread for burial clothing, which are believed to protect the deceased in the afterlife.
Me :
So, it sounds like even though younger people are more inclined to personalize the funeral offerings, they still respect and adhere to the traditional customs and taboos?
Shop Owner:
Exactly. Younger people may prefer more personalized and modern items, but they haven’t forgotten the importance of tradition. These customs still carry significant weight for them. They try to find a balance—honoring the tradition while also expressing their own way of remembering and honoring the deceased.
Interview Summary
In this interview with the funeral clothing shop owner, it became clear that most people still believe that funeral-related shops should not be located in densely populated areas, nor should these shops adopt any distinct or noticeable decor.
While younger generations might joke online about burning paper offerings like “muscle-bound paper figures,” there are no such products actually available in the market. It seems that, despite the humor found online, most people still approach funeral customs with traditional seriousness, and the market reflects this by sticking to more conventional offerings.