I completed editing the video I recorded of my family’s rituals during the Ghost Festival. The result was a simple video documenting my family rituals, where I included some of my thoughts and reflections through voice-over narration. The video also explains the offerings we used, the location, and the process of the rituals. Although the video is currently only available in Chinese, I may include a brief English version during my presentation.
While this experience offered me and my family a new perspective on our traditional rituals, my primary target audience remains the younger generation. The rigidity in the funeral industry largely stems from the fact that the elderly are the main consumers, which influences the market. However, young people, who are also participants in these rituals, should have a voice and a choice in how these ceremonies are conducted.
To further explore how these modern ideas could be integrated into funeral customs, I reached out to two friends who are around my age, and we created a discussion group. One friend is from Yunnan, and the other is from Hunan.
In our conversation, we first revisited the video I had recorded of my family’s Ghost Festival rituals. We talked about the tension between traditional customs and modern life, and how we could respect tradition while also finding ways to express personal emotions and modern values. One of my friends suggested the idea of creating a boutique that curates innovative funeral products—a store that offers a wider range of choices for consumers. Another friend proposed a feature where people could record and preserve messages they wish they could have told their deceased loved ones. These recordings could even be played during future rituals, continuing the emotional connection in a meaningful way.
We also discussed the rigid nature of the current funeral industry, recognizing that a significant part of this rigidity comes from the fact that the elderly are the main consumers, while young people often only participate in the rituals without having much choice or voice.