Traditional Chinese funeral services
Rituals shaped with
meaning and care.
Hinzen’s experienced ministers guide families through Taoist and Buddhist funeral ceremonies, preserving important traditions while explaining each step with clarity and respect.
Choosing a ceremony
Tradition, guided
around your family.
Every family’s traditions and circumstances are different. We will listen, explain what each ceremony involves and help you choose an appropriate level of observance.
The timings below are approximate. The final arrangement depends on the family’s wishes, location and ceremonial requirements.
01Essential Taoist Farewell封棺押煞
Approximately 2–3 hours, with two ministers, followed by the funeral procession
A focused traditional ceremony bringing together the essential rites with care and dignity.
- Submission of mourning 上孝昇服
- Welcoming your loved one’s spirit 召亡
- Food offering 拜飯
- Cleansing rites 押煞
- Closing of the coffin 封棺
- Burial or committal 殯葬
02Essential Buddhist Farewell誦經超度
Approximately 2–3 hours, with one minister, followed by the funeral procession
A Buddhist ceremony centred on scripture, blessing and guiding the spirit.
- Welcoming your loved one’s spirit 召亡
- Chanting Buddhist scriptures to bless the spirit 誦經
- Closing of the coffin 封棺
- Burial or committal 殯葬
03Traditional Combined Ceremony經齋
Approximately 6–8 hours, with three to four ministers, followed by the funeral procession the next day
A fuller programme of Taoist and Buddhist rites for families wishing to observe more of the traditional ceremony.
- Submission of mourning 上孝昇服
- Formal invitation to Buddha and the Gods 投壇請佛
- Sending officers to collect the spirit 發移闗文追亡
- Honouring the ancestors 禮祖
- Welcoming your loved one’s spirit 召亡
- Reciting Buddhist scripture and Sutra 誦經禮懺
- Granting proof of the ceremony 給超昇牒
- Notification to the Ten Courts 投王逾案
- Paying spiritual debts from the past life 貸納冥債
- Food offering 拜飯
- Cleansing rites 押煞
- Closing of the coffin 封棺
- Burial or committal 殯葬
04Traditional Full CeremonyMost frequently chosen西方大願經懴齋一宵
Approximately 12–15 hours, with five to seven ministers, followed by the funeral procession the next day
Our most frequently chosen ceremony, bringing together an extensive programme of prayers, scripture, offerings and traditional rites of passage.
- Taoist release and cleansing rite 道教拔亡過油鑊除傷
- Submission of mourning 上孝昇服
- Collection of water to purify the ceremony 擔旛買水淨壇
- Formal invitation to Buddha and the Gods 投壇請佛
- Sending officers to collect the spirit 發移闗文追亡
- Honouring the ancestors 禮祖
- Opening the path for the spirit 開闢冥路
- Welcoming your loved one’s spirit 召亡
- Lighting the seven heavenly flames 關明燈
- Untying the seven roots of sin 解結
- Journey through the underworld 遊獄
- Granting the warrant of forgiveness 頒赦文
- Crossing the Blood River, where applicable 雪飲血湖
- Opening the underworld 破地獄
- Leading the spirit across the dark bridge 引亡渡橋參拜佛聖
- Reciting Buddhist scripture and Sutra 誦經禮懺
- Granting proof of the ceremony 給超昇牒
- Notification to the Ten Courts 投王逾案
- Paying spiritual debts from the past life 貸納冥債
- Food offering 拜飯
- Cleansing rites 押煞
- Closing of the coffin 封棺
- Burial or committal 殯葬
05Full Day and Evening Ceremony西方冥陽經懺齋一日一宵
Approximately 16–17 hours, with six to eight ministers, followed by the funeral procession
A comprehensive observance with an expanded sequence of blessings, offerings and rites.
- Taoist release and cleansing rite 道教拔亡過油鑊除傷
- Submission of mourning 上孝昇服
- Raising the heavenly flag 竪起神旛
- Collection of water to purify the ceremony 擔旛買水淨壇
- Formal invitation to Buddha and the Gods 投壇請佛
- Formal petitions for blessings 奏表通呈
- Sending officers to collect the spirit 發移闗文追亡
- Honouring the ancestors 禮祖
- Welcoming the rulers of the four directions 接佛降帝
- Release of fish and birds 漂燈放生
- Opening the path for the spirit 開闢冥路
- Welcoming your loved one’s spirit 召亡
- Lighting the seven heavenly flames 關明燈
- Untying the seven roots of sin 解結
- Protection by the five heavenly guards 五大天王把界
- Journey through the underworld 遊獄
- Granting the warrant of forgiveness 頒赦文
- Crossing the Blood River, where applicable 雪飲血湖
- Opening the underworld 破地獄
- Leading the spirit across the dark bridge 引亡渡橋參拜佛聖
- Reciting Buddhist scripture and Sutra 誦經禮懺
- Granting proof of the ceremony 給超昇牒
- Notification to the Ten Courts 投王逾案
- Paying spiritual debts from the past life 貸納冥債
- Food offering 拜飯
- Cleansing rites 押煞
- Closing of the coffin 封棺
- Burial or committal 殯葬
06Complete Two-Day Ceremony西方冥陽水陸經懺齋一日二宵
Approximately 20–25 hours across two days, with six to eight ministers, followed by the funeral procession
Hinzen’s most complete multi-day observance, with the practical sequence planned carefully around the family and funeral arrangements.
- Taoist release and cleansing rite 道教拔亡過油鑊除傷
- Submission of mourning 上孝昇服
- Raising the heavenly flag 竪起神旛
- Purification and invitation rites 擔旛買水淨壇 · 投壇請佛
- Spiritual notices and ancestral rites 發移闗文追亡 · 禮祖
- Opening the path and welcoming the spirit 開闢冥路 · 召亡
- Heavenly flames and untying rites 關明燈 · 解結
- Scripture, Sutra and spiritual records 誦經禮懺 · 給超昇牒
- Notification and repayment rites 投王逾案 · 貸納冥債
- Awakening and petitions for blessing 早朝演淨 · 奏表通呈
- Welcoming the four rulers 接佛降帝
- Release of fish and birds 漂燈放生
- Prayer of appreciation and formal offering 奏紅詞普答四恩 · 午供
- Protection by the five heavenly guards 五大天王把界
- Journey through and opening of the underworld 遊獄 · 頒赦文 · 破地獄
- Crossing the Blood River, where applicable 雪飲血湖
- Food offering, cleansing and closing of the coffin 拜飯 · 押煞 · 封棺
- Burial or committal and final cleansing 殯葬 · 解穢
Complete funeral arrangements
Ceremony and funeral care,
brought together.
Hinzen has come together with Everlay through the same people and shared leadership. For families who would like the funeral director’s arrangements and Chinese religious ceremony organised together, this close partnership allows the practical and spiritual arrangements to be considered from the beginning.
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Speak with Hinzen
about your ceremony.
Contact us to discuss your family’s traditions, preferred ceremony and location. We support families across the UK and Europe.
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