► Chinese Lore for Chinese-Hawaiian - 8: Longevity

Honolulu Star Bulletin. Tuesday, February 12, 1957 - Tales about Hawaii, Clarice B. Taylor 

     There are four things to be attained which Chinese grandpa believed would make like complete.

     Those four things are: 
wealth, longevity, nobility of character and happiness.

     Longevity is an attainment which brings supreme happiness and nobility of character for it is a gift of the gods and can not be obtained unless the person does many good deeds.

     Chinese grandpa's family held several celebrations to mark the achievement of old age, the most splendid being at death.

     In China, mourning is marked by wearing white clothing, but red is used to mark a complete life.

     The complete life is attained by an elder in the family who lives to see four generations of descendants. It is held to be truly remarkable that a man or woman should live to see five generations in the family at one time.

     Such a person is believed to be completely happy, have a noble character and to have been rewarded by the gods with long life.

     Instead of dressing the corpse in white, such longevity is celebrated by dressing it in red, the symbol of happiness, and covering it with a red silk robe trimmed in gold.

Chinese symbol of Longevity

RED SILK

     All members of the family wear white mourning to follow the casket except the eldest child of the fifth generation. That child is dressed in red silk.

     When a grandparent has reached such an age, in all probability the casket has been in the family many years.

     Caskets are often purchased after the age of 60 to show filial piety. No one would think of buying a casket during the years the grandparent is considered "young."

     Generally the casket is purchased at the request of the grandparent when he or she begins to fret and wonder about the "fineness" of the casket.

     The eldest son will then go into debt to buy the best he can afford. The casket will then be the most prominent article of furniture in the living room, or if he can afford it, the son will erect a special house for it.

     At least, one a year on propitious day, the casket is polished and brightened in the presence of the aged grandparent. 

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