Filial Piety and Soul Beliefs in Contemporary Rural Funeral Rituals: A Case Study of Gansu Lingyang Ceremony

This paper explores filial piety and soul beliefs in contemporary rural funeral rituals, specifically focusing on the "Lingyang" ceremony in the Gansu region. Here, "Ling" means "to receive and connect," and "Yang" refers to "sheep." This ceremony holds unique and significant cultural symbolism in local funeral customs. Since ancient times, sheep have played an important role in Chinese traditional culture and ritual practices, symbolizing gratitude, loyalty, and virtue. In ancient times, being one of the three most important sacrificial animals, sheep were not only key offerings in rituals dedicated to heaven, ancestors, and deities but also embodied the relationship between humans and the divine. The "Lingyang" ceremony is a modern continuation of this cultural tradition within Gansu's funeral rituals. The ceremony is a core element of local funeral practices, where family members interpret the sheeps reactions to determine whether the deceaseds soul is at peace or has unfulfilled wishes. The sheeps reactions are seen as a means of communication with the deceaseds spirit and serve as a symbolic evaluation of the family members filial behavior. This ceremony reinforces the ethical order within the family and reflects local beliefs in the immortality of the soul and the continuation of Confucian filial piety. Through an analysis of the origins, procedures, and cultural significance of the "Lingyang" ceremony, this paper highlights its crucial role in Gansus rural funeral traditions. The ceremony not only commemorates the deceased but also functions as a social mechanism to monitor the moral conduct of the living. This paper aims to reveal how the values of filial piety and soul beliefs are preserved and practiced through this unique funeral ritual.