傳統喪葬儀式中的哀悼經驗分析：以往生到入殮為例

The Analysis of Mourning Experiences in Traditional Funeral Rituals: from Death to Encoffining Ceremony

本文藉由研究者的主位研究資料，揭露2001年歲暮之際，台灣中部鄉鎮地區某喪親家庭從親人往生到入殮過程中，在傳統喪葬儀式過程中所經歷的社會文化歷程與個人哀悼經驗。研究採民族誌方法，以參與觀察為主，輔以半結構式的深度訪談。研究結果顯示傳統喪葬儀式蘊含了悲傷哀悼與文化療癒功能，具體內涵包括：（1）儀式和程序協助家屬確認並接受親人死亡的事實；（2）儀式抑制了家屬個別性的哀悼情緒，但也催化了集體悲悼情緒的宣洩；（3）傳統喪葬儀式建置了悲悼療癒的空間；（4）治喪事宜使家屬獲得親友的實質照顧與心理支持；（5）家屬在儀式中經歷其與逝去親人關係的轉化與再連結；（6）華人家庭呈現出避談生死、恐懼死亡的態度。

The researcher applied the emic approach to examine social and cultural processes of traditional funeral rituals and mourning experiences of a family living in the central Taiwanese rural area. Ethnography was adopted in this research. Participant observation was the major method and semi-structured in-depth in¬terviews were conducted. The result showed that traditional funeral rituals contain functions of mourning and cultural healing. The concrete connotations of these functions were addressed as follows: (1) these rituals and procedure help bereaved family confirm and accept the fact of death; (2) rituals suppress the family members’ individual emotion and facilitate the expressing of collective emotions; (3) traditional funeral rituals establish a space for grief healing; (4) these rituals enable the bereaved family to obtain substantial care and psychological support from family relatives; (5) the bereaved family experiences the transition and reconnection of relationship with the dead family member; and (6) the bereaved family re¬flects the attitude of reluctance of discussing death and fear of death.