A typical Chinese Hokkien style tomb part 2

Passing through the array of tombs in Bukit Brown, you will be greeted by a pair of lovely figurines at the entrance of a tomb; they are known as the Kim Tong (golden boy) and Geok Lee (jade maiden). These are guardians that are there to protect the deceased. The clouds around their body represent their stature of celestial beings.

 

 

The story of the pair is a popular folktale amongst the southern Chinese. It tells of how kim tong and geok lee, who were both celestial beings, fell in love, against the law set by Ting Kong (Jade Emperor), resulting in Kim Tong being cast from celestial realm to live in the world as a mortal. As a mortal, he demonstrates the highest level of virtue by selling himself into slavery to pay for his father’s funeral. Touched by his selfless act of filial piety, Ting Kong sends Geok Lee to rescue Kim Tong from slavery. These two characters are found in funeral arches or situated on either sides of a tomb because of their association with filial piety and Ting Kong. It is said that carvings links the celestial realm to the mortal world. Since Ting Kong favored the pair, it is believed that they serve to protect the deceased from any unclean or malevolent elements.

 

Golden boy (top image) is found on the left of the tomb, he is commonly found with an incense burner, in which the prayers are brought up into heaven in the form of smoke. The Jade girl(above) is found on the right hand of the tomb, she is usually holding onto a flower which is a peony, which represents endless descendents to the deceased.

A Typical Chinese Hokkien-Style Tomb Part 1

The Chinese in general, gave plenty of paramount importance to the burial customs of their ancestors. It is a popular belief that, the remains of the ancestors have a direct linkage to the living descendants. A good burial would thus reflect greatly on the opulence of the living descendants. Therefore a proper burial, with good feng shui, good flow of Qi, is very significant to a traditional Chinese tomb.
 

The image above is a Hokkien style tomb that is commonly found, is known as an omega-shaped tomb stone. It has a headstone in the center flanked with shoulders. The name, age, village and dynasty of the deceased are inscribed in the centre headstone. Names of descendents are usually found on both shoulders. Behind is a hump where the coffin rests, feet at the headstone. There are many reasons behind the omega shape.

From the popular phrase, from womb to tomb- the deceased is buried within the warmth of their mother’s womb that promises perpetual protection.

Turtle back tombstones, where the hump has a design of a turtle shell. And the headstone protrudes out like the head of a turtle. To the Chinese, the turtle signifies longevity because of its prolonged existence; hence the deceased is buried in like a turtle to bring longevity to the living descendents.

The hump behind, is signified as a mountain to protect the deceased from negative energies, and to also allow the continual flow of Qi energy in the specific burial plot.