A Comparative Study of Religious Spirituality in Funeral Attire in Ancient China, Japan, and Korea

Bibliographic Data

ID13628186
AuthorsBin Li (0000-0002-9633-0033, Wuhan Textile University), Yihuan Gong (0009-0006-2414-5919, Wuhan Textile University), ANDING LIU (0000-0003-4667-4572, Wuhan Textile University, corresponding author), Kang Shao (0000-0001-5779-8840, Minzu University of China), Zifeng Zheng (Wuhan Textile University), Hui Tao (0000-0001-7581-359X, Wuhan Textile University, corresponding author)
Year2026
Pages302228261425320-302228261425320
Publication date2026-02-09
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueOMEGA - Journal of Death and Dying (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0030-2228 • E-ISSN: 1541-3764
PublisherSAGE Publishing (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/00302228261425320
PMID41662669
OpenAlexW7128426232
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited5

This study compares mourning attire of China, Japan, and Korea, exploring how religious thought has shaped them. Confucian rites broadly influenced hierarchical attire concepts across these three nations, with the Chinese Five Ranks of Mourning Attire system adapted locally in Japan and Korea. Buddhism promoted plain attire, creating a commonality, while Daoism, Shintoism, and Shamanism each developed distinct mourning attire traditions. All three culture favoured plain designs and white as the primary mourning colour. However, China maintained a strict hierarchical system, whereas Japan and Korea simplified theirs. Japan also adopted black as a key mourning colour and shifted to cotton fabrics during the Edo period, while China and Korea retained hemp cloth. These differences reflect the "common origin, divergent streams" phenomenon, rooted in geography, social structure, and cultural identity

Buddhism · China · Clothing · Funeral Rites · Shamanism · Spirituality · Taoism · White (mutation · Color perception and design · Fashion and Cultural Textiles · Japanese History and Culture

Tools

Open DOI