丧葬仪式中买地券的象征意义——以金华市汤溪镇的一次葬礼为例

The Symbolism of the Land Deed in Funeral: Take a Funeral at Tangxi Town in Jinhua for Example

从浙江省金华市汤溪镇的胡公葬礼上可以发现,当地墓穴中只埋葬二物:骨灰盒和买地券。骨灰是亡人体魄的象征,也是亡人灵魂依凭之物。墓穴是亡人在阴间的住宅,所有烧化的祭品,包括豪华的灵房、各种冥币、衣服、食物和家用电器,都被认为送达于阴宅。买地券是亡人拥有阴宅的证明文件。券文对墓地界域的描述,对亡人永远占有墓地的规定,为亡人开辟了永久使用的冥界空间。因此,买地券不仅象征亡人对墓地的拥有权,也为亡人开创了冥界的生活空间,是为亡灵构建时空永恒性的宗教文书。

According to Hu' s funeral at Tangxi town in Jinhua,it can be found out that there are only two things buried in the grave based on the local customs: a cinerary box and a land deed. Bone ashes is not only a symbol of the dead' s remains,but also the carrier of the soul. Grave symbolizes the house of the dead in the underworld. All the burnt offerings including paper mansion,underworld currency,clothes,food and household appliances,will be considered as sending to the tomb. The land deed is a document proved the ownership of the underworld land and house. The content of it records the boundary of grave and the permanent ownership of the space. In conclusion,the land deed is a religious document setting endless time and space for the dead,which not only stands for the ownership of a grave,but also the living space in the underworld.