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General
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Ancestor
Workship
 The
Chinese people believe that a person has two souls. The first soul is
created during conception and continues to stay in the grave with the
corpse when the person dies. Hence, ancestor worship is very important.
Sacrificial offerings are made frequently to please the soul until it
moves on to the underworld when the corpse has finally decomposed. If
offerings are not given, the soul will return to earth as a vile spirit.
The other
soul is borne at birth. This soul also depends heavily on sacrifices and
prayers of the living descendants to avoid becoming an evil spirit during
its heavenly voyage. Sacrificial offerings benefit both the dead and the
living. The amount of expiation given will determine the nature of the
dead spirit, and in return, the soul of the deceased ancestor may offer
the descendants help and protection.
Food and
wine are the sacrifices offered to ancestors at their graves. There is
even a day in the calendar that is especially sanctified for families
to visit their ancestors' graves to clean its surroundings and to offer
a delectable variety of food.
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