Name of Ritual

Za Sao Hong Ba 揸手红包/手尾钱

Description of Ritual/Practice

• Money or valuables held in the hands of the deceased is distributed to descendants before the coffin lid is nailed on. This ritual reflects the deceased’s wishes and care for their descendants by leaving them enough to do well in life.
• Descendants are often advised to hold on to these fortunes for future investments such as buying a house to allow future generations to expand and prosper 开枝散叶. In general, this appears to be a more ritualised/formalised performance of the post-funeral division of assets common to many cultures.

Who practices it? Who conducts the ritual?

Family Members

Is it still practiced now?

Our conversations with funeral directors has revealed that many families are unfamiliar with this ritual, and that it depends on the advisor to explain and clarify the ritual if family members would like to include this practice in the funeral.