'Li Sheng' and Folk Rituals:An Analysis of Folk Funeral Rituals from the Perspective of Jurisprudence

摘要

"Shen Zhong",namely the careful arrangement of one's funeral,stressed by traditional Chinese folk funeral ritual is,by nature,the combination of order and justice,procedure and regulation,and it can be included in the traditional laws for its normative features."Li Sheng",the intermediary of funeral ritual,acts as the interpreter and performer of ideas and customs of funeral rituals as well as the rule maker to some degree. By"Si Li",namely directing funeral rituals through verbal command,"Li Sheng"ritualizes and secularizes the rules and procedures of funeral rituals to regulate and control the folk society,thus fulfilling the aim of coordinating rights and obligations of behavioral agents as well as interpersonal relationship.During this process,a balance of value must be maintained between laws and customs.