Buddhist Funeral Traditions and Ceremonies in Hong Kong
18 February 2026
Introduction: The Meaning of Buddhist Funerals
Buddhism is one of the most commonly chosen funeral traditions in Hong Kong. For many Hong Kong families, a Buddhist funeral is far more than a farewell ceremony — it is a complete process of spiritual practice and salvation, designed to help the deceased depart peacefully while bringing solace to the living.
Buddhism teaches that life does not end at death, but is one station in the cycle of rebirth (samsara). Through sutra chanting, recitation of the Buddha's name, and the accumulation of merit, family members can help the deceased build positive karma and be reborn in a favourable realm or the Western Pure Land. This belief gives many families strength and direction when facing the pain of bereavement.
This guide covers every aspect of Buddhist funerals in Hong Kong — from end-of-life care to the 49-day mourning period — helping you understand the process so you can make the best arrangements for your loved one.
Buddhist Understanding of Death
Rebirth and Karma
A central teaching of Buddhism holds that life is a cyclical process (samsara). After death, the consciousness (the Buddhist term for the soul) is reborn into one of six realms based on the karma accumulated in this life: the heavenly realm, the human realm, the asura realm, the animal realm, the hungry ghost realm, or the hell realm.
The purpose of funeral rites is to increase the deceased's positive karma through sutra chanting and merit-making, helping them escape suffering and be reborn in a favourable realm. This is why Buddhist funerals place such great emphasis on "salvation" (chaodu) — guiding the consciousness toward the light.
The Bardo (Intermediate State)
Buddhism teaches that between death and the next rebirth, there is an intermediate period called the bardo, lasting up to 49 days. During this time, the deceased's consciousness exists in a state of flux. The merit and rites performed by the family during these 49 days can greatly benefit the departed — this is the origin of the "doing seven" (zuo qi) tradition.
End-of-Life Care: Nianfo (Chanting)
What Is Nianfo
Nianfo (chanting the Buddha's name) is one of the most important aspects of Buddhist end-of-life care. When a loved one is in their final hours, family members and fellow Buddhists gather at the bedside to continuously chant "Namo Amitabha Buddha," helping the dying person maintain mindfulness, let go of attachments, and pass away peacefully.
Guidelines for Nianfo
- When to start: Ideally while the person is still conscious
- Environment: Keep the atmosphere quiet and peaceful; avoid loud crying or commotion
- Duration: Buddhist tradition recommends continuing to chant for at least 8 to 12 hours after the person has stopped breathing
- Chant: "Namo Amitabha Buddha" is most commonly used, at a slow, steady pace
- Do not touch the body: Buddhism holds that after breathing stops, the consciousness is still in the process of departing; touching the body may cause the deceased to develop anger or attachment
How to Arrange Nianfo
Many Buddhist organisations and temples offer free nianfo services. You can contact:
- The temple or monastery you regularly visit
- Major Buddhist institutions such as Tung Lin Kok Yuen or Chi Lin Nunnery
- Local Buddhist fellowship groups
- Some funeral directors can also help arrange nianfo
The Vigil (Setting Up the Spirit Hall)
Vigil Arrangements
The vigil is held at a funeral parlour hall and is an important occasion for friends and family to pay their respects. Features of a Buddhist vigil include:
- Hall decoration: White and yellow colour scheme, with a Buddha statue or image of the Three Saints of the West
- Offerings: Fresh flowers, fruits, and vegetarian food offerings (Buddhist custom forbids meat offerings)
- Buddhist chanting/music: Continuous playback of Buddha-name chanting or Buddhist music
- Spirit tablet: A memorial tablet for the deceased, where mourners offer incense
Evening Vigil Programme
- Mourners arrive and pay respects by bowing and offering incense before the portrait or spirit tablet
- The family expresses gratitude
- Monks arrive and lead sutra chanting (typically in the evening)
- Mourners may keep vigil through the night (traditionally, at least some family members stay overnight)
Vegetarian Catering
Buddhist vigils always provide vegetarian food (zhai cai) for mourners. This demonstrates respect for all life and accumulates the merit of non-killing for the deceased. Many restaurants in Hong Kong now offer vegetarian catering suitable for funeral events, costing approximately HK$80 to HK$200 per person.
Sutra Chanting and Dharma Services
Commonly Used Sutras
The most frequently recited sutras at Buddhist funerals in Hong Kong include:
| Sutra | Key Content | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Earth Store Bodhisattva Sutra (Ksitigarbha Sutra) | Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva's vow to save all beings from hell | Most commonly used; specifically for transferring merit to the deceased |
| Amitabha Sutra | Description of the Western Pure Land | Guiding the deceased to the Pure Land |
| Diamond Sutra (Vajracchedika Prajna Paramita) | Prajna wisdom, the nature of emptiness | Helping the deceased release attachments |
| Heart Sutra (Prajna Paramita Hridaya) | Essence of emptiness teachings | Short sutra, often chanted alongside other rites |
| Medicine Buddha Sutra | Medicine Buddha's vow to eliminate suffering | Eliminating the deceased's negative karma |
The Role of Monks
Buddhist funerals require ordained monks (fashi) to preside. Typical arrangements are:
- Basic arrangement: 3 monks (the choice of most families)
- Standard arrangement: 5 to 7 monks
- Large-scale service: 9 or more monks
Monks lead the sutra chanting and Buddha-name recitation, and at appropriate moments, deliver Dharma teachings on letting go and rebirth. Monk fees are usually calculated per session ("altar"), with each session (typically 2 to 3 hours) costing approximately HK$3,000 to HK$8,000, depending on the number of monks.
Yoga Flaming Mouth Ceremony (Yankou)
The Yoga Flaming Mouth is a larger-scale salvation rite, usually performed on the vigil evening or the night before the funeral procession, lasting 3 to 4 hours. Led by a presiding monk with the support of several assisting monks, the ceremony costs approximately HK$10,000 to HK$30,000.
Sealing the Coffin and the Funeral Procession
Sealing the Coffin
Sealing the coffin is a significant moment — the last time the family can view the deceased's face:
- Close family members view the body one final time
- Monks chant and transfer merit
- The coffin lid is placed
- The coffin is sealed with nails (or screws in modern coffins)
Note: Buddhist tradition advises that tears should not fall onto the body during this ceremony, as this may cause the deceased to worry about their living relatives and have difficulty departing peacefully.
Funeral Procession
The funeral procession transports the coffin to the crematorium or cemetery:
- Departing from the funeral parlour, with family members in attendance
- Monks typically lead the procession ahead of the hearse
- Purification rituals (sprinkling rice or carrying prayer banners) may be performed along the route
- Upon arrival at the crematorium, final chanting and farewell take place
The 49-Day Mourning Period: Doing Seven
The Meaning of Doing Seven
"Doing seven" (zuo qi) is a critically important Buddhist funeral tradition. Beginning from the day of death, a ceremony is held every seven days, for a total of seven times over 49 days. Buddhism holds that during this 49-day bardo period, the deceased's consciousness undergoes a "small death" and "rebirth" every seven days, making each seven-day ceremony particularly beneficial.
Schedule of Each "Seven"
| Ceremony | Timing | Typical Arrangement |
|---|---|---|
| First Seven (touqi) | Day 7 | Most elaborate; usually held at a funeral parlour or temple with monks |
| Second Seven | Day 14 | Can be held at home or a temple, smaller scale |
| Third Seven | Day 21 | Can be held at home or a temple |
| Fourth Seven | Day 28 | Can be held at home or a temple |
| Fifth Seven | Day 35 | Considered important; some families invite monks again |
| Sixth Seven | Day 42 | Can be held at home |
| Final Seven (weiqi) | Day 49 | Last ceremony, marking the end of the bardo period |
Simplified Arrangements
Due to the busy pace of modern Hong Kong life, families do not always observe all seven ceremonies. Common simplified arrangements include observing only the First Seven, Third Seven, Fifth Seven, and Final Seven, or just the First and Final Seven. Even so, Buddhism encourages family members to chant sutras or recite the Buddha's name on each seven-day marker — even quiet chanting at home is considered meaningful merit.
Special Customs of Buddhist Funerals in Hong Kong
Vegetarianism (Zhai)
Buddhism emphasises non-killing, so throughout the funeral period — from the vigil through the 49-day mourning — family members traditionally adopt a vegetarian diet. Even if maintaining a fully vegetarian diet for the entire period is not possible, eating vegetarian on the vigil day and each "seven" marker is considered a great act of merit for the deceased.
Sutra Chanting and Merit Transfer at Home
During the 49 days, family members can chant sutras at home daily (the Earth Store Sutra and Amitabha Sutra are most commonly used) and transfer the merit to the deceased. The standard merit transfer verse is: "May this merit adorn the Buddha's Pure Land, repay the four kinds of kindness, and relieve suffering in the three lower realms. May all who see or hear give rise to the Bodhi mind and, when this life is over, be reborn in the Land of Ultimate Bliss."
Life Release (Fangsheng)
Some families perform life release — freeing captured animals — and transfer the merit to the deceased. However, in recent years, environmentalists have raised concerns about commercial life-release practices. Consider joining organised, ethical release events or making charitable donations as an alternative.
Buddhist Funeral Cost Reference
Cost Breakdown
| Item | Cost Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Monks' chanting per session (3 monks) | HK$5,000 – HK$12,000 | Usually 2-3 hours |
| Monks' chanting per session (5-7 monks) | HK$10,000 – HK$25,000 | |
| Yoga Flaming Mouth (Yankou) | HK$10,000 – HK$30,000 | Large-scale salvation rite |
| "Doing Seven" ceremony (each) | HK$2,000 – HK$8,000 | More expensive at a temple |
| Buddhist hall decoration | HK$3,000 – HK$10,000 | Buddha statues, lotus decorations, etc. |
| Vegetarian catering (per person) | HK$80 – HK$200 |
Common Package Prices
- Basic Buddhist funeral (one-night vigil, 3 monks for one session, basic decoration): HK$25,000 – HK$45,000 (excluding hall rental and funeral director basic fees)
- Standard Buddhist funeral (one-night vigil, 5 monks for two sessions, Yankou, First to Final Seven): HK$50,000 – HK$90,000
- Elaborate Buddhist funeral (two-night vigil, 7+ monks, multiple chanting sessions, complete 49-day rites): HK$100,000 – HK$200,000+
Cremation and Ash Placement
Buddhist Attitude Toward Cremation
Buddhism does not oppose cremation — in fact, Shakyamuni Buddha himself was cremated (a process called "jhapita" or "荼毗" in Chinese Buddhist tradition). The vast majority of Buddhists in Hong Kong choose cremation.
Ash Placement Options
- Buddhist temple columbarium niches: Many temples offer niches with regular sutra chanting and Buddhist services. Cost: HK$30,000 to HK$300,000+ (depending on temple and location)
- Government columbarium niches: The most economical option, but with long waiting times
- Memorial garden scattering: Aligns with the Buddhist philosophy of returning to nature
- Sea scattering: An increasingly accepted eco-friendly option among Buddhists
How to Choose a Buddhist Funeral Service
Key Considerations
- Confirm the funeral director has experience with Buddhist ceremonies — not every firm is familiar with the nuances of Buddhist rites
- Understand where the monks come from — ideally recommended by a reputable temple or Buddhist organisation
- Confirm vegetarian arrangements — ensure all catering during the vigil is strictly vegetarian
- Ask about "Doing Seven" arrangements — some funeral directors offer comprehensive 49-day packages
- Request a detailed quotation — monk fees, hall decoration, vegetarian catering should all be itemised
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: My family isn't Buddhist. Can we still have a Buddhist ceremony?
A: Yes. Many Hong Kong families choose Buddhist ceremonies even if they are not devout Buddhists, as Buddhist funerals are deeply embedded in Hong Kong's cultural heritage.
Q: Can Buddhist and Taoist rituals be combined?
A: This is extremely common in Hong Kong. Many families arrange Buddhist sutra chanting alongside Taoist "Breaking Hell" rituals at the same funeral. This is a uniquely Hong Kong cultural phenomenon.
Q: Do we need to hire monks for every "seven" ceremony?
A: Not necessarily. Family members can chant sutras and recite the Buddha's name at home and transfer the merit to the deceased. Hiring monks is a more formal approach but is not mandatory.
Conclusion
A Buddhist funeral is a process filled with compassion and wisdom. It is not only about bidding farewell to the departed, but also about helping the living accept loss and find inner peace. In Buddhist belief, death is not an ending but the beginning of another journey. Every act of merit, every recitation of the Buddha's name, is the most precious gift we can offer our loved one.
If you are looking for a funeral director experienced in Buddhist ceremonies, feel free to use our funeral director directory to filter for services that offer Buddhist rites.