![]() Those judged to have contributed less to the revolution are provided with low-key send-offs. If they are deemed positive figures, the Party holds grander funerals for them and extols their virtues. In this article, we will focus solely on funeral arrangements for senior cadres who have served as national leaders. The Party assigns “positive” or “negative” roles to deceased cadres based on their political performance in life, as well as on their degree of adherence to the mainstream ideology and policies. In other words, funeral ceremonies for Party cadres are not simply a matter for the family of the deceased but also a political task for the Party. ![]() ![]() As long as the deceased has been a Party cadre and was a member of the Party at his or her death or died in office, the Party will be responsible for his or her funeral arrangements. Official funeral ceremonies involve a certain degree of “grand mourning,” which is a political privilege in itself. The Party has inherited the Soviet system of funeral rites for its nomenklatura, 8 which accords different degrees of political privilege for cadres at different levels. 6 The Chinese Communist Party, under the influence of traditional Chinese culture, also utilizes funerals as a source of legitimacy and a way of bolstering its hegemony. 5 Under the influence of Confucian thought, the ruling classes of Japan from the Warring States period (475–221 BCE) to the Meiji era also regarded funerals or memorial rituals for their leaders as an opportunity to consolidate their claims to political legitimacy. Grand funerals held for emperors or other members of the royal family were deemed to strengthen the existing ruler’s legitimacy. For instance, funeral ceremonies conducted by the Qing emperors for members of the royal family reflected the ruler’s adherence to the principle of “filial piety” ( xiaodao), a principle that was regarded as a core Chinese value. 4 Researchers have shown an interest in the strong emphasis placed on funeral ceremonies for political figures in imperial China. 3 The funeral ritual can also integrate the beliefs and behavior of a society. 1 According to David Kertzer’s definition, ritual is “action wrapped in a web of symbolism.” 2 Especially important are the funerals and other acts of mourning for key leaders, a form of ritual that reflects the political symbolism and values of a regime. Political rituals can help to consolidate the power of a regime, as well as to strengthen its claim to legitimacy. ![]()
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