Today, I want to take you back in time—to a tradition that is quietly, and rapidly, fading away: traditional Chinese funeral mourning clothing.
The photos you see here were shared by my uncle. They were taken in 1989, during my grandfather’s funeral.
My grandfather was from the Teochew clan. As his direct descendants—his children, daughters-in-law, and grandchildren who carried his surname—we were required to wear traditional hemp mourning clothing (丧服, sangfu).
I still remember how uncomfortable it looked. The fabric was coarse and stiff, almost like it had been cut from a sack. It wasn’t meant to be flattering or comfortable—in fact, quite the opposite. The roughness symbolised grief in its rawest form. Beneath the hemp garments, everyone wore plain white clothing, paired with simple sandals made from hemp.
In one photo, the men—my uncles, his godson, and my male cousin—wore headgear that resembled folded paper bags. The women—my mum, aunties, and daughters-in-law—wore hooded coverings instead.
As for the grandchildren on his daughters’ side, including my sister, cousins, and me, we were dressed in dark blue. The photo was taken in front of his grand altar and coffin—a scene that felt both solemn and overwhelming.
Mourning didn’t end with the funeral. For 100 days after his passing, we wore mourning pins on our sleeves—a tradition I’ll explain shortly. For three years, the family avoided major celebrations such as Chinese New Year, the Dragon Boat Festival, Dongzhi Festival/Winter Solstice Festival. Weddings were also off-limits. These practices were all part of demonstrating deep respect and sorrow.
Today, many Chinese families no longer observe these customs so strictly.
When my grandmother passed away 11 years ago, in 2013, things had already changed. There was no hemp clothing. Instead, her children wore simple white T-shirts and black trousers—far more practical and comfortable, especially as they carried out several days of funeral rites alongside monks.
As for the mourning pin, it follows a symbolic rule rooted in yin and yang: men wear it on the left, women on the right. The side also reflects the gender of the deceased—left for male, right for female.
So, what exactly is a mourning pin?
It represents filial piety. Typically, it’s a small piece of coloured cloth pinned to the sleeve from the first day of the funeral, worn for either 49 or 100 days. The colour and placement indicate who has passed away and how closely related you were to them. It’s a quiet but visible signal to others—family, friends, even strangers—of your loss. Please check this link by Ang Chin Moh Funeral Directors to check the meaning of the different coloured cloths.
As I mentioned earlier, traditional hemp mourning clothing is disappearing fast. In modern Singapore, many view these practices as impractical. Families are increasingly opting for simpler, more personal, and sometimes even more celebratory ways to honour their loved ones.
Would you choose a simpler—or even eco-friendly—funeral?
Let me know your thoughts in the comments.