Family Memorial Service Held Sincerely
Hwang Yoo Jung 200904349
Intermediate English Writing I (Tue 78)
March 26, 2011
A process essay about the stages of a holiday (First draft)
How can we meet our precious family members, who already passed away? It is the very family memorial service. Every year, on that day when they had died, the family and close relatives meet together. And we talk about the dead, seeing old family album or eating food they loved. Sharing memories about them, we meet them again. Family memorial service, hardly disappearing to date, is one of the most important family events.
In the past, ancestral rites were very influenced by Confucian culture and followed the normal procedure. Ancestral rites at home only were conducted only for close family ancestors such as from a father to a grandfather of a grandfather. From three days before the rite date, the master of rite had to be prudent in his conduct and didn't visit neighbors having something unpleasant. Meanwhile, the rites for distant ancestors, which are called seasonal rites, were held at the family gravesite in October of the lunar calendar. The modernization of society, however, was signaling many changes in family memorial service.
Nowadays, ancestral rites become more informal and various according to the religion or customs of family. Also, people hold a service just for very close family ancestors. How about my family's memorial service? It is for my father-in-law and grandparents-in-law, and conducted at my house which the master of rite lives in. On the day of rite, family and close relatives come together as early as possible. And then women make food for rites and men clean the house. The service begins round about 10 at night. Usually men light incense and offer wine before the rites table, and then all members make a deep bow. After the service, people eat food on the table and go back home.
In all ages, what matters in the rites is content, not form. As it were, sincere mind not procedure. Family memorial service, as it were, makes us remember the dead and reminds us of our root. Also, preparing the family event together, people can understand better each other. Furthermore, they can let out unpleasant feelings among themselves. In the other hand, children meet close family ancestors, who they have never met, through old photos and stories about the dead. This exiting experience makes children realize the value of blood line.
At present, family memorial service is much simpler and more various than past. At all cases, however, the most crucial thing is mind. Maybe modern people, especially youths, could like holidays such as valentine day, Christmas, or Children's day etc. rather than family memorial service. But most of all, we could realize and keep our identity through the rites which remember our family ancestors. That is why family memorial service is meaningful and valuable in our lives.
200503311 Chang-Min Ji
ReplyDelete1.The essay reminds me of the family memorial service and its importance. It is very meaningful for me. I think the subject the writer chose is the best.
2.Main point is the family memorial service and its role in different ages.
3.The most impressing point is the last paragraph where the writer said, "At all cases, however, the most crucial thing is mind."
I also think mind is the most important factor in the rite.
4. In 4th paragraph, ‘As it were, sincere mind not procedure.’ ?? I don't understand what it means.
5.The essay consists of 5paragraphs. But I don't think it has one introduction, three body, and conclusion. It seems like that it has one introduction, two body, and two conclusion. Second and third paragraphs compare and contrast the past and the present. And forth and last paragraph inform us of the day's meaning, importance, role, and so on.
201181021 Huiyeong Kim
ReplyDelete1. What I like most about this essay is the topic. I can empathize with you.
2. The main point seems family memorial service is the most important day for the family.
3. The last paragraph is quite powerful to me.
Because my house hold a memorial services every month, I can think again about its meaning through this essay.
4. I think it is a small mistake.
"In the other hand, children meet close family ancestors,~"
5. If the writer avoid repeating same words for example "only" and "as it were", it would be better.
Family Memorial Service Held Sincerely
ReplyDelete(the second draft)
Hwang Yoo Jung 200904349
Intermediate English Writing 1 (Tue 78)
How can we meet our precious family members who passed away? It is the very family memorial service. Every year, on that day when they had died, the family and close relatives meet together. And we talk about the dead, seeing old family album or eating food they loved. Sharing memories about them, we meet them again. Family memorial service, hardly disappearing to date, is one of the most important family events.
In the past, ancestral rites were very influenced by Confucian culture and followed the normal procedure. Ancestral rites at home were conducted only for close family ancestors such as from a father to a grandfather of a grandfather. From three days before the rite date, the master of rite had to be prudent in his conduct and didn’t visit neighbors having something unpleasant. Meanwhile, the rites for distant ancestors, which are called seasonal rites, were held at the family gravesite in October of the lunar calendar. The modernization of society, however, was signaling many changes in family memorial service.
Nowadays, ancestral rites become more informal and various according to the religion or customs of family. Also, people hold a service just for very close family ancestors. How about my family’s memorial service? It is for my father-in-law and grandparents-in-law, and conducted at my house which the master of rite lives in. On the day of rite, family and close relatives come together as early as possible. And then women make food for rites and men clean the house. The service begins round about 10 at night. Usually men light incense and offer wine before the rites table, and then all members make a deep bow. After the service, people eat food on the table and go back home.
Like everything else has changed with the times, the family memorial service also is changing a lot. In all ages, however, what matters in the rites is content, not form. Family memorial service makes us remember the dead and reminds us of our root. Also, preparing the family event together, people can understand better each other. Furthermore, they can let out unpleasant feelings among themselves. In the case of children, they meet through the rites family ancestors, who they have never met, like dead grandparents. This exiting experience makes children realize the value of blood line.
At present, family memorial service is much simpler and more various than past. At all cases, however, the most crucial thing is mind. Maybe modern people, especially youths, could like holidays such as Valentine ’s Day, Christmas, or Children’s Day etc. rather than family memorial service. But most of all, we could realize and keep our identity through the rites which remember our family ancestors. That is why family memorial service is meaningful and valuable in our lives.