The funeral dance is a unique custom for Tujia people living in the western part of Hubei Province. Through the happy folk dance, prayers for a happy life to the deceased are expressed.
When an elder of Tujia ethnic minority dies, he is placed in the coffin which is put in the main room of the house for one to three days. Every night, relatives and friends dance for the deceased. One person beats a cowhide drum and sings while the others dance around the coffin. Usually there are two to four men dancing together; no women dance for the dead. The songs the drummer sings are usually lively with differing words. They include the story of the dead, legends, love stories, and interesting episodes. When the last sentence of the song comes, the dancers usually sing together with the drummer to help lift the pall of grief for the family.
