Traditional Taiwanese Funeral Customs: Taboos and Cultural Background of 'Fruiting' Offerings

In traditional Taiwanese folk customs, there is indeed a taboo against 'using fruits with many seeds' during funerals or when offering sacrifices to the deceased or deities. This custom primarily originated from the living environment and hygiene concepts of the past. Why are fruits with many seeds not allowed? There are mainly two traditional reasons: 1. Concepts of 'Impurity' and 'Disrespect': Fruits like tomatoes and guavas have numerous seeds that are not easily digested and are expelled through excrement. In early agricultural societies, human waste was used as fertilizer, which was considered 'impure (unclean)' in traditional beliefs. Offering these to deities or the deceased was seen as highly disrespectful. 2. Concerns about 'Non-Flowering/Fruiting' and 'Omens': Fruits with many seeds, multiple pits, or those that are vining or seeded were sometimes believed in certain numerology or traditional rituals to have chaotic energy fields, making them unsuitable for offerings in solemn and pure ancestral shrines. 💡 Modern Practices and Exceptions Although this taboo existed traditionally, modern funeral concepts and lifestyles have changed: • Separating Deities and the Deceased: The strictest adherence to this rule is usually for offerings to deities and ancestors. However, when offering to a recently deceased relative, the modern approach prioritizes 'what the deceased enjoyed during their lifetime'. • Resolution Methods: If a deceased family member or friend particularly loved guavas or watermelons, and the family wishes to offer them out of respect, funeral directors often suggest 'removing the seeds and slicing the fruit, then arranging it on a plate'. By removing the seeds and preparing the fruit, it expresses the descendants' filial piety and harmoniously resolves the traditional taboo.