Arm Band with 孝 on it

[muyongshi]

Today when i was in town I say a lady wearing a black arm-band with two characters on it but I couldn't see the second one (I guess there might be only one as I didn't want to make a scene by circling like a vulture trying to figure it out) and the one character was 孝. She was escorting an elderly gentlemen and age wise could have been father/daughter. However he was not leaning on her and didn't look like he needed help in anyway. Does anybody know what the arm band is, where it comes from, and how it is given?

[skylee]

The wearing of black arm bands (黑臂紗/黑臂圈) is probably a funeral rite (帶孝). Some people may remain in mourning (守孝) for some time. But my mom insisted we all 脫孝 at my father's cremation ceremony.

[muyongshi]

Great thanks...does the arm band say 带孝 (pretty silly if it does)? So then it would just say 孝 right? Also what is up with the picture change????

[skylee]

On second thought, I might have mixed things up ... I don't really know much about funeral rituals ...

[cdn_in_bj]

Skylee is right about the black armband being a funeral rite/worn in mourning of a relative. I've seen it here, but I can't remember what it says.

[skylee]

Take a look -> http://baike.baidu.com/view/1045810.html

死者家属和亲戚按照礼俗在一定时期内穿着孝服，或在袖子上缠黑纱﹑辫子上扎白绳等，表示哀悼。

As to the picture change, take a look at my blog -> http://blossomingsky.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!CE0A89B492538653!764.entry

[onebir]

As to the picture change

The old pic was much cuter. Bring back Skylee the cat!

[muyongshi]

I was talking to my teacher today and she was saying that if you were it on the left arm it would mean one parent and the right would mean the other... But she couldn't remember which was which. Anyone know?

[WangLongju]

> I was talking to my teacher today and she was saying that if you were

> it on the left arm it would mean one parent and the right would mean

> the other... But she couldn't remember which was which. Anyone know?

According to this site

http://www.cpes.tyc.edu.tw/~team76/new_page_7_8.htm

9、成服賜杖：收棺大殮後，得舉行上孝儀式。首先是死者家屬親眷要披麻戴孝，“成服上孝”，這也是古禮之一。親屬此時要穿上麻衣，背穿，父亡露左臂，母亡露右臂。⋯⋯

If the father dies, it's worn on the left; if the mother dies, it's worn on the right.

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