Abstract: Funeral is the most typical folk activity in the rural areas of China at present. It is a stage where village traditions and folk
ancestral rituals are displayed together. Funeral rituals are complex and multifaceted, and have far-reaching significance. Funeral is
the representation of folk beliefs in rural society, and it embodies the belief system of the multiple blending of Confucianism and
Buddhism in villages and their folk religions. Funeral rites evolve with the changes of society, showing the characteristics of traditional
customs and modern consciousness. Funeral activity is the opportunity and occasion for family identification and cohesion. It
symbolizes the structural relationship of the neighborhood of the village. Studying funerals and their anthropological contents and
meanings has important practical value for the construction of harmonious village space pattern.

Key words: funeral, rural society, village, Pojiao village, anthropology