VietNamNet Bridge - "Hue is the ancient capital, with influence from the feudal period, so the shrouding task must be good enough to maintain corpses for up to two week without stench," said Mr. Hoang Viet Hung, who has shrouded the dead for 23 years in Hue City.

At the age of 54, Hung is the Director of the Cong Duc - Hung Funeral Services Company in Thuan Hoa Ward, Hue City, Thua Thien – Hue Province.

According to Hung, Hue is the only location in the nation where the dead is buried from 7 to 14 days after death. "In addition to Catholic families who often bury the dead within three days, more than 80 percent of Hue people are Buddhists, who often perform many rituals for the death before burying. Additionally, many families often consult fortune-teller for the good days for burying or they have to wait for their relatives from abroad," he explained.

In the summer sunshine, Hung was busy with three funerals in one day but he was still dressed well. If the dead is a woman, Hung’s wife - Truong Thi Hai Yen, 44 - will perform shrouding and vice versa. "The dead should be respected. I not only shroud for the dead but also do it for the peace in mind of the living," Hung said. He said he never bath for women, just men.

Yen combed hairs, cleaned the body, applied lipstick, pained nails and dressed for the dead. "The trick to deodorize the body of those who died of diseases, especially cancer is simple. Just use a clean towel soaked in alcohol and apply in on the face of the dead, it is absolutely no smell," said Yen. "The dead also needs to be gorgeously makeup."

Outside, Hung sat on the coffin to perform the stage called “tri quan” by burning aloes wood, cleaning the coffin, using a specialized resin mixed with gasoline to cover every slit of the coffin, spraying a thick layer of ash in the bottom, then another layer of clay and using his hands to flat the mixture.

"Covering the coffin bottom with ash to absorb water. The layer of clay means living with soil and dying also with soil," Hung said.

After cleaning the coffin, Hung placed 50 sheets of paper, which is 1m2 each and is covered by peanut oil on two sides into the coffin. Four people carried the dead by four pieces of cloths to put the dead into the coffin, and then wrapped the body by the paper. After that they spread ash and clay on top, applied the resin on the edge of the coffin and closed it.

Hung said there are many ways of shrouding, but according to the traditional method, a rite called “pham ham” must be done. In the past, a piece of gem was put into the mouth of the dead, who were kings and mandarins while seven rice seeds were placed into the mouth of ordinary people. This custom is still maintained, with rice for the poor and gold or silver for the rich.

Hung prepared for a funeral.

In Hue there are around 20 people do this job but only Hung and his wife used the cement coated paper to cover the dead. After buying papers from the market, he used 3 liters of peanut oil to apply on the two sides, waited for 15-20 minutes and put the paper in the coffin.

"Previously, people used banana leaves to cover the dead body. In the summer, banana leaves are dry, shrinked, making slits, through which the body odor leaks. 17 years ago, discovering the use of cement paper in a rainy day, I applied it to my job and found it effective. I’m sure that the dead can be maintained in house for two weeks or even a month, but absolutely no smell," he said.

Yen added that cooking oil can absorb into bones, making a golden layer for bones. Yen and her husband performed exhumation for many people who had been shrouded by Hung and Yen before. When they opened the coffin and the cement paper, the body was unchanged. Under the wind and the light, the decomposed parts flew away, leaving bare bones lying to the position.

This special job is often transmitted from father to children but it is different for Hung. He said in 1976, his father died, due to economic difficulty and technical problems, the body was very smelly after three days. "I thought about the way to deodorize the dead body. When my uncle died, I applied my technique. Since then I have done this special job,” Hung recalled.

Hung said in the flood season in Hue, sometime water did not withdraw after a week. Hung and his wife had to place coffins on barrels or hung them to the beam for shrouding. Once he shrouded for a victim of traffic accident, he had to find each piece of the body, used needle to sew them together before shrouding.

"It is the most difficult to shroud for people who died of liver cancer because the body is often bloated at the abdomen. I have to use 1l of kerosene to rub to the belly of the dead. When putting the dead into the coffin, I continue using 1l of kerosene mixed with clay and ash to apply on the belly to make it flat. This trick is a secret but I'm not afraid to say it out because I just hope how many people know to care for the dead," he said.

His phone is always open 24/7. He does not refuse to work on the Tet holiday or at night. Sometimes he was invited to deal with smell from a coffin, although the dead were shrouded by other people.

"I just thought that at the time the family of the dead really needed my help so I was willing to help them, neglecting my pride. I burned an oil lamp and dragged it over and over around the coffin, if the light suddenly extinguished, it means air leaked from that point. I used glue and sawdust to cover that slit then used my nose to smell around the coffin to ensure that no smell got out from the coffin. I did never take any pay from such cases," he said.

When they got married, Yen did not think that she would do this job but gradually, she learned it from her husband. By now, the couple does not remember they have shrouded for how many people so far. Some days, they had to perform funeral services for five families.

"Anybody has to earn their living by their job but it is inhuman to think of money when serving the dead,” Yen said. She added that the price for funeral services is based on the market now. Many rich people are willing to pay highly for big funerals. After completion, some people gave bonus for good services.

But with the poor, Hung and Yen offered free services. They even sought free coffins for them.

VNE