International Handbook of Funeral Customs - by Kodo Matsunami (Hardcover)

About the Book

This handbook explores the cultural and religious customs concerning death, burial, and mourning in countries throughout the world and covers all the major religions. At present there are more than 190 independent countries in the world, and the funeral practices in each are closely related to the culture, history and geography of the country concerned. Matsunami examines the ways people living around the world deal with the death of a loved one, and what kind of post-mortem arrangements are made. In doing so, he provides a better understanding of the world's cultures by viewing people's individual and collective behavior when it comes to funeral customs. Scholars of comparative religion, cultural anthropology, sociology, and even funeral directors, will value this comprehensive reference.

Book Synopsis

This handbook explores the cultural and religious customs concerning death, burial, and mourning in countries throughout the world and covers all the major religions. At present there are more than 190 independent countries in the world, and the funeral practices in each are closely related to the culture, history and geography of the country concerned. Matsunami examines the ways people living around the world deal with the death of a loved one, and what kind of post-mortem arrangements are made. In doing so, he provides a better understanding of the world's cultures by viewing people's individual and collective behavior when it comes to funeral customs. Scholars of comparative religion, cultural anthropology, sociology, and even funeral directors, will value this comprehensive reference.

Review Quotes

.,."the esteemed values of the author in this labor of commitment to foster greater understanding among the diverse peoples of the world at death, a time like no others in our lives, deserve recognition and his work a place on bookshelves everywhere."-Worship

?...the esteemed values of the author in this labor of commitment to foster greater understanding among the diverse peoples of the world at death, a time like no others in our lives, deserve recognition and his work a place on bookshelves everywhere.?-Worship

?In toto, this book is timely and practical. People experiencing second-person death, a population on the rise given the aging population and their ability to travel abroad, need this book. Major social institutions around the world should stock this book including university reference libraries, military and embassy libraries, international transportation industries, and funeral service providers among others. Graduate and undergraduate students of mortuary science, medical, and death and dying courses will find this book a useful resource in the early stages of their studies.?-The Great Plains Sociologist

?The International Handbook has value, especially in libraries that don't have Funeral Customs the World Over.?-Rettig on Reference

..."the esteemed values of the author in this labor of commitment to foster greater understanding among the diverse peoples of the world at death, a time like no others in our lives, deserve recognition and his work a place on bookshelves everywhere."-Worship

"The International Handbook has value, especially in libraries that don't have Funeral Customs the World Over."-Rettig on Reference

"In toto, this book is timely and practical. People experiencing second-person death, a population on the rise given the aging population and their ability to travel abroad, need this book. Major social institutions around the world should stock this book including university reference libraries, military and embassy libraries, international transportation industries, and funeral service providers among others. Graduate and undergraduate students of mortuary science, medical, and death and dying courses will find this book a useful resource in the early stages of their studies."-The Great Plains Sociologist

About the Author

KODO MATSUNAMI is Professor of International Cultural Studies at Ueno Gakuen University in Japan. He is the Director of the University Library and Kinryuji Searchlight Center.