When my mother passed away, my father indicated his wish to adopt Taoist funeral rites. As a son, it is my filial response not to oppose the wishes of my parents.
And hence I went through 5 days of Taoist rituals. It was truly a journey fraud with convoluted logic, unbelievable imagination, and extreme superstition about the unseen world.
Firstly it appears that Taoist belief assumes all deceased go to Hell. There were chantings and symbolic gestures to "open the path of passage", invitation of ancestral spirits to welcome a new in-coming soul entering their nether world, appeasing vagrant spirits who would otherwise disturb and bully the in-coming soul, and various offerings to reduce the degree of punishments for wrongdoings committed during the earthly life.
On the night before the cremation, Taoist priests were engaged to "Da Chai". It was 4 hours of activities to breach through the gates of Hell, to invite the ancestral spirits to return to receive the gifts of (burnt) incense and burnt paper house, car, treasure troves, etc. The burning itself caused a huge bonfire on an empty field nearby.
As a Christian, my response was to pray that God Jehovah, the God who opened the Red Sea, who appeared to Abraham and Moses, and who had spoken to His prophets, would take care of mother's soul. And that His mercy and lovingkindness will see her to Heaven to enjoy His presence forever. Amen
Below is a picture of some paper items burnt for the departed:
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