THE DARK opening ceremony
Category: Apparel
Competitions: Taiwan Region
There are three major ceremonies in a lifetime: the full-month celebration of birth, the wedding ceremony, and the funeral. The splendor of weddings often fills people with longing and admiration. The white wedding gown, the carefully arranged venue, and the joyful smiles—all symbolize the beginning of a new chapter in life. In contrast, the grandeur of funerals tends to evoke fear. Traditional mourning clothes, solemn decorations, and a heavy atmosphere often lead people to equate death with an ending. However, after attending several farewells, I began to realize that funerals also possess a unique kind of beauty. Just like the message conveyed through the Heart Sutra recited during the ceremony, we should feel comforted—because the departed has completed their cycle of reincarnation. A funeral is a solemn ritual, a respectful tribute to the final journey of life. Death is not necessarily the end; it may very well be the beginning of another world. Just as a wedding dress marks the start of a new life, the arrangements of a funeral can serve as a dignified guide, leading the soul to its new place of belonging and peace. We should not fear death, but rather face this ultimate and grand opening ceremony with calm and gratitude.
