Monthly TOEFL Essay #1 : the teachings of Confucius

   

Describe a custom from your country that you would like people from other countries to adopt. Explain your choice, using specific reasons and examples.

 

      A Memorial ceremony is a special ceremony in Korea which is known that Confucius practiced first. Traditionally, Koreans have honored their ancestors on special days like Lunar new year's day , Chuseok or the anniversary of their ancestors' death. Today, many people criticized this custom because this ceremony is too extravagant and empty formalities and vanity. And also, some Christians refuse this ceremony because they believe it is an idol worship. Maybe, they are not completely wrong. It was too luxury and Christian can consider the ceremony as an idol worship. However, in spite of these, a memorial ceremony is so beneficial that I want to recommend this to foreigners.

 First, a memorial ceremony enable the members of family who live in different cities or even countries as a result of the development of society congregate. This is very important for people who live in modern society. Modern society makes people too busy to meet and have time with their family. In fact, nowadays many people meet their cousins once a year or a few years even never. The meaning of family has become weaker and weaker. However, Korea is different. In the Korean society, most of offices and workplace release their workers from heavy tasks if workers should take part in their family's memorial ceremony. Therefore, all the Korean can have joyful time with their missing families. In other words, memorial ceremony offer precious time to all the Koreans. So, it will also be able to provide the time for foreigners who have become isolated by modern society too.

 Next, a memorial ceremony is beneficial for children's social ability. Because of the ceremony, children should meet many older families. It enable children to learn how to communicate well with older people. They also learn manners. We couldn't say a memorial ceremony is the only reason why Korean children are more polite, but it is obvious that it affects a lot. To be polite and communication skills with an older person are very valuable unless child will live in mountains for 70years.

 Lastly, family members can share the memory of ancestors. People can also share the memory by a lamentation in front of the dead' tomb. However, a memorial ceremony usually needs some space that family can talk with. Therefore, after the end of the memorial ceremony, family can easily talk about the dead and miss him or her. For example, my grandfather passed away four years ago. Four years is a quite long time. However, my family always talk about him after a ceremony, so I can conserve the memory about him. Vanishing from family's memory is really heartbroken, isn't it?

 In conclusion, it is still fact that a memorial ceremony has some shortages even though it has a lot of merits which are priceless. However, the flaws of a memorial ceremony has been fixed for many decades. Ancestral rites table and procedures of the ceremony have simplified which reduce burdens of it. Hence, a memorial ceremony is no more just burdensome and luxurious formality only for aristocrats. It is a ceremony which can create and conserve a lot of values and help understanding the Korean culture. So, I want to recommend an ancestral rites for people from other countries.