Hmong Views of Death and Funeral Practices
Compiled by Mark E. Pfeifer, PhD
Xiong, Z.B., Her, M., Xiong, M.K., Vue, W.H., Yang, C.T., Moua, N.H., Yang, N.K. and W. Lee. (2020). “Exploring Hmong Americans’ Attitudes towards Hmong Traditional Full-Service Funerals: The Hmong Cultural Integration Project.” Hmong Studies Journal, 22(2020): 1-38.
Hmong Cultural Center. (2013). Hmong Funeral Procedures. Saint Paul: Hmong Cultural Center. (More Info Here).
Lee, K. (2009). "Rituals, Roles, and Responsibilities Included in a Hmong Funeral: A Guidebook for Teachers to Better Understand the Process Their Hmong Students Experience in a Time of Family Loss." M.A. Thesis ,California State University, Chico.
Tapp, N. (2008). "Qha Ke (Guiding the Way) From the Hmong Ntsu of China, 1943." Hmong Studies Journal,
Volume 9: 1-36.
Gerdner, L.A., Cha, D., Yang, D. and T. Tripp-Reimer. (2007). “The Circle of Life: End-of-Life Care and Death
Rituals for Hmong-American Elders.” Journal of Gerontological Nursing 33(5): 20-29.
Her, V.K. (2005). Hmong mortuary practices: Self, place and meaning in urban America, PhD
Dissertation, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
Her, V.K. (2005).“Hmong Cosmology: Proposed Model, Preliminary Insights.” Hmong Studies
Journal, 2005, 6: 1-25.
Symonds, Patricia V. (2004). Calling in the Soul: Gender and the Cycle of Life in a Hmong Village. Seattle and
London: University of Washington Press.
Yang, Cziasarh Neng. (2002). Cultural capital : old Hmong culture in modern times. Ed.D. Dissertation, University of Saint Thomas, Saint Paul, MN.
Rice, P.L. (2000). “Death in birth: The cultural construction of stillbirth, neonatal death, and maternal death among
Hmong women in Australia.” Omega-Journal of Death and Dying. 41(1): 39-57.
Cooper, Robert (Editor) (1998). The Hmong: A guide to traditional lifestyles . Singapore: Times Editions.
Davy, Joseph. (1997) "Por Thao's Funeral (documentary photo essay)."Hmong Studies Journal Vol. 2 No. 1.
Morrison, Gayle. (1997) "The Hmong Qeej: Speaking to the Spirit World." Hmong Studies Journal Vol. 2 No. 1.
Falk, Catherine. (1996) "Upon Meeting the Ancestors: The Hmong Funeral Ritual in Asia and Australia." Hmong
Studies Journal Vol. 1 No. 1.
Bao, X. (1994). “The Guzong Festival: Ancestral Sacrifice Among the Miao.” China Tourism, December 1994, 74-75.
Haddad A. and K. Brown. (1994). “Ethics in Action: A Young Hmong Man with Inoperable Liver Cancer.” RN 57 (July
1994): 19-21.
Bliatout, B. (1993). “Hmong Death Customs: Traditional and Acculturated.” In Ethnic Variations in Dying, Death, and
Grief: Diversity in Universality, edited by D.K. Irish, K.F. Lundquist, and V.J. Nelsen, 79-100. Washington D.C.: Taylor
and Francis, 1993.
Thao, P.N. (1993). “Between Two Worlds: Hmong Ethnography, Spirituality, and Ceremony for the Deceased.”
Master’s Thesis, Mankato State University.
Symonds, Patricia Veronica (1991). Cosmology And The Cycle Of Life: Hmong View Of Birth, Death And Gender In A Mountain Village In Northern Thailand, PhD dissertation, Brown University.
Schriever, S.H. (1990). “Comparison of Beliefs and Practices of Ethnic Viet and Lao Hmong Concerning Illness,
Healing, Death, and Mourning: Implications for Hospice Care with Refugees in Canada.” Journal of Palliative Care 6: 42-49.
Hayes, C.L. and R.A. Kalish. (1987). “Death-Related Experiences and Funerary Practices of the Hmong Refugee in
the United States.” Omega 18 (1987-1988): 63-70.
Chindarsi, Nusit (1976). The Religion of the Hmong Njua. Bangkok: The Siam Society. [299.5919 N942]
Ruey Yih-Fu, and T. K. Kuan (1962). Marriage and Mortuary Customs of the Magpie Miao of Southern Szechuan,
China. Academia Sinica: Institute of History and Philology, Monograph Series A no. 23. (In Chinese) [EA DS731.
M5S8]
Bourotte, B. (1943). Mariages et funerailles chez les Meo blancs de la region de Nong-Het (Tran Ninh). Bulletin de l’Institute pour l’Etude de l’Homme, Hanoi 6:33-56.
Compiled by Mark E. Pfeifer, PhD
Xiong, Z.B., Her, M., Xiong, M.K., Vue, W.H., Yang, C.T., Moua, N.H., Yang, N.K. and W. Lee. (2020). “Exploring Hmong Americans’ Attitudes towards Hmong Traditional Full-Service Funerals: The Hmong Cultural Integration Project.” Hmong Studies Journal, 22(2020): 1-38.
Hmong Cultural Center. (2013). Hmong Funeral Procedures. Saint Paul: Hmong Cultural Center. (More Info Here).
Lee, K. (2009). "Rituals, Roles, and Responsibilities Included in a Hmong Funeral: A Guidebook for Teachers to Better Understand the Process Their Hmong Students Experience in a Time of Family Loss." M.A. Thesis ,California State University, Chico.
Tapp, N. (2008). "Qha Ke (Guiding the Way) From the Hmong Ntsu of China, 1943." Hmong Studies Journal,
Volume 9: 1-36.
Gerdner, L.A., Cha, D., Yang, D. and T. Tripp-Reimer. (2007). “The Circle of Life: End-of-Life Care and Death
Rituals for Hmong-American Elders.” Journal of Gerontological Nursing 33(5): 20-29.
Her, V.K. (2005). Hmong mortuary practices: Self, place and meaning in urban America, PhD
Dissertation, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
Her, V.K. (2005).“Hmong Cosmology: Proposed Model, Preliminary Insights.” Hmong Studies
Journal, 2005, 6: 1-25.
Symonds, Patricia V. (2004). Calling in the Soul: Gender and the Cycle of Life in a Hmong Village. Seattle and
London: University of Washington Press.
Yang, Cziasarh Neng. (2002). Cultural capital : old Hmong culture in modern times. Ed.D. Dissertation, University of Saint Thomas, Saint Paul, MN.
Rice, P.L. (2000). “Death in birth: The cultural construction of stillbirth, neonatal death, and maternal death among
Hmong women in Australia.” Omega-Journal of Death and Dying. 41(1): 39-57.
Cooper, Robert (Editor) (1998). The Hmong: A guide to traditional lifestyles . Singapore: Times Editions.
Davy, Joseph. (1997) "Por Thao's Funeral (documentary photo essay)."Hmong Studies Journal Vol. 2 No. 1.
Morrison, Gayle. (1997) "The Hmong Qeej: Speaking to the Spirit World." Hmong Studies Journal Vol. 2 No. 1.
Falk, Catherine. (1996) "Upon Meeting the Ancestors: The Hmong Funeral Ritual in Asia and Australia." Hmong
Studies Journal Vol. 1 No. 1.
Bao, X. (1994). “The Guzong Festival: Ancestral Sacrifice Among the Miao.” China Tourism, December 1994, 74-75.
Haddad A. and K. Brown. (1994). “Ethics in Action: A Young Hmong Man with Inoperable Liver Cancer.” RN 57 (July
1994): 19-21.
Bliatout, B. (1993). “Hmong Death Customs: Traditional and Acculturated.” In Ethnic Variations in Dying, Death, and
Grief: Diversity in Universality, edited by D.K. Irish, K.F. Lundquist, and V.J. Nelsen, 79-100. Washington D.C.: Taylor
and Francis, 1993.
Thao, P.N. (1993). “Between Two Worlds: Hmong Ethnography, Spirituality, and Ceremony for the Deceased.”
Master’s Thesis, Mankato State University.
Symonds, Patricia Veronica (1991). Cosmology And The Cycle Of Life: Hmong View Of Birth, Death And Gender In A Mountain Village In Northern Thailand, PhD dissertation, Brown University.
Schriever, S.H. (1990). “Comparison of Beliefs and Practices of Ethnic Viet and Lao Hmong Concerning Illness,
Healing, Death, and Mourning: Implications for Hospice Care with Refugees in Canada.” Journal of Palliative Care 6: 42-49.
Hayes, C.L. and R.A. Kalish. (1987). “Death-Related Experiences and Funerary Practices of the Hmong Refugee in
the United States.” Omega 18 (1987-1988): 63-70.
Chindarsi, Nusit (1976). The Religion of the Hmong Njua. Bangkok: The Siam Society. [299.5919 N942]
Ruey Yih-Fu, and T. K. Kuan (1962). Marriage and Mortuary Customs of the Magpie Miao of Southern Szechuan,
China. Academia Sinica: Institute of History and Philology, Monograph Series A no. 23. (In Chinese) [EA DS731.
M5S8]
Bourotte, B. (1943). Mariages et funerailles chez les Meo blancs de la region de Nong-Het (Tran Ninh). Bulletin de l’Institute pour l’Etude de l’Homme, Hanoi 6:33-56.
