「生命禮俗」是人對於生命的體驗與尊重，人類從出生到死亡，在不同的階段中，透過生命禮俗來通過生命的重要關卡，並使身分與地位轉換。因此在生命的過程中，每一個重要的階段，會以生命禮俗來進行通過的禮儀。在儀式完成之後，也就宣告其順利的通過生命關卡，正式進入另一個新的階段，並擁有新的社會身分與地位。生命禮俗從出生、成年、結婚、生育、死亡等，都是不同的生命階段之變化。為了結束前一個生命階段，並迎接下一個生命階段的來臨，在不同的社會文化習俗傳承之下，就會產生各式各樣的生命禮儀。而在各種不同的生命禮儀中，使人體認到生命的意義與價值，並且對於生命的珍惜與尊重。所以對於生命禮俗的認識，是生命教育的重要課題。本文將探討現代漢人文化習俗中的生命禮俗，從生命禮俗的理論基礎，進行探究生命禮俗的意義與價值。全文分為五段：一、前言：說明研究的動機與目的；二、生命禮俗的理論基礎：從人類學「通過禮儀」的理論基礎，探討生命禮俗的生命觀；三、生命禮俗的實踐與意義：介紹漢人文化生命禮俗的內涵，如：出生禮、成年禮、婚禮、喪禮等，探討生命禮俗對於人生命的意義與價值；四、生命禮俗在生命教育的應用：探討生命禮俗與生命教育之關係，以及生命教育如何透過生命禮俗來展現：五、結語：生命禮俗對生命的意義與價值，以及生命禮俗課程在通識教育中的重要性。

Rites of passage express our experience of, and respect for, life. From birth to death, at different stages of life, rites of passage accompany us at the key moments of life. Through them our identity and status are transformed. Thus in the course of life each important stage is marked by a ritual of passage. Successful completion of the ritual is itself an announcement that we have passed through one of the gates in life and entered into a new stage, with a new social identity and status.Rites of passage from birth, adulthood, marriage, giving birth to death are all situated at moments of change. Rites of passage close one stage of life and open another. In different cultural traditions different rites have emerged leading one to experience the meaning and value of life and so to cherish and respect it. Thus understanding of rites of passage is an important lesson in life education.This paper explores the rites of passage in contemporary Chinese culture. It starts with the theoretical foundation of the rites and moves on to consider their significance and value. It falls into five parts. The introduction explains the motive and purpose of the research. The second part presents the theoretical underpinning of the rites, using an anthropological approach to look at the picture of life conveyed by the rites. The third section, 'the implementation and meaning of rites of passage' introduces the rites of passage in Chinese culture, such as those used at birth, coming of age, marriage and death, so as to set out the meaning and value of the rites for human life. The fourth section 'the relationship between rites of passage and life education' looks at how life education can be developed through the rites. Finally, the conclusion assesses the meaning and value of rites of passage for life and the importance of classes on rites of passage in general education courses.