Tag Archives: China

Fear of Death and a Terracotta Army

The Emperor of China took a fleet of warriors to his grave

Perhaps no figure in history feared death as openly as China’s first emperor, Qin Shi Huang. Death was so terrifying to him that he might have actually killed himself in an effort to beat it. What would you do to ensure you … Continue reading

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Rural China’s Erotic Funeral Dancers

How globalism and economics influenced Chinese funeral traditions

Hiring professional mourners is a common practice in many parts of the world, especially in rural China. Yet one mourning practice has inspired a country-wide crackdown. In recent years, some families in China have hired exotic dancers to perform at … Continue reading

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Qingming: A Chinese Death Tradition

Have Chinese traditions on death, family and the afterlife changed since the Tang dynasty?

Qingming, or Tomb Sweeping Day, occurs every spring in China. The sacred day has been a call to action for Chinese families since the Tang Dynasty, encouraging them to tend to their ancestors’ graves. Today, Qingming can be observed with … Continue reading

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A Community of Cremation Vessels: Cloud of Stars by Zhufei Zhufei

Chinese architecture blends technology with tradition in this columbarium

Today, social media technologies pervade our culture, setting the tone for the way we choose to experience life. So why not tailor technology to accommodate the ways we choose to experience death? Design for Death finalist Zhufei Zhufei is one … Continue reading

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Cliff Burials of Ancient China

The ancient funeral custom calls to mind a modern perspective on grief and loss.

These magnificent hanging coffins or “cliff burials” are an ancient custom most widely practiced by the Bo people of southern China. The caskets are carved from a single whole piece of wood and either placed in small caves on the … Continue reading

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Ancient Chinese Funerary Practices

Artwork from the Jin Dynasty shows life-after-life in 12th-century China

Unlike what we know of classic Christian death mythology,  in which the hope is for the soul to escape to Heaven after life on earth, early Chinese beliefs surrounding death expected the core of your being to remain intact right … Continue reading

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