Burial for Peace: Illustrated Guide to Ancient Funeral Culture

Author: Zhang Jian Guang
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-10-01
Features: In ancient times, humans were in a state of ignorance and did not understand the need to build tombs to bury the dead. At this time, people did not have the concept of ghosts, and their treatment of the deceased's remains was no different from that of animal bones, without special respect. Anthropologists speculate that people at this time might abandon the bones in the wilderness, sometimes even dividing and eating them. Due to the extremely harsh living conditions, in order to survive, people may have more frequently resorted to dividing and eating the bodies. The Mencius (Teng Wen Gong Shang) states: In ancient times, it was common for people not to bury their relatives. After the death of their loved ones, they would simply abandon them in ditches, where the bodies would be eaten by foxes and gnawed by flies and mosquitoes. The origin of burials in China can be traced back to the late Paleolithic era, approximately 10,000 years ago. In Neolithic sites, burials are particularly abundant, with various types of burials appearing. At the Zhoukoudian site, archaeologists have discovered remnants of burials. Around the remains of elderly men and middle-aged women, red iron ore powder was scattered. People speculate that this may have symbolized giving the deceased new blood and bestowing new life. It may also have indicated that they were not truly dead but merely asleep. Alternatively, it could have been a hope that the deceased's soul could continue to survive in another world. Additionally, there is a theory that suggests the people of that time held a special reverence for the color red. For example, at the Yuanmou Dadengzi site on the upper reaches of the Yangtze River, archaeologists have excavated 37 burials, including 17 jar burials for children. The lids of these jars are often intentionally carved with one to three round holes. Experts believe that these holes were for the deceased's soul to enter and exit, reflecting the belief in the immortality of the soul. The burial customs of ancient humans also reflect the concept of the soul. For instance, the earliest and most common burial style, the supine straight limb burial, is generally considered to represent a sleeping posture, conveying the idea of asking the deceased to rest in peace. Secondary burials were also quite popular. In some cases, after the bones were exhumed, they were placed in jars in a seated position, perhaps symbolizing watching over the world from a seated position. In other cases, the bones were dug up and buried again after the community migrated, possibly with the intention of keeping the deceased's soul company forever. Flexed limb burial is another ancient burial style, which was very popular in Neolithic burials such as the Zengpiyan site in Guilin, Guangxi, the Wushanaxi culture in Sichuan, and the Jujialing culture in Hubei. This burial style involves tying the deceased's body into the shape of a fetus, perhaps implying that just as they came into this world, they should leave it in the same way. Another theory suggests that it was meant to help the deceased quickly reincarnate or be reborn.