The Novel Way
The old system of burials still exists in China. But, owing to the ecosystem awareness and the land constraints emerging in mainland China, a new cult of eco-friendly burials is doing the rounds in the country. The prime issue has been the land constraints that are sky-rocketing the prices of the space for burial grounds. Thus, a solution was required and here it is! Thinking the kind of new burial services offered in China? Well, they offer wall burials, lawn burials, tree burials as well as sesa burials too. These new eco-friendly ways of burial too have been facing many challenges but it is a while before people accept the new norm. Changes come slow, especially those rooted in deep traditional thoughts.
The Culture
Thousands of people pass away each day in Shanghai and the effort was to restrict the space per burial to less than one square meter, but that too is mounting pressure on the future allocation of land for the same purpose. The city cannot sustain the future burials as land in China is being gulped down for infrastructure and industry purposes, which, of course are being commercialised and prioritised as well. At the moment nearly 80% are going through standard old-school underground burial procedures while only a mere 20% are adopting methods like land saving selections for burial of the dead. To promote the novel burial system and to get it popularised offer free burial services for those opting for eco-friendly burials for their deceased loved ones. However, the mind-set has not changed as yet and people prefer paying money to opt for burial the traditional, underground way. Taking a view from the people and civilians it is observed that they feel that this practice may cause dishonour of their respect for their deceased relative. Seems like people are not ready to take such a leap of faith too soon considering Chinese trust that souls rest in peace only after the burial are performed, but, underground!
The Reason For Lack Of Acceptance
Yes, there are Chinese and modern minds in the country that are open to such thoughts of offering green burials, but you can count the number on your fingers. This problem traces its root to customs and days like the ย Tomb-Sweeping Day known as the Qingming Festival which calls for people to visit the burials of their loved ones and feed them with liquor and food items, right on the site of burial. This tradition will not be possible in case of eco-friendly burials. In China, the coastal regions are more acceptable to newer methods of burial, where they scatter ashes in the river or in the sea. However, the trend is seeing a growth and there have been people and families asking for eco-friendly burials for their loved ones. What people donโt understand is the good they are doing to the environment and the accommodation you are offering to others who could possibly bless your loved oneโs departed soul; it is a kind of social service at the moment. The increasing acceptance of the practice could also be due to rising costs of traditional burials which make it expensive for lower and middle income families.
The Initiatives
The efforts to popularise them and add an attractive element is crucial.ย It needs to be done without hurting the sentiment of the people who are grieving the loss of their loved ones while at the same time making sure that their sentiments of honouring the departed are also not hurt in the process. The government is expecting the practice to be adopted by more and more people thus reducing the damages and the burden that the restricted land is weighed down with.
