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CHAP. XIV - MODES OF SEPULTURE

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 September 2010

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Summary

The neighbourhood of a Chinese city is always remarkable for the vast number of tombs which meet the eye in every direction. Wherever there, is a hill or elevation in a populous district it is certain to be thickly covered with earthen mounds, so thickly indeed that one wonders where any future dead will find room to lie; where the country is flat, mounds and coffins may be seen scattered about the fields, but as a rule a Chinaman prefers to lay his bones upon a slope. The grave when planted on a hill-side is always placed so as to cause the headstone to face down-hill, it being considered lucky for the remains to have a good position with respect to the “Feng Shuy,” or geomantic influences of the locality. Wealthy people spend months and years in the selection of such a favourable spot, and grudge no outlay in securing it when found. Whether the remains receive all the benefit intended may be a question, but such taste is always exhibited in the selection of a point from which the vista of hill and dale may be seen to the best advantage, that some of the most lovely and romantic views in China may be had by climbing to first-class tombs upon the hill-sides.

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Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2010
First published in: 1872

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