Tibetan funeral culture with national characteristics

Funeral culture has existed for a long time, and there is often a saying among the people that "it is safe to be buried". This statement is a statement supporting burial, and each nation has naturally formed its own unique funeral culture after a long period of development.

Then, let's take a look at Tibetan culture with me!

in the long historical process, the nation has formed a funeral culture with plateau characteristics. According to historical documents and archaeological remains, its funeral forms include cremation, stone burial, burial, sky burial (bird burial), tower burial, spiritual burial (spiritual tower burial), tree burial and water burial. Due to historical, religious and natural conditions, these funeral ceremonies gradually changed.

1. Cremation

Historically, cremation was the burial method used by Tibetans for the most respected people. "Celestial Burial-Tibetan Funeral Culture" written by Ge Sang, a scholar in Tibet, said: "The great Buddhist monks and sages of Tibetan Buddhism followed the example of the funeral customs of the Buddha and India, and insisted on cremation one after another, ennobling and mystifying cremation, which became a funeral custom showing a social level. Subsequently, a large number of arty and self-respecting princes and officials joined the cremation, intentionally or unintentionally rejecting it. In some places, if civilians are cremated, they will be criticized and attacked by society. "

In addition, this can also be proved by the records in relevant documents about "the body disappeared like a rainbow" after the death of the Seven Kings of Heaven in Tibetan history. Mr. Tuden Pengcuo, a Tibetan expert, wrote in his Outline of Tibetan History: "After the cremation of the Seven Kings of Tianchi, the fireworks flew into the sky like a rainbow and disappeared." The Dictionary of Tibetan Studies in Dongga also said: "Bonism believes that the Seven Kings of Heaven and Red ... grabbed the white rope on their heads after their death and disappeared into the sky like a rainbow."

The "white" rope mentioned here should refer to the smoke emitted during cremation. However, some experts and scholars disagree with this view. In their book Tibetan Folk Culture, Chen Liming and Cao Xiaoyan hold that "the seven kings of Tianchi, who died without leaving their bodies on earth, disappeared in the sky like a rainbow, which actually reflects the custom of wild burial of Tibetan people in ancient times after their death". Scholars such as Zangjia and Deji Zhuo Ma think that the reason why the "Seven Kings of Heaven and Red" didn't see their bodies after their death was because wizards and guards transported their secrets to the most dangerous and remote places to hide them, so as to avoid the king's bodies being found, while vultures were "gods" with magical functions who brought the king's remains to heaven.