When did cremation begin after death?

Looking up the ancient literature in China, we can see that cremation customs existed in some areas of China as early as the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, such as Gansu, Qinghai and other western minority areas. This is recorded in Liezi, Lu Chunqiu and Xunzi Outline. "Mozi Festival Funeral" records: "If there is a country and a canal in the west of Qin Dynasty, its relatives will die and collect firewood and burn it." Yi Qu is located in Qingyang, Gansu Province, which shows that cremation was practiced in the northwest region at the latest in the pre-Qin period, and it was very popular. Therefore, some Buddhists and Buddhist scholars believe that cremation originated in India and was introduced to China in Wei and Jin Dynasties.

Cremation is a way to dispose of bodies. Specifically, the body was burned to ashes, then placed in an urn, buried in the soil, scattered in water or air, and even shot into space by a rocket. Cremation is popular in Hinduism and Buddhism, among which Sakyamuni, the Buddha, is famous for leaving a relic after death. Buddhists all over the world follow the practice of cremation after death, while Confucianism, Islam and Christianity are popular in burial. Since the 20th century, cremation has been advocated all over the world to save scarce cultivated land. At present, the cremation rate is 53% in Chinese mainland, 26% in the United States, 70% in Britain and over 90% in Japan.

-Part of the information comes from Baidu Encyclopedia cremation.