When was the earliest cremation in China?

As early as the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, there were cremation customs in some parts of China.

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.

Cremation was chosen for environmental reasons. It is an indisputable fact that landfill is a known source of some environmental pollutants. Mercury, arsenic and formaldehyde in disinfectant will pollute groundwater. The coffin itself is another known source of pollution. Other pollution problems include radioactive isotopes that enter the human body before death or burial (such as radiotherapy); The decay of these bodies may cause environmental pollution.

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On 20 14 65438+ 10/010, Vice Minister of Civil Affairs Dou accepted an exclusive interview with the Chinese government website and exchanged views with netizens on "implementing the opinions of the two offices and promoting funeral reform".

Dou said that the purpose of promoting funeral reform is to save land, wood and other natural resources, and also to advocate a new style of civilization. If cremated and buried in a coffin, the purpose of funeral reform will not be achieved.

At the same time, it does not reduce the burden on the masses, but increases the burden on the masses, because it has one more cremation procedure than traditional burial. This also provides an excuse for the society to question or even oppose the funeral reform. In fact, this is an incomplete and inadequate performance of funeral reform.

Baidu encyclopedia-cremation

China News Network-Ministry of Civil Affairs stressed that party member cadres must be cremated and ashes should not be buried again.