Why do ancient people have to be buried when they die?

Burial, one of the burial styles. Also known as burial. Popular all over the world. It came into being in the middle of Paleolithic Age. In western Europe, most tombs are the earliest known tombs. During the primitive commune period, all clans had fixed cemeteries. In slave society and feudal society, every family (clan) also has a fixed cemetery. Generally, a corpse is buried in a tomb, but several people or clans (families) are buried together. Most graves have coffins and sacrifices of different textures. In class society, there are many martyrs in the graves of the ruling class, and some people even die. With the development of society, burial has evolved into various forms. The main forms of tombs in China are: vertical cave tombs (pit tombs), which were popular in the late Paleolithic period; From the Neolithic Age to the Han Dynasty, stone tombs and urn coffins were very popular. Sarcophagus burial and masonry tomb have been popular since the Warring States Period. Cave tombs began in the Warring States Period and prevailed in the Six Dynasties and even the Sui and Tang Dynasties. Guo Mu's tomb, which began in Shang Dynasty, is rare after Han Dynasty. From the end of Warring States to the beginning of Han Dynasty, ship burial was popular in Sichuan.

The origin of burial

Burial originated in primitive society, which is a custom, such as Banpo civilization, and was adopted in Xia, Yin and other dynasties.

The history of burial

At the end of primitive society, people were buried, and after entering class society, the grade difference was obvious. By the Qin and Han dynasties, the rulers banned cremation, and burial became a common burial method of the Han nationality, which was passed down from generation to generation, based on the principle that "parents dare not damage their bodies." According to the burial custom, most areas implement the first burial method, but some areas and ethnic groups also implement the second burial method or multiple reburial methods. Although there are differences in the forms and characteristics of burial among different nationalities and historical periods in China, the basic idea is the same, that is, the deceased should preserve the remains and "bury", so the custom of burial has a long history. In some ethnic minorities, there are also people who regard burial as the worst burial method, such as cremation, celestial burial and water burial among Tibetans. Burying infectious patients or robbers suffering from leprosy and smallpox and prisoners who died after being punished is considered to eradicate the epidemic of plague and punish evil, so they can go to hell and cannot be reincarnated. The custom of burial, which wastes people and money, occupies farmland indiscriminately and spreads diseases, has been gradually replaced by cremation law after the founding of New China, but it still remains in remote rural areas.

Why do some ethnic groups like burial?

There are many reasons why most ethnic groups in China, especially the Han nationality, attach importance to burial.

1 has something to do with the natural environment in which you live. In the vast area of the Central Plains of China, the land is fertile and the agricultural civilization has a long history. For generations, people have given priority to agriculture and regarded land as the foundation of life (where there is land, there is life, and where there is no land, there is death). They think that burying people in the earth after death is the best way for the soul to rest in peace. The so-called "security for the people and the land" has become the belief of the Han people and has far-reaching influence.

2. Burial is in line with the living habits of the Han people and the ethical feelings of pursuing the future with caution. The idea that life comes from the soil and then returns to the soil is deeply rooted. Han people advocate yellow, and emperors of all dynasties regarded yellow as the color of dignitaries, but yellow is actually khaki. In the five elements of yin and yang, "earth" is in the middle position and is the most stable and reliable foundation, so burial conforms to the living customs and traditional concepts of the Han nationality.

3. Burial burial For the feudal system, burial can best reflect the difference between class and rank. Only burial can preserve the rights and status of the deceased for a long time, such as majestic tombs, tombstones, stone statues, stone beasts and other ancillary buildings. Only burial can often carry out various symbolic activities in front of the tomb, showing the feelings of the living mourning the dead, showing the luxury of ostentation and extravagance, and meeting the needs of patriarchal politics.

Formation of burial

The formation of funeral customs is closely related to people's ideas. They believe that the earth of the dead is the inevitable destination of mankind. In Zhou Li, it is said that "all sentient beings die and return to the earth after death", in Han Dynasty Reform, it is said that "when people die, ghosts return, essence returns to the sky, and meat returns to the earth", and Li Yun also said that "soul and god belong to the sky, and shape and god belong to it". As can be seen from the above, the ancients believed that after death, the body was buried underground, and the soul separated from the body could return to heaven. Burial is closely related to the concept of ghost. From Paleolithic to modern times, when people bury the dead, they have to bury a lot of things, including all kinds of utensils, food and decorations, in order to make the souls of the dead live better in another world.

Funeral etiquette

The funeral etiquette is complicated, which is one of its important characteristics. In ancient times, people's funerals were extremely simple, with no graves, ceremonies and sacrifices. After entering the class society, the funeral methods have become increasingly complex to meet the needs of the ruling class and ethics. Superstition has become increasingly strong, forming a unique funeral etiquette in the world. It is required to "bury with ceremony, sacrifice with ceremony", "coffin must be heavy, food and clothing must be abundant, embroidery must be complicated, mountain dragons must be huge", "body hair and skin, parents' suffering, dare not damage". This traditional concept of funeral still has a certain influence on people and has become a major psychological and ideological obstacle to the implementation of funeral reform.

Disadvantages of burial

First, rotting corpses will pollute the environment.

Second, after activation, the occupied area will become smaller or not occupied at all.

Third, prevent feudal superstition and illegal organ trade.

Fourthly, cremation has been popular in China for a long time, as a manifestation of returning to nature (influenced by Buddhism).