Prayer For Peace in Chineese

According to 2007 data, there are about 70 million historical relics collectors in mainland China. Supposing each collector owns three historical relics, the total number of historical relics in the general population (not including those kept in museums) could be more than 200 million, and most of which (at least 65%) are unearthed objects. Why does China have so many historical relics hidden underground? It is due to the death culture of inhumation in China.

Death must bring grief to us, but we have to face it, because it is the law of nature. China has formed a great and profound culture of death. Here we only introduce it to youbriefly based on the aspects of graves and coffins.

History

Since ancient times (roughly from the Shang Dynasty, lasting from 1,556 B.C. to 1,046 B.C.), Chinese people believed that the souls of the dead lived in another world: the nether world and graves were their earthly residences. Death of course brings boundless grief to the living, but the living have traditionally held grand, even extravagant funerals to see off the dead. Today, funerals are much more simple and economical.

Besides the grand funeral, people would bury some funeral objects for the dead, such as gold, silver, bronze wares, pottery, and other precious things. That’s why China has so many historical relics hidden underground and why grave robbery has been so prosperous in Chinese history.

Take the mausoleum of Emperor Qin, the largest underground mausoleum in the world for example. The mausoleum covers an area of 56 square kilometers. Up to now, more than 50,000 historical relics have been unearthed at the mausoleum. Among these historical relics, the Terracotta Warriors are the most famous ones. The site is about 2 kilometers from Emperor Qin’s Mausoleum, and they were created as the guards of Emperor Qin’s Mausoleum.

The Prayer