Cremation has been practiced in China for almost 50 years. Do you know why you practice?

At present, the cremation rate is 53% in Chinese mainland, 26% in the United States, 70% in Britain and over 90% in Japan. Looking up the ancient literature in China, we can see that as early as the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, there was a custom of cremation in some parts of China.

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."

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.

Extended data:

Modern program

Cremation ceremonies are generally held in crematoriums, which include one or more cremators or "retreats". Cremator is an industrial furnace, and its height can be as high as 870-980 C (1600-1800 F) to ensure that the corpse can be disintegrated. Crematorium can be a part of a church or funeral home, or an independent facility or service provided by a cemetery.

The fuels of modern cremators include natural gas and diesel oil. However, coal and coke were used until the early 1960s. Many cremators are adjustable control systems, which are used to monitor the condition of the cremators during cremation.

Cremators are only allowed to cremate one corpse at a time, which is also the law of many countries, including the United States. However, due to the treatment of human epidemic prevention, the deceased were cremated collectively, which prevented the disease from spreading among people.

The place to put the body is called "return". They used refractory bricks to resist the high temperature. In order to maintain its heat resistance, these bricks are usually replaced every five years. Modern cremators are controlled by computers to ensure their correct and safe use. For example, the door of the cremator cannot be opened until it reaches the operating temperature.

The coffin should be pushed back as soon as possible to avoid the loss of heat from the stove through the open door at the top. Using the loader (overhead trolley) can quickly push the coffin into the furnace and obliquely push the coffin into the cremation furnace. Some crematoriums allow family members to watch the process. This is sometimes because of religious ceremonies, such as traditional Hindu funerals.

Most cremators have standard sizes. However, some big cities will use some oversized cremators, which can handle the dead weighing 200 kilograms (44 1 pound). But not all overweight people can use this method, and some must be buried. In addition, many large crematoriums will set up a small cremator to deal with young or premature children.

References:

Baidu encyclopedia-cremation