The inevitable nature of death can be overwhelming at times. Everyone has their own ways to prepare, cope with, and ultimately decide just how they want to depart this world. Funeral burial, or cremation urns for ashes? Scattering urns and ashes at sea, or putting them in cremation ash jewelry for loved ones memorial keepsakes?
Most people are very particular about the specifics involved in the proceedings that follow their death, but would it be enough to actually die for? For some Chinese citizens the answer to that question is yes. In fact, at least seven elderly residents of the Chinese city of Anqing reportedly either hastened their death, or committed suicide altogether for such reasons, according to the Los Angeles Times.
It all started last summer when the Chinese government announced they were implementing a forced cremation policy in response to the growing concern over not having enough land space available to bury people. Most funerals in America cost an average of $10,000, but in China that price had exploded to over $60,000 in some cases, due to the scarcity. The date of June 1 was given as the deadline (no pun intended). Anyone who died before that was permitted to be disposed of the way they chose. After that, cremation was mandatory.
Cremation was widely practiced by the time of the Roman Empire, and cremated remains were generally stored in elaborate urns placed inside tombs or temples.
Wu Qisi was one of the determined Chinese citizens that wanted to go out on his terms. After hearing about the new policy from his barber, Qisi decided it was time to go. So he took it upon himself. It’s unclear just how he did it, but he was also 94 at the time so it wasn’t like he was forfeiting the glory years of his life.
One of the effects the policy change has had is the growth of the industry of cremation urns for ashes. Yiko is one company that has capitalized on the unconventional policy by offering custom, affordable cremation urns for ashes made through 3D printers technology, according to the 3D printing news source 3dPrint.com.
The industry standard size for companion urns is 400 cubic inches, but these can be made to almost any specifications the consumer wants.
?There?s no room for graveyards in China now,? said Ma Lei, the company’s founder. ?The funeral industry has been declining for a long time, but it?s also a huge market space.? Helpful links.