A funeral service provider in Zhejiang province has come under fire after calling on citizens to transform their deceased loved ones into jewelry.
"Ultra-hot temperatures can melt ashes, turning them into tiny crystallized beads. Due to different microelements contained in the ashes, the beads turn out in a variety of colors, making them a good material for creating jewelry," a Zhejiang funeral worker surnamed Chen told Jinbaonet.com on March 9. According to Chen, the company will offer a free trial of their service to five local residents.
Using ashes to make jewelry has become a trend in China in recent years. According to Chen, a company in Shanghai has helped over 200 clients turn their family members' ashes into beads. As of press time, families from 21 provinces in China had ordered the service to preserve memories of their late relatives. Chen noted that the service also saves land that would otherwise be occupied by corpses, and it costs less than a typical funeral ceremony.
But not everyone in China is willing to accept the innovative proposal--no surprise, given how rigidly most Chinese people adhere to traditional burial customs. The hashtag "TurnYourLovedOnesIntoNecklaces" has garnered over 310,000 page views on Sina Weibo since it was posted on March 10, with most comments criticizing the practice.
"It gives me goose bumps to even think about this horrible idea. I think the service is blasphemous to the dead and goes against Chinese traditions. Chinese people believe that a proper burial is crucial for the deceased souls, as it allows them to finally rest in peace," one netizen wrote on Weibo.
But others hold a different opinion, noting that the new service is practically a necessity considering the skyrocketing cost of land in China.
"I think the idea of turning ashes into jewelry is environmentally friendly. We should leave the land for the living, not the dead," another netizen wrote.
