The hanging coffin is a burial practice of ancient ethnic minorities in southern China, where coffins are placed on wooden stakes drilled into cliffs. This burial method is not only complex in craftsmanship but also shrouded in mystery. How ancient people managed to transport coffins weighing hundreds of kilograms to high cliffs remains an unsolved enigma. The hanging coffin burial was mainly popular among the nobility, reflecting the social hierarchy and religious beliefs of that time. In the Wuyi Mountains along the Jiuqu Stream, over a dozen hanging coffin sites are still preserved today. Among them, two well-preserved boat-shaped coffins at Baiyan and Guanyin Rock date back over three thousand years and contain burial items characteristic of the Shang and Zhou cultures. These hanging coffin rituals are not only part of ancient funeral customs but also crucial clues for studying ancient cultures.
The Mystery of Hanging Coffins: The Funeral Rituals of Ancient Yue People