Cliff coffins burying custom which was believed to be one of the funeral culture of the Chinese ancient natives, had been a mystery since its initial discovery 1000 years in China. Most of the suspended coffins groups were distributed in Southern China, commonly seen along the 3 gorges of Yangtze River and its surrounding areas. The coffins were stowed in clefts on the high vertical limestone clefts, steep and ostensibly inaccessible peaks high above water courses. The suspended coffins group at the edge of Village Xiaoshimen-cun inside a mountain valley of Dongzhai, were the first and the only one that were discovered in northern China. How and when was the custom being formed here, puzzled people. Geologists were interested in its unique cultural value as it may relate to some early cultural significance and religions of ancient ethnic origins.
The secluded valley where the hanging coffin group was found, is hidden deep inside a thick wood at rocky sheer cliffs, 10km away from the road junction of Hanging Village. The road leading to Village Xiaoshimen-cun was covered with snow in early November.
About to explore and witness the most unique cliff coffin burying custom of ancient Chinese.
There is a short walking pathway from the village to the valley.
Nobody ever expect that behind this scenic sight are the resting place of some unknown persons.
The valley site where 11 wooden coffins were found suspended on the bluff of the precipice, about 10-20 meter above the ground.
These hanging coffins were said to be dated from Ming Dynasty to Mingguo early period when China was fighting against invaders (14th to early 20th century).
The coffins that appeared like sailing boat, were either supported by stakes that were inserted on the chiseled holes, or placed directly in natural caves or cracks between rock formation. Some was found hung down from cliff with metal chain.
There are many versions and ideas relating to its causes and details of these mysterious cliff coffin group found at a remote mountain valley in Northern China.
Many believed that placing the demised family member in a wooden coffin and putting them in rest on two sturdy hewn holes wedged within limestone cleft or at the rocky cavern high up at the sheer mountain cliff, not only could avoid flood water , kept them dried and cooling, it was also a nearer way for the spirit to rise or ascend to paradise or heaven.
In some version, people believed that there were temples nearby in the past, and when monks passed away, their coffins were placed back to the nature in this way. But other believed that inside the coffins were soldiers who died in the battle with body exposed in the field, villagers helped to keep their bodies inside wooden coffin and kept here.
Another saying was that these were coffins of the villagers who died of contagious diseases caused by chemical weapons of mass destruction carried out by Japanese invaders in 2nd world war. Family members kept their body in wooden coffin and hung up at the cliff, deep inside a thick forest, just to avoid further spreading.
Winter usually arrives early with snow fall in as early as end October/early November in Dongzhai.
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