bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

moreOnThisArticles

urlAlias

commentCount

sponsorType

authorLocations

authors

paywallTypes

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

socialHeadline

headline

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

publishedDate

additionalInfoBoxes

images

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

createdDate

sponsor

factSheets

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

copyrighted

customTimezone

liveContents

Iris Jiang

An experienced diver from China has earned praise on mainland social media for his thoughtful actions.
The man, surnamed You, from Shandong province in the east of the country, discovered 11 sealed urns underwater, each tied with a brightly coloured ribbon, which seemed to be part of a sea burial.
He believed the urns, which were located in shallow water close to the shore, were at risk of exposure at low tide.
The diver was also concerned that less experienced divers visiting the area at night, might be spooked by the sight, which could potentially cause an accident.

You carefully relocated the urns to a deeper trench that allowed them to be gradually buried by the seabed sediment.
He was assisting in anchoring a boat that day.
As a diving coach and public emergency rescue team volunteer, he has plenty of experience in dealing with maritime emergencies and clearing marine debris.
The video documenting You’s thoughtful act quickly went viral on mainland social media.
Online observers noted that the scene “resembled something out of a horror movie” and praised his kindness.
There was also curiosity about the contents of the urns and some people speculated they were used for sea burials.
As cemetery spaces dwindle because of increasing urbanisation and an ageing population, sea burials are becoming more common in China.
The change is ongoing despite its clash with traditional Chinese culture that worships ancestors, and in which a land burial with a tombstone is considered most appropriate.
While a traditional gravesite can cost more than 100,000 yuan (US$14,000), private sea burials are much cheaper at about 10,000 yuan.

The government is also promoting sea burials by offering financial incentives.
Others opt for it from a desire to conserve land or for their love of the ocean, Beijing News reported.
Typically, the deceased’s ashes are placed in biodegradable urns made of clay and marine mud, which dissolve within 24 hours, according to Economic View.
Some other online observers suggested that the sealed urns might be “Dragon King vases”, including herbs, spices and treasures as offerings to the mythological Chinese water and weather god.
Such vases are traditionally placed in bodies of water by Buddhists, as a blessing for favourable weather and good health.


‘Vicious’ man in China jailed for deserting terminal-cancer wife 2 months after wedding

Tourist’s US$8,300 night in hotel, aquarium’s robot whale shark, dog’s graveside vigil: 6 social stories from China

Chinese tourist suffering heart attack saved by German studying TCM since childhood

China woman mistakenly pays US$8,300 for hotel room by confusing yuan and Korean won symbols

Trending in China

China diver finds sea burial urns, relocates them to deeper water to avoid accidents

A diver in China, who found a batch of urns from a sea burial and thought they posed a hazard, has been praised for his actions to make them safe. Photo: SCMP composite/Douyin

The veteran diver with the sealed urns which he thought could be from a sea burial. Photo: Douyin

Sea burials are becoming more common in China for a number of economic reasons. Photo: Douyin

‘Thought he was sleeping’: man, 29, dies at China internet café but demise goes unnoticed for 30 hours

A man visited an internet café in eastern China for a long gaming session in June, workers assumed he had fallen asleep, not realising he had passed away for 30 hours. Photo: Shutterstock


Young people in China frequently spend extended periods, even days, in internet cafes playing online video games. Photo: Shutterstock Images

The deceased’s brother-in-law expressed concern as to why the staff did not notice his passing or check on him, especially since he was seated in an open area. Photo: Weibo

China woman denied compensation after fired for obstructing office surveillance cameras with umbrellas

Corporate management complained that the woman used umbrellas to hide her desk from supervisors. 
Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock

The court ruled that Wang should not worry about wardrobe malfunctions if dressed to typical corporate standards.  Photo: Shutterstock 

The judges noted that it is permissible for a company to implement surveillance cameras within their premises. Photo: Shutterstock 

Man in China fills parking spaces with son’s expensive toy cars, security guards trash them

A father in China used his son’s expensive toy cars to fill parking spaces he paid for, sparking a bitter legal battle with fellow residents. Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock/Douyin  

The expensive toy cars occupied three parking spots, infuriating some local residents. Photo: Weibo

A court ruled that the man should be allowed to use his parking spaces in whatever way he chooses. Photo: AFP

Unravelling old China custom of ‘couvade’ when men recovered after ‘giving birth’

Exploring the historical Chinese practice of “couvade”, which involves pampering husbands to care for newborns, fosters stronger bonds in societies with traditional patriarchal norms. Photo: SCMP Graphic Image

Deciphering the ancient Chinese tradition of “couvade”, where husbands are nurtured to attend to a newborn, enhances connections in traditional patriarchal eras. Photo: SCMP Graphic Image

In contemporary society, the responsibility of caring for children is shared by both parents. Photo: Shutterstock

In modern times, the practice of couvade, where a man is pampered as if in childbirth while his wife is actually giving birth, has largely disappeared in China. Photo: Shutterstock 

Chinese city discovers 1,800-year-old family tombs while trying to expand a local park

Through meticulous excavation efforts, scientists unearthed exquisitely preserved 1,800-year-old family tombs following a decision by a Chinese city to enlarge a nearby park. Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock/kaogu.cssn.cn

Two of the three tombs were discovered with seals and shared the surname Huan, hence, it can be deduced that the tomb likely belonged to the Huan family. Photo: kaogu.cssn.cn

Scientists have unearthed remarkably well-preserved family tombs dating back 1,800 years after a Chinese city opted to enlarge a nearby park, revealing glazed pottery in the West Coffin Room. Photo: kaogu.cssn.cn

News

People & Culture

Environment

Experienced diver praised after discovering ashes of dead near shore, worrying they will spook people and taking action


A veteran diver from China was concerned that urns containing people’s ashes that he found underwater might pose a threat of accident, so he took prompt action.
