Radio Taiwan International
Date: 2018-04-05
The government is blasting funeral groups for an advertisement they printed during this
The government is blasting funeral groups for an advertisement they printed during this Tomb Sweeping holiday. (CNA Photo)
Tomb Sweeping holiday. Their ad read, “Has the Tomb Sweeping Festival disappeared? So-called green burials are just a misunderstanding”. The ads were critical of the new call for greener burials and tomb sweeping methods promoted by the government.
The practice of burning paper money at cemeteries causes much pollution. Thus, the government has encouraged people to do the gesture at home with digital paper money.
In 2016, 96% of the deceased were cremated. As Taiwan’s land resources are limited, the government encourages families to bury ashes of loved ones in tree cemeteries or the ocean. Before the burial, family members are encouraged to honor those who passed with a funeral.
Taiwan has 31cemeteries for natural burials that have served over 39,000 persons while nearly 7000 have had natural burials outside of cemeteries. There are nine cities and counties that host ocean burials and have served nearly 2,000 persons. [SOURCE]