I don’t know how often you think of death, like exactly what will happen to your body when you die. Will you be buried or cremated? Or will your coffin be placed on the side of a cliff? Apparently this is a common practice of the Bo people of southern China and can be found in other parts of the world, like Indonesia and the Philippines. The idea behind a hanging coffin is to protect the dead from floods and animals, specifically beasts, and allow for easier passage to heaven. Usually the coffins, which vary in shape and size, are mostly carved from one whole piece of wood. They either lie on beams projecting outward from the cliff or sit on natural rock projections on the faces of a mountain. Probably one of the most famous examples is in the middle of the jungle in Sagada, Philippines. Rows of pine caskets, some over hundreds of years old, hang high from the bluffs of the Echo Valley. The Igorots embrace and actively prepare for death. The elderly carve their own coffins if they are physically able to do so. But not everyone gets a hanging coffin; one must be married and have grandchildren (well, that counts me out). It’s also a tradition that is slowly and literally dying out as the younger generations have adopted modern ways of life and are influenced by the country’s Christian beliefs. But don’t worry…the Hanging Coffins of Sagada will probably keep hangin’ on as a tourist attraction as there are nearly 130 reviews on TripAdvisor alone.
The Hanging Coffins Of Sagada, Philippines
