My research studies the uses of fire in modern Chinese history, investigating how their usage shaped China’s society, governance, and policy. It is under the supervision of Professor Lily Chang at UCL’s Faculty of Social and Historical Sciences.
The Communist Party of China has implemented large-scale funeral reforms for decades, with one notable goal being a 100% cremation rate. Critics noted the violation on Chinese traditions, particularly the practice of burial in the rural population. Death is not just a religious issue, it is a politically-and-socially-driven culture, involving various factors that often challenge one another. This study examines the development of cremation policies in imperial and Republican China, focusing on how foreign influences and local traditions challenge or favour these laws.
The literature review will be organized according to key themes. For the practice of cremation in imperial China and the religious influence on death, due to the limited access of primary sources, I will rely primarily on English secondary scholarships. I will locate primary sources from the Republican period, mostly essays published by intellects or gazettes from various regions. I will also study some accounts by foreign missionaries. I am aiming to create a timeline of the development of cremation policies in China and explain the many reasons behind their effectiveness.