As urban land resources become increasingly scarce, the cost of cemeteries and graves continues to rise. In major cities like Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen, tomb prices have even surpassed housing prices, leading to the saying among people: “The living and the dead are competing for land.”

Against the backdrop of social development, people’s attitudes toward life and death have undergone significant changes. Placing the ashes of departed loved ones in a Buddha Columbarium has gradually become a preferred choice. In recent years, various terms have emerged to refer to such placements, such as Lotus Position Buddha Position, and Underground Palace. But what exactly is a Buddha Columbarium, and what purpose does it serve?

What is a Buddha Columbarium?

The term “Fu Wei” (福位) originates from Buddhist culture. Other names like Lotus Position, Buddha Position, and Underground Palace are derived from people’s aspirations for blessings and beauty, but they all refer to the same concept. The most standard term remains Buddha Columbarium.

A Buddha Columbarium is a place used during one’s lifetime for praying and dispelling misfortunes, and after passing away, it serves as a resting place for the ashes of loved ones. The concept of the Buddha Columbarium stems from traditional祈福 culture, which accompanies the human journey from life to death.

Functions of a Buddha Columbarium

1. Dispelling Misfortune and Prolonging Life
   China’s祈福 culture has a long history. In traditional Chinese culture, the Buddha Columbarium symbolizes the five blessings: longevity, wealth, health, virtue, and a peaceful passing.

2. Changing One’s Destiny
   The Buddha Columbarium is also known as the foundation of life fortune. It serves as a place where people寄托 their hopes for a better life and find spiritual solace. Its purpose is to pray for a change in fortune—for oneself and for one’s descendants.

3. Storing Ashes
   According to ancient records, it was believed that burial brings peace, entombment in a mausoleum brings honor, and placement in a pagoda brings reverence. Honoring one’s parents is the greatest act of filial piety. Placing the ashes and memorial tablets of ancestors in a Buddha Columbarium allows the departed to ascend to the afterlife, bless their descendants, and ensure prosperity for future generations, truly embodying the idea of “being with Buddha.”

Buddha Columbarium structures are typically built within temples,延续 traditional Chinese burial practices while protecting the ashes from wind and rain. They also align with the philosophical ideas of Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism, promoting “harmony between nature and humanity, and returning to nature.”

Who Can Use a Buddha Columbarium?

Anyone can apply for a Buddha Columbarium regardless of age or gender, either for themselves or on behalf of others.

1. Parents can apply for a Buddha Columbarium for their children, such as for newborns with health issues, to pray for their well-being, and to place items like birth horoscopes or first haircut brushes.

2. Children can apply for a Buddha Columbarium for their parents to express gratitude and pray for their health and longevity.

3. Individuals can apply for a Buddha Columbarium for themselves to pray for longevity, marriage, children, wisdom, prosperity, disaster avoidance, and good fortune.

The Buddha Columbarium is a Growing Social Trend

1. Limited Land Resources
   Land resources in first- and second-tier cities are increasingly scarce. The growing demand for graves has driven prices up, resulting in a supply shortage.

   Compared to traditional graves, the Buddha Columbarium aligns better with the modern concept of “honoring the living with thick care and burying the dead with thin ceremonies.” It saves land, is environmentally friendly, and leads the trend in burial practices with advanced management models. Against the backdrop of national burial reforms, it has become an inevitable trend.

2. Burial Form
   Since ancient times, burial traditions have followed this pattern: emperors were laid in mausoleums, sages in pagodas, officials in tombs, and common people in the ground.

   Placement in a pagoda was considered second only to burial in an emperor’s mausoleum. Today, Buddha Columbarium structures are mostly built within centuries-old temples and pagodas,延续 the traditional burial practice of “peace in the ground, honor in the mausoleum, and reverence in the pagoda.”

   After the departed are laid to rest in the pagoda, monks chant scriptures to guide their souls, offer incense, and surround the area with sacred sounds, ensuring the departed ascend to peace and the living are blessed with safety and prosperity.

3. Usage Period
   In December 2008, the revised draft of the “Regulations on Funeral and Interment Management” once again emphasized that the usage period for ordinary graves is 20 years.

   In contrast, the Buddha Columbarium offers permanent placement. Temples, as places of spiritual solace, exist permanently. As long as the temple stands, the Buddha Columbarium remains.

4. Excellent Environment
   Temples housing Buddha Columbarium structures are typically located in prime areas with convenient transportation and serene surroundings, free from the gloom and fear associated with traditional cemeteries.

   From a traditional Feng Shui perspective, the bustling incense and visitor flow in temples signify excellent Feng Shui, with its blessings.

5. Planning and Management
   Modern temples housing Buddha Columbarium structures are fully equipped and regularly maintained by dedicated staff. A clean and tidy environment is essential for both the departed and the living.

   Temple monks regularly chant scriptures for the departed, allowing them to rest in peace, and pray for the living, ensuring their protection and blessings.

The Buddha Columbarium has become essential to social development and a growing trend. Given its various advantages, it will be the first choice for many and may even entirely replace traditional graves in the near future.

China has already entered an aging era. In the coming years, the demand for Buddha Columbarium placements will surge, and prices will rise significantly. Therefore, preparing a Buddha Columbarium in advance is something people urgently need to consider today.

Sales Manager: Mr. Luo
China Jiangxi HuaHeng Columbarium Factory HuaHeng Columbarium Factory Jiangxi, China