As urban land resources become increasingly scarce, the cost of cemeteries and graves continues to rise. In first-tier cities like Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen, cemetery 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 societal development, people's perspectives on life and death have undergone significant changes. Placing the ashes of loved ones in a Buddha Columbarium has gradually become a preferred choice. In recent years, various terms have emerged to describe such memorial spaces, 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 "Buddha Columbarium" originates from Buddhist culture. Other names, such as Lotus Position or Buddha Position, are derived from people's aspirations for beauty and blessings, but they all refer to the same concept. The most standard term remains "Buddha Columbarium."

A Buddha Columbarium is a space used during one's lifetime for praying and dispelling misfortunes, and after passing away, it serves as a place to enshrine and honor 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 Misfortunes and Extending Longevity
   China's祈福 culture has ancient origins. In traditional Chinese culture, the Buddha Columbarium symbolizes the five blessings: longevity, wealth, health, virtue, and a peaceful passing.

2. Changing 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 blessings and transform one's own fortune as well as the fortune of descendants.

3. Storing Ashes
   According to the "Ziyuan" by Ge Hong of the Jin Dynasty, ancient beliefs held that "burial brings peace, entombment in a mausoleum brings honor, and placement in a pagoda brings reverence." Honoring parents is the greatest act of filial piety. Enshrining the ashes and memorial tablets of ancestors allows the departed to attain peace and blesses future generations with prosperity, truly embodying the idea of "being with the Buddha."

Buddha Columbariums are typically built within temples,延续 China's traditional burial practices while providing protection from wind and rain. They also align with the philosophical ideals of Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism, promoting "harmony between heaven and humanity and a return to nature."

Who Can Use a Buddha Columbarium?

Anyone can acquire a Buddha Columbarium for themselves or others, regardless of age or gender.

1. Parents may acquire one for their children, such as for a newborn with health issues, to pray for the child's well-being and enshrine items like birth horoscopes or first haircut brushes.

2. Children may acquire one for their parents to express gratitude for their upbringing and pray for their health and longevity.

3. Individuals may acquire one for themselves to pray for longevity, marriage, children, wisdom, career success, disaster avoidance, wealth, and other blessings.

The Buddha Columbarium: A Growing Trend in Societal Development

1. Limited Land Resources
   Land resources in first- and second-tier cities are increasingly strained. The growing demand for cemeteries has driven prices higher, leading to shortages.

   Compared to traditional cemeteries, the Buddha Columbarium aligns with the modern concept of "honoring the living with simplicity and the departed with respect." It saves land, is environmentally friendly, and leads the trend in memorialization with advanced management models. Against the backdrop of national funeral reforms, it has become an inevitable trend.

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

   "Placement in a pagoda" was a burial treatment second only to that of emperors. Today, Buddha Columbariums are mostly built within centuries-old temples or pagodas, the traditional burial custom 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 for salvation, incense is offered, and the sound of Buddhist prayers surrounds the space, allowing the departed to attain peace and the living to receive blessings and safety.

3. Usage Period
   In December 2008, the "Regulations on Funeral and Interment Management" (draft revision) was reviewed in Shanghai, reaffirming that the usage period for ordinary cemeteries is 20 years.

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

4. Excellent Environment
   Temples housing Buddha Columbariums are typically located in prime areas with convenient transportation and serene surroundings, devoid of the gloom and fear associated with traditional cemeteries.

   From the perspective of traditional Feng Shui, the bustling incense offerings and gatherings at temples naturally imply excellent Feng Shui significance.

5. Planning and Management
   Modern temples housing Buddha Columbariums are equipped with comprehensive facilities and are regularly maintained by dedicated staff. A clean and tidy memorial space is essential for both the departed and the living.

   Temple monks regularly perform salvation rituals for the departed, allowing them to rest in peace, and pray for the living, granting them protection and blessings.

Conclusion

The Buddha Columbarium has become a societal necessity and an inevitable trend. Given its various advantages, it will be the first choice for many and may even fully replace traditional cemeteries in the near future.

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

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