Hanging coffins are coffins which have been placed on cliffs. They can be found in various locations, including China (where they are known as 悬棺) and the Philippines.

China

Hanging coffin is an ancient funeral custom of some minority groups, especially Bo people, in southern China. Coffins of various shapes were mostly made with one whole piece of wood. Some coffins lie on beams projecting from structures such as mountains, others are placed in caves. Another kind sit on projections in the rock.

Locations of hanging coffins include:

• Fujian
  • Wuyi Mountains
• Hubei
• Jiangxi
  • Longhushan (龙虎山), 20 km southwest of Yingtan City (Guyue people)
• Sichuan
  • Gongxian County of Yibin, southwest Sichuan (Bo people)
  • Qutang Gorge, one of the Three Gorges
• Yunnan

Philippines

Hanging coffins can be found in Sagada, Luzon Island. William Henry Scott, a well-known historian, was buried in Sagada.

External links

China

• Hanging coffins in China
• Mysterious Hanging Coffins of the Bo
• Hanging Coffins a Clue to Ba Mystery
• Hanging coffins in Yunnan

Philippines

• Hanging Coffins of Sagada
• Picture of hanging coffins in Sagada

Archaeology of death | Chinese archaeology | Death customs