Chinese Beliefs About Life After Death
The ancient Chinese believed in an afterlife. They imagined that it would be very similar to life on earth or maybe a continuation of it. They believed that people would have the same needs in the afterlife as they did when they were alive so they were buried with useful household items or any thing that they would want in the afterlife. Therefore, it was very important that all the things they needed were buried in their tomb with them. People planned and prepared for their tomb during their life. Some people bought and had objects especially made for this purpose.
In early times, the servants were expected to sacrifice themselves to accompany their master. Later, carpenters had to make sculptures of the servants instead.
In ancient China people believed that there were a number of gods who had power over their lives. They could not talk to these gods directly so the only way they could ask the gods to bring good fortune to them was through their ancestors. The ancestors were able to communicate to the gods in the spirit world and could ask to bring good luck to their relatives on earth. Therefore it became very important to make sure that their ancestors were pleased and happy with them. If the ancestors became angry with their relatives, they might ask for bad fortune to be brought to them.
In early times, the servants were expected to sacrifice themselves to accompany their master. Later, carpenters had to make sculptures of the servants instead.
In ancient China people believed that there were a number of gods who had power over their lives. They could not talk to these gods directly so the only way they could ask the gods to bring good fortune to them was through their ancestors. The ancestors were able to communicate to the gods in the spirit world and could ask to bring good luck to their relatives on earth. Therefore it became very important to make sure that their ancestors were pleased and happy with them. If the ancestors became angry with their relatives, they might ask for bad fortune to be brought to them.