Article About Denial of Death in China

December 1, 2024 9:42 PM

In the last year, I read an article (maybe on Metafilter) detailing recent changes in Chinese attitudes toward death, from a public, community event, to something to be hidden and feared. Now I can’t find the article anywhere. Can you please help? Thank you.
posted by Atrahasis to MetaFilter-Related at 9:42 PM (5 comments total)

Is it maybe this one?
posted by juv3nal at 10:39 PM on December 1 [2 favorites]

It was another article about how in more recent times, people in cities in China now may hide the fact someone died in their apartment, even forgoing the traditional decorations/announcements of death, as a death in the home is viewed as bad luck, especially after COVID, when news of deaths was suppressed. I can’t seem to find the article online anywhere.
posted by Atrahasis at 5:00 AM on December 2

I don't know if I originally saw it here, but there was an Aeon essay about the fear of death making it hard for undertakers to work.
posted by ignignokt at 7:02 AM on December 2 [3 favorites]

Ignignokt, that’s the one. Thank you so much.
posted by Atrahasis at 12:38 PM on December 2

That was a fascinating article to read and explains some side comments in a few Chinese novels that ghost stories aren't allowed to be filmed any more.
posted by Art_Pot at 9:34 AM on December 6