Beads from the bodies of relatives - a new tradition in South Korea (7 photos)

It turned out that the tradition of carrying beads from one's ancestors spread to South Korea. Moreover, quite recently, and it is very fashionable.





And it is dictated in part by the harsh economic conditions of the South Koreans.



A very neat, but endless Korean cemetery, because relatives make sure that old monuments are not removed

This is due to the huge increase in cremations rather than traditional burials in the country. The reason is the same as in China - there is no space, places in the cemetery cost exorbitant amounts of money.

The second way is to place an urn containing ashes in special burial memorial centers and decorate it with photographs and offerings. And even in this case, you cannot find a place you can afford near your home; many places are considered expensive.





And this is a columbarium for ashes, it takes up much less space, therefore it is more popular

And so a third way appeared - during cremation, turn the ashes of your relative into pressed beads that look like real precious stones. Then you can keep them at home, or even carry them in your pocket to periodically admire and remember your loved one. And you don't have to pay for a seat.



Light green is the most common color that is obtained after the procedure

Koreans can no longer afford Confucianism

Just 10 years ago, 6 out of 10 Koreans could afford to bury their ancestors traditionally in the ground, as required in Confucianism. To visit the grave regularly, come to days of veneration and repay debt to your family line.

But then the government realized that there was a critical shortage of space in cities. And then a law was passed according to which any grave would be removed and replaced with someone else’s after 60 years.



A casket with beautiful beads can be placed on the nightstand, or you can give one to each of your relatives

These are still very good conditions; in Bangladesh, cemeteries are dug up every two years, so they regularly lose their relatives there.

However, Koreans did not like the new rules wildly. How can we honor generation after generation? And today, 3 out of 10 people choose to bury their relatives traditionally, especially for that kind of money.

And now they are looking for new ways to honor their relatives even after death. And more and more people are turning to a new and extravagant method - turning them into beads.



They say that competitors mix foreign minerals into the ashes to make the beads bigger and more beautiful, this is a scam!

The ashes of the deceased crystallize at ultra-high temperatures and then form into a ball. Everything takes 90 minutes. The color that comes out is usually random, usually blue or green, but black and pink can come out.

Koreans are not yet superstitious about this, that a “black ball came out of a bad person,” because the new tradition is nothing at all.



But such pendants are already made in America, but there it is more of an extravagant solution rather than a trend

And if several loved ones have already died, then you can make a whole set of beads. Or share with other relatives. Several competing companies are engaged in the production of beads from ash, and they are only growing every year - this is a very promising market.

- The beads are as clean and durable as possible. They don’t mold, don’t fall apart, and don’t smell of anything,” boasts one of the founders of such companies, Bae Jae Yul from Bonhyang.

Would you agree to this method? In principle, I like it, it’s aesthetically pleasing and doesn’t take up space with kilometers of cemeteries.