Taipei, New Taipei, and Taoyuan to Hold Joint Sea Burial|北北桃聯合海葬 推廣"環保葬"觀念

Taipei, New Taipei and Taoyuan will hold a joint burial at sea on May 15, following a prayer and lighting ceremony for the 72 people a week ago. Most Taiwanese people can't accept this method of burial, with just .0007 percent finding sea burials acceptable. Scholars say the concept of green or natural burials needs to be promoted.


Family members transfer the ashes of their dearly departed into a box and then lower the box into the ocean. Taipei, New Taipei and Taoyuan hold a joint burial at sea ceremony every year. It will take place on May 15 this year. A prayer ceremony for the 72 deceased was held on the 7th.

Most people want a grave and a headstone or a place in a columbarium. These things are all earth, wind, water and fire. Us humans are in the netherspace and it's not the same.

Master Wuhui decided to bury his father at sea because he wanted to return his father to nature's embrace. Most Taiwanese people, however, can't accept green or natural burials. The number of green burials in Taipei increased 30 percent from 2015 to 2017, but there were just 100 sea burials per year during that period, which was far fewer than the number of tree and floral burials. Taoyuan, meanwhile, recorded just 20 sea burials per year. Families are given locator cards so they can pinpoint their loved one's exact burial spot. Experts say Taiwan is a rapidly aging society and space is limited. Therefore, green burials, which don't require space or headstones, is a viable solution. The only stumbling block is social acceptance, which will require time and government promotion.