I. The Economic Situation of Descendants: From "Burden" to "Selective Abandonment"
The high cost of cemetery lease renewal is a direct inducement for the wave of discontinuation. However, the essence of this issue is the "rational choice" made by contemporary youth under economic pressure.
1. Dual Pressure of Low Income and High Living Costs
Survival Pressure in First-Tier Cities: The unit price of cemetery plots in places like Beijing and Shanghai has exceeded 100,000 yuan, while the average price of ordinary residential properties during the same period is only 30,000 to 50,000 yuan per square meter. For young people with a monthly income of less than 10,000 yuan, the renewal fee for cemetery plots (averaging several thousand yuan per year) becomes an unbearable burden.
Changes in Family Economic Structure: Under the one-child policy, young people must bear the pension and funeral expenses for multiple elderly relatives. A young person who moved to Beijing candidly stated, "My parents are still hospitalized; how can I afford to renew the cemetery lease?"
2. Low Birth Rate and the "No Descendants" Crisis
Total Fertility Rate Falls Below Warning Line: China's total fertility rate has dropped to around 1.0, leading to a break in the family chain and leaving cemetery plots without heirs.
Absolute Nature of "No Descendants" Families: Some families have no descendants due to economic, ideological, or accidental reasons, causing traditional cemetery plots to lose their inheritance motivation.
3. "Light Asset" Consumption Concept
"Thick Nurturing" Replaces "Thick Burial": The younger generation is more inclined to use funds for companionship during life rather than for posthumous displays. A respondent born after 1995 stated, "It's much more important for my parents to live comfortably than to buy a cemetery plot."
"Light Asset" Lifestyle: Cemetery lease renewal is viewed as "meaningless expenditure," contrary to the concept of "decluttering."
II. Psychological Analysis: From "Filial Piety" to the Value Fragmentation of "Individualization"
The deep-seated reasons for the wave of cemetery discontinuation lie in the younger generation's redefinition of death, family responsibility, and the meaning of life.
1. The Decline of Traditional Filial Piety
The "Ritualization" and "Utilitarianism" of Filial Piety: In the past, "being buried in peace" was the core of filial piety, but today, filial piety focuses more on companionship and emotional connection during life.
Impact of Individualized Society: Bauman's theory of "liquid modernity" points out that individuals in modern society are more concerned with personal freedom than collective responsibility. The younger generation's sense of identification with "family responsibility" has decreased, leading to a reduced willingness to renew cemetery leases.
2. The "Desacralization" of Death Concepts
From "Taboo" to "Rationality": The traditional societal taboos surrounding death are gradually dissolving, with more people beginning to view death through scientific and environmentally friendly lenses.
Reconstruction of "Life Value": The younger generation believes that the meaning of life lies in experiences during life rather than posthumous displays. A respondent born after 2000 bluntly stated, "My grandfather spent his life tending a few acres of land; there's nothing worth learning from that."
3. "Discontinuation" as a Symbol of "Individual Choice"
Refusal of "Cultural Kidnapping": Some young people view cemetery lease renewal as a "forced tradition." They do not feel obligated to pay for their ancestors' graves.
"Discontinuation" and "Self-Actualization": The "self-determination theory" in psychology suggests that when personal needs conflict with external pressures, individuals tend to prioritize their own needs. The wave of cemetery discontinuation is a manifestation of this psychology.
III. Sociological Perspective: Transition from "Family Society" to "Atomized Society"
The wave of cemetery discontinuation is not only the result of individual behavior but also a reflection of changes in social structure.
1. Atomization of Family Structure
Prevalence of Nuclear Families: Traditional extended families have been replaced by nuclear families, leading to a break in family chains and leaving cemetery plots without maintenance.
The "Only Child" Dilemma: Only children must bear the pension and funeral responsibilities for multiple elderly relatives alone, prioritizing simplified processes under mental and economic pressure.
2. Urbanization and Land Resource Conflicts
Urbanization Compresses Cemetery Space: In first-tier cities, land resources are tight, cemetery prices are soaring, but supply is limited. Babaoshan Cemetery occupies only 150 acres but accommodates tens of thousands of graves, with per capita land occupancy far exceeding that of developed countries.
The Trend of "De-Landization": Eco-burials (such as tree burials and sea burials) are gradually becoming mainstream choices due to their land-saving and nature-returning characteristics.
3. Cultural Transmission Breaks
Decline of Traditional Funeral Culture: Cemeteries, as carriers of family memories, are losing their appeal among the younger generation.
Monopoly of the "Celebrity Effect": Celebrity graves (such as imperial tombs and martyr cemeteries) are maintained for their historical significance or social symbolic value, while ordinary graves are neglected due to their "lack of display value." If the ancestor's grave is that of a celebrity, descendants are unlikely to discontinue support. However, if it is an ordinary person, the likelihood of discontinuation is very high.
IV. Reflection of Sociological Theories: From "Modernization" to "Generational Differences"
The deep logic behind the wave of cemetery discontinuation can be further analyzed through sociological theories.
1. Perspective of Modernization Theory
The Inevitability of "De-Traditionalization": Parsons' modernization theory points out that modern society will gradually strip away traditional customs. The wave of cemetery discontinuation is a manifestation of this process.
The Victory of "Instrumental Rationality": Cemetery lease renewal is viewed as "non-essential expenditure," while eco-burials, virtual memorials, and other "efficient" methods align more with the efficiency logic of modern society.
2. Conflicts of Generational Differences
Value Gap Between "Post-60s" and "Post-00s": The previous generation emphasized "careful end-of-life rituals," while the younger generation focuses more on "filial piety during life."
The Rise of "Digital Natives": Generation Z (those born after 1995 and 2000) are more inclined to commemorate the deceased through digital means rather than physical cemeteries.
3. Intensification of Social Mobility
Population Migration Weakens Family Ties: Urbanization leads to large-scale population movement, weakening traditional family networks.
Widespread Sense of "Rootlessness": The younger generation's emotional connection to "hometown" and "ancestors" is weakening, leading to a decline in willingness to renew cemetery leases.
V. Future Trends: Reconstruction from "Family Responsibility" to "Individual Choice"
The wave of cemetery discontinuation signals a fundamental change in funeral culture, and future trends will exhibit the following characteristics:
1. "De-Landization": From Physical Space to Virtual Network
Digital Funeral: Cemeteries are shifting from "physical space" to "data space," making memorialization methods more flexible.
AI and Virtual Reality Technology: Technologies such as AI-generated voices of the deceased and VR memorials enable "cloud memorialization."
2. Cultural Reconstruction: From "Respecting Ancestors" to "Respecting Life"
Popularization of Life Education: Schools and media promote the concept of "respecting life," downplaying "ancestor worship."
Diverse Value Recognition: Society is gradually accepting non-traditional models such as "no descendants" and "eco-burials."
VI. Policy and Legal Guidance: Promoting Eco-Burials and Cemetery Reform
Government policies and legal regulations play a key role in addressing the wave of cemetery discontinuation. Through legislation and policy adjustments, the sustainable development of the funeral industry is promoted.
1. Policy Support for Eco-Burials
Subsidies and Incentives: Many local governments provide subsidies for eco-burials, such as financial support for sea burials, encouraging the public to choose environmentally friendly burial methods.
Land Policy Reform: Some regions are piloting "limited-term cemetery usage rights," which will be uniformly managed after expiration to reduce land waste.
2. Standardization of Cemetery Management
Price Regulation: Combatting cemetery speculation, Beijing requires that cemetery sales disclose costs and profits to prevent profiteering.
Exploration of Public Welfare: The government funds the construction of "concentrated management areas for unowned graves" to reduce family burdens.
3. Legal Framework for Digital Funerals
Legitimacy of Virtual Memorials: Clarifying the legal status of new funeral methods such as digital memorials and AI memorials to protect user rights.
Data Privacy Protection: Formulating relevant regulations to ensure the safety and respect of the deceased's information.
VII. Cultural and Ethical Reconsideration: The Philosophical Significance of the Cemetery Discontinuation Wave
The wave of cemetery discontinuation is not only an economic and social phenomenon but also triggers deep reflection on cultural traditions and ethical values.
1. Reconstruction of Family Values
The Implicit Contract of "Ancestors Creating Value": Descendants do not continue to support the cemetery because ancestors did not create lasting value for them. Therefore, to ensure descendants continue to support the cemetery, ancestors must create value for the family while alive, worthy of respect from future generations.
Continuity of Celebrity Graves: Celebrity graves are maintained for their historical significance or social symbolic value, while ordinary graves are neglected due to their "lack of display value." This phenomenon reflects societal standards for judging "value."
2. The "No Descendants" Crisis Amidst the Trend of Not Marrying or Having Children
Impact of Plummeting Birth Rates: In 2023, the number of newborns in China dropped to 9.02 million, with the total fertility rate falling below 1.0, leading to an increase in the proportion of "no descendants" families.
The Inevitability of Cemetery Discontinuation: If a family has no descendants, no one will bear the responsibility for maintaining the cemetery. A solitary elderly person lamented, "My son is abroad; he doesn't even come back for Tomb-Sweeping Day. My cemetery lease is expiring; who will renew it?"
3. Ethical Conflicts and Individual Choices
Clash Between Traditional Ethics and Modern Values: The wave of cemetery discontinuation highlights the conflict between traditional ethics (such as filial piety) and modern values (such as individual freedom).
The Ethical Justification of "Discontinuation": In a resource-limited society, should descendants be forced to fulfill traditional obligations? This question has sparked widespread discussion.
VIII. Conclusion: The Wave of Cemetery Discontinuation is a Reflection of Changing Times
The "wave of discontinuation" at Babaoshan Cemetery appears to be a collision of economic pressure and changing concepts, but it is actually a concentrated reflection of the transformation of China's social structure, cultural values, and economic models. From the economic situation of descendants to the fragmentation of psychological concepts, and then to profound changes in social structure, this transformation is reshaping humanity's understanding of death.