Chasing Corpse

Outline of Chasing Corpse

Describe the tradition: chasing corpse to home

The groups: The south part of Hunan Provence, Miao nationality

The chasing corpse’s historical roots:

To chasing the corpse back to their hometown because of the Chinese culture, you can’t die at other place other than their hometown. It’s disgraceful towards their culture.

Rules:

1. You can only chase guys

Why: Because the soldiers back then were all guys so it was a tradition to only chase guy corpse

2. Two chasing corpse guy [first is in the front to guide the corpse] [First guy carries a lantern light to guide the corpse.] [ The back guy whips the corpse]

3. Only can walk during night, not during daylight

4. Can only give it to Hunan providence.

Analysis:

1. What can be chase [Beheaded, case dying under water, hanging]

Why:

* Because they didn’t want to die, it was a force. So the Magician can bring their soul back and make them go into their family

* if the guy is beheaded, the corpse guy must sew his head back.

2. What can’t be chase[Dying of diseases, suicidal, shoot by lightning]

Why:

* Because they wanted to die on their own

Dying of disease

Why:

The magician can’t bring their soul back.

Shoot by lighting or other nature disaster

Why:

Chinese believe that dying of nature disaster is because you done something wrong and the God does not approve so the soul can’t be brought back.

3. The mystery behind the chasing corpse

* Binding the arms of corpse on the bamboo

* Smart people find out to use the bamboo to carry several bodies on the same time

* The corpses dress with the traditional Chinese clothes