Chapter 440 Return to the Tribe (2)
In the tradition of the snow leopard tribe, sky burial is the highest form of honor for the deceased.
"Is sky burial also popular among your tribe?" Xia Tian felt strangely familiar when she heard the word.
In the traditions of some nomadic peoples in China, sky burial is considered the most honorable treatment for the deceased, and ordinary people cannot enjoy this "honor".
She hadn't expected that there was a similar tradition in this strange world of beasts.
"Also?" Si Ye keenly caught the key words in Xia Tian's words. "Could it be that you have heard of this method somewhere else?"
He knew that Xia Tian came from a very special place, where the civilization might be much more advanced than where he was, which could be seen from her knowledge reserves.
But... do they also have this special funeral ritual called sky burial?
"I don't know what your form is, but where I live... some of our kind use this method to hold funerals." Xia Tian tried her best to use the expressions of the era. "I've only heard of it, but never seen it. I heard that only very noble people can enjoy it after death. As for the method... it's to place the deceased's body on a special high platform and wait for birds to eat it. Because they believe that the birds flying in the sky are messengers of the gods, they eat the deceased's flesh to help his soul take to a place of bliss."
This custom has been preserved until the 21st century, and some tribes on the grasslands still keep this tradition.
"Hmm, this is indeed a very strange funeral ritual..." Si Ye was shocked by this culture. "I've never heard of a tribe offering the bodies of its members to be devoured by strange beasts. This is unimaginable and unacceptable."
"Then what about the sky burial of your tribe?" After hearing this, Xia Tian knew that the "sky burial" Si Ye was talking about was probably not the same as what she said, but another method.
"In fact, sky burial is just a term. If we talk about the specific operation... it is to use fire." Si Ye described the "sky burial" they understood and used.
"Also in a special place, we would build a fire and place the deceased's body on top, burning it into powder and quietly waiting for the wind to carry away the dust. After death, there is nothing left. The last of these remains will also become powder and debris, drifting away with the wind, scattering in the air, and finally merging with the heaven and earth."
"That's... quite good." Xia Tian finally understood. In fact, their so-called "sky burial" is actually to burn the human body into ashes, and then... scatter the ashes.
It sounds a little scary, but it's actually quite romantic.
And most importantly, it is convenient and environmentally friendly, will not cause unnecessary pollution, and will not bring unnecessary trouble to the people living on it.
Xia Tian also understood why this funeral could only be used by noble people.
Because the human body itself is less flammable, if it is burned with firewood, the process requires a large amount of firewood, and the whole ceremony is also very complicated. Ordinary people do not have the status to perform it.
In fact, in large tribes, lives change almost every day. If everyone presided over such a grand funeral, the entire tribe would have no need to engage in production activities!
(End of this chapter)
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