Do you remember? Once upon a time, those cemeteries were like mansions in big cities where a seat was hard to find, and every inch of land was worth a fortune. At that time, owning a family cemetery was not only a sign of respect for the ancestors, but also a symbol of social status. But now, things have changed, and these once-precious resting places have become uncared for. Are we so busy that even thinking about the eternal future has become a luxury? Or is it the rapid evolution of society that has rewritten our view of life and death? What is the story behind the transformation of the cemetery market from the rarity of the past to the desert of today?
Okay, so let's talk about the transformation of this cemetery market and see what's behind it.
I remember that in the past, when people mentioned buying a cemetery, it was a big deal, just like buying a house, you had to save money, plan, and even queue up in advance. At that time, the cemetery was like a symbol of family glory, and with it, it seemed that it could give the ancestors a stable home, and also make the living feel an inexplicable peace of mind.
But if you look at it now, it's a very different story. As the city grows bigger and bigger, the land in the suburbs is also developed as a cemetery, and there are more choices, and people no longer have to rush to grab those few rare pieces of land as before. Not to mention that there are now a variety of burial methods, such as environmental burial, tree burial, and sea burial, which all sound fresh and affordable, and many people are beginning to consider these new options.
Besides, people nowadays are busy when they are alive, so how can they have time to think about things so far? Everyone is more concerned about how to improve the quality of life and how to make themselves and their families more comfortable. Houses, cars, children's education, these practical problems are the big ones, who has the leisure to think about such a long thing?
Take a friend of mine, for example, who just finished buying a cemetery for an elderly family some time ago. He told me that there are so many cemeteries now, there are all kinds of them, and the prices are from high to low. In the end, his family chose an environmentally friendly burial, saying that it could not only reflect respect for nature, but also not have to spend so much money. Hearing him say this, I really think that people are becoming more and more realistic in choosing cemeteries nowadays.
However, at the end of the day, the fact that the cemetery market has changed so much is actually a reflection of our changing attitudes towards life and death. In the past, people may have paid more attention to the afterlife, thinking that a good cemetery can bless future generations and allow the ancestors to rest in peace. But now, everyone is more rational, paying more attention to the quality of life, and the view of death is more indifferent.
My parents' generation may still cling to the traditional view that buying a cemetery is an important thing, and that you have to be selective and make sure everything is done according to custom. But like my generation, we may think more about it, not only to consider the economy, but also to consider whether it is environmentally friendly and whether it can reflect its own values.
At this point, you might wonder if the deserted cemetery market means that people don't respect death that much? It's just a matter of how we show respect and remembrance is changing. Nowadays, people are more inclined to commemorate their loved ones with the bits and pieces of their lives, rather than relying solely on a cemetery.
For example, some families will choose to scatter their ashes in the sea or in the mountains and forests, they feel that this will better allow their deceased relatives to return to nature and be more in line with the concept of ecological environmental protection. Some families may choose to spend their funds on charity to commemorate their loved ones, which to some extent also reflects the new understanding of the concept of life and death in modern society.
In short, although the cemetery market is no longer as lively as before, behind this is actually a deeper understanding and expression of life and death, remembrance and respect. Everyone has their own choice, whether it's a traditional cemetery or a new burial method, and the key is that the choice truly expresses our memory and respect for the deceased. And for those of us who are alive, perhaps we should think more about how to make life more meaningful, how to make this moment the warmest memory in the hearts of us and our families.