Mysterious hanging coffins of Sagada

Mysterious hanging coffins of Sagada

Categories: Asia

In most cultures of the world, it is customary to bury their dead underground, marking the place of burial with a monument or memorial plaque. However, representatives of some nationalities in China, Indonesia and the Philippines ... hang coffins with the bodies of their ancestors high above the ground right on sheer cliffs.

One of the places famous for its hanging coffins is the municipality of Sagada in the mountainous province of the Philippines. Here, even today, the ancient tradition of hanging coffins on the rocks is practiced.

(Total 9 photos)

Mysterious hanging coffins of Sagada

Mysterious hanging coffins of Sagada

1. Hanging coffins in the Echo Valley, Sagada, are "reserved" mainly for the elders of Igorot with their families, because it is believed that the younger generations will be able to receive spiritual enlightenment after a successful "burial".

Mysterious hanging coffins of Sagada

2. Relatives of the deceased sometimes even want to take the corpse to the coffin waiting for him on the cliff wall in order to soak in the fluids of the body, which supposedly store the talent and luck of the deceased.

Mysterious hanging coffins of Sagada

3. Presumably, the corpses in the coffins are dressed in outfits of family colors and patterns, so that the ancestors in the next world would recognize them. According to tradition, the body is placed in a coffin in the fetal position, and the coffin itself is carved from a tree trunk. Moreover, often the future dead themselves cut out their own coffins.

Mysterious hanging coffins of Sagada

4. The advantage of a hanging coffin is that the body of the deceased is closer to heaven, and they can better watch their family from above. However, a more practical reason is that hanging coffins do not take up space on the ground, which can be used, for example, for sowing crops.

Mysterious hanging coffins of Sagada

5.

Mysterious hanging coffins of Sagada

6. Sometimes a chair is also hung next to the coffin, on which the deceased sat shortly after death as part of a special death ritual.

Mysterious hanging coffins of Sagada

7. Hanging coffins (and chairs) and echoes appearing in the aptly named Echo Valley definitely create a mysterious and slightly creepy atmosphere.

Mysterious hanging coffins of Sagada

8.

Mysterious hanging coffins of Sagada

9. Photo for memory on the background of hanging coffins.

Keywords: Coffin | Cemetery | Funeral | Rocks | Philippines

Post News Article

Recent articles

The 7 Best Luxury Perfumes For Her, According To Fragrance Experts
The 7 Best Luxury Perfumes For Her, According To Fragrance ...

One spritz of a beloved perfume can lift your mood. While scent is subjective, the best luxury perfumes share a few common elements ...

10 Best Anime Swordsmen Who Aren't From Shonen Series, Ranked
10 Best Anime Swordsmen Who Aren't From Shonen Series, Ranked

Shonen is the most popular anime genre because it is primarily aimed at a young male audience. A lot of Shonen characters have ...

7 Bedroom Trends Will Dominate 2025, According to Designers
7 Bedroom Trends Will Dominate 2025, According to Designers

From biophilic design to color drenching, keep an eye out for these fresh looks.

Related articles

How the "City of the Dead" appeared in the Dargava Gorge, where the bravest do not go at dusk
How the "City of the Dead" appeared in the Dargava Gorge, ...

There are many mysterious places covered with legends on the world map. There are also truly mystical ones among them, where a ...

Why is the body of the Tsar-reformer Peter I lay unburied 6 years
Why is the body of the Tsar-reformer Peter I lay unburied 6 years

Most researchers of the life of Tsar Peter I believe that it was buried soon after death, according to Christian tradition, in the ...

"Worn to the holes": sights that are mercilessly destroyed "for good luck"
"Worn to the holes": sights that are mercilessly destroyed ...

The custom of rubbing statues and monuments is known all over the world. At the same time, no one can say when it was born and what ...