Chinese Funerary Burners: A Census

[helen]

www.uiweb.uidaho.edu/special-collections/papers/burners.htm

The most common singular feature of overseas Chinese cemeteries and of the Chinese section of host community cemeteries is the "burner" (sometimes erroneously called "oven"). These brick or masonry structures, often over seven feet tall (approx. 2.1 m), serve as a safe place for the ritualized burning of spiritual tributes.

The majority of the more than 75 burners listed here appear to have been originally constructed between 1880 and 1920. Their size and construction suggest that they were community efforts, funded by the name or clan association that maintained Chinese customs and traditions. There is very little documentation available on the dates of these structures or on the person or persons who built them.

Overseas Chinese Cemeteries

www.uiweb.uidaho.edu/special-collections/papers/ch_cem.htm

good to see they managed to capture the Wellington New Zealand one - using my photos!!

[laohuaqiao]

I'm wondering this is unique in NZ or is it common in cemeteries elsewhere to have these burners also.

In New York, some large metal burners, a structure of maybe 2 feet in diameter and 2-3 feet high and with a cover lid, have appeared within the last 10 or 20 years. I think that was after a few dry seasons during which brush fires might have been started by the offer burnings. There are postings asking people to use the burners but few do.

The common method is some people, most likely restaurant workers, would bring large, empty soy sauce tins, with the top removed and holes punched near the bottom to allow air flow for speedier burning. After they're done, they would leave the tins for others to use, partly because the tins would've been too hot to handle and messy too, full of ashes and soot. One of the rituals we go through whenever we visit the cemetery would be to hunt for these tins. More likely than not we would find one without much effort, but we bring a metal bucket along, just in case.

If I were to describe one thing special in the Chinese community cemeteries, it would have to be the sight of one of these weather battered, rusted old tins.

Back to the original question, does NZ have long dry seasons, the reason for the brick burners? We all heard of the recent fires in parts of Australia.

[Ah Gin]

Thanks Helen for sharing. And a good feeling that your work is being used by the University. I have seen this site before and it is quite an interesting one.

laohuaqiao, Australia claims to be the driest continent on earth. True or not, I can't say. But it is indeed a very dry place. One spark at the wrong place, and sets a bush fire off.

I know not the history of the construction of such Burners,ie, when was the first one being constructed. But the Chinese pioneers made sure they did not annoy the Colonial Masters (who after all, in the 18th Century, will not hesitate in sending their own kind to a beautiful and dry place like OOooostalia, as the guest of His Majesty), built these Burners, which now, are being protected by the local citizens of the town as part of their Australian Heritage. One of the fun things we do as we visit "new" heritage places in Australia, is to photo these Burners, for our own collection. (What else will an old man do in his spare time?).

The deal is, the Chinese are suppose to burn Hell Money, Gold & Silver Papers etc. at these burners. But on a "Total Fire Ban Day" when the weather is very hot and dry or windy, we are not supposed to burn Gold & Silver on these days, even in the Burner. The Aust Fire Season seems to be longer and longer. Some say this is due to "Global something". Some say it's due to having too much cattle and sheep (not nearly as much as NZ :-) )

In Chinese Temples (such as the North Melbourne Say Yup Temple, which is also now a listed site) there are also Burners (of course).

Ah, looking for old oil tins. Same here. We also do that. I recall growing up in the jungle of Malaya mother and I used to visit a temple where part of it was dedicated to The Monkey. There was a tin near his altar. And we would burn our offerings there. If we hear a sound (really caused by the expansion of the metal), we say Monkey has arrived, as he hit the side of the tin. I like to think it's true :-)

Regards, Ah Gin

[Henry]

Dear Colleagues,

I would like to contribute some information regarding the burners at the Chinese sections of cemeteries.

In New York City, when I was a boy who accompanied my father, who guided the Chinese association buses to the Chinese sections of large cemeteries in Brooklyn and Queens. The associations had stone tables for the full size roast pig and other offerings as well as a stone structure - kind of like a flat stone house inside where a rather large fire could be started to burn quite a lot of the paper shoes, clothes, money etc.

On a personal basis, my father passed away 22 years ago, and was buried in Kensico Cemetery, Vallhala, Westchester county, New York and I had promised my father that I would always take care of his grave in the traditional Chinese style. At that time, there very very few Chinese interred in this cemetery, but, today, there are at least two huge Chinese sections with hundreds, if not thousands of Chinese graves. I wanted to burn the incense and the papers. etc - without creating a fire hazard, or leaving any trash. I went to the Flushing Chinatown and bought a metal can that was approximately 10.5 inches in diameter and about 16 inches high with roller wheels on the bottom, a cover, and perforated with holes. Inside the can, the metal bottom has a raised metalhub and the wall of this hub was also perforated with holes and it also had a metal ring handle on each side. This can is well designed and works perfectly. I usually use a 3 foot metal screwdriver that I have to stir the papers and to also slide the screwdriver into the metal ring to pick up the can when finished burning. Then I can take this can safely down to the bottom of the hill where ther is a water tap - where I wash out the can and cool it off immediately.

When we leave, the plot is cleaner than when we arrived because we also plant flowers and pull weeds and do general maintenance. Here is a photo of of my $25 USD Chinese burner can:




In the Chinese sections, people leave all the paper etc on top of the gravestones with a small stone of top - the wind is quite strong and the papers fly all over the place - quite a terrible mess. Other people use the metal grated trash baskets near the roadside and start huge fires in these 3 foot high metal baskets to burn - problem is that they burn all day and many leave them burning and unattended. With all this trash and unattended fires - I believe at some point the cemetery authorities will end the burning at the cemetery. These Chinese have absolutely no regard or concern for what they leave behind. I believe it cannot continue very much longer in this way.


Henry

[helen]

laohuaqiao - Re your question: Does NZ have long dry seasons, the reason for the brick burners? We all heard of the recent fires in parts of Australia.

Yes we do, but not as bad as Australia.

3.bp.blogspot.com/_tyzp49k9k4M/SeJUzFPeEEI/AAAAAAAAEpo/lLD7WbyJin0/s320/New+Image.JPG

A picture of the Tung Jung Memorial at Karori Cemetery in Wellington where we congregate for the Ching Ming and Chung
Yeung festivals. In the 1950's, the Tung Jung Association bought about 50 grave sites near this memorial for the use of their members. This memorial was erected in their honour in 1965 as it was far more practical to congregate in one place to pay homage than to go from grave to grave!

The Tung Jung Assoc have all the names of the TJ members who are buried near here but all names are only in English spelling.
The Makara location has been in use since the 1980's as Karori is fully occupied!!

[douglaslam]

Just yesterday, I visited the Gore Hill Cemetery in my neighbourhood with my wife. It is an annual ritual for me for many years. Geoff would be familiar with the location. GHC is a small but historical cemetery. Its last burial was in the 70s. There is a small Chinese section, the strange thing is: there are no headstones. I engaged the help of Friends of GHC to locate it. It is overgrown with weeds and trees. I make simple offerings, a couple pieces of fruit, boiled pork and eggs, wine and paper gold and silver for my unknown former neighbours and pioneers each year. My wife and I shared an orange, I ate an boiled and the rest is left on site.

I never use a burner, April is past the bushfire season, just as in past years, it is quite damp. I set alight the paper items on the ground amongst the fallen leaves, and nothing ever catches fire.

Next Sunday, the Chungshan Society will make its annual visit to Rookwood Cemetery, the largest in the Sth. Hemisphere. With a little bit of help from my friends and children, I hope to post a few photos for our member to peruse.

Douglas

[geoff]

Douglas,
Yes I am familiar with the location of GHC. When I was working at Crows Nest, I used to park near GHC. I've never entered GHC as it was closed by the time I picked up my car after 5pm.

I'm more familiar with Rookwood as we have many ancestors buried there. Ggfather, gf, gm, uncles & aunties have graves in the Anglican section of Rookwood. There aren't any relatives buried in the chinese section. We've lost the chinese tradition of visiting Rookwood cemetery on "designated cemetery days".