The Concept of “Daxing” and the Imperial Afterlife

In traditional Chinese cosmology, death was perceived as a grand departure—referred to as “Daxing” (大行)—marking the soul’s journey to one of two destinations: the blissful Western Paradise (akin to heaven) or the torturous realms of hell. For Qing Dynasty emperors, empresses, and concubines, their exalted status guaranteed ascension to paradise, necessitating meticulous preparations for the afterlife. These rituals, blending Manchu traditions, Han Confucian practices, and Tibetan Buddhist influences, reveal the dynasty’s cultural synthesis and its obsession with eternal prestige.

The “Flag Casket”: A Symbol of Status and Craftsmanship

The Qing imperial coffins, known as “Qicai” (旗材, “Flag Caskets”), were masterpieces of funerary art, reflecting ethnic identity, hierarchical rigor, and spiritual beliefs.

### Ethnic Distinctions and Design
Unlike the flat-topped Ming Dynasty coffins, Qing royal caskets featured a ridged roof resembling a traditional Manchu tent, with a gourd-shaped ornament at the head—a nod to their nomadic heritage. Though the gourd lost its original hunting-related symbolism post-conquest, it remained a cultural signature.

### The Hierarchy of Death
The Qing court enforced strict burial protocols:
– Materials: Emperors and senior consorts used nanmu (golden Phoebe zhennan wood), while lower-ranking concubines settled for cedar.
– Lacquer Layers: The emperor’s coffin received 49 layers of lacquer; imperial heirs and primary consorts, 35; lesser nobles, just 15.
– Colors and Titles: Outer lacquer hues and titles like “Zigong” (梓宫, “Imperial Plank”) for emperors versus “Jinguan” (金棺, “Golden Casket”) for concubines reinforced status.

### Buddhist Imprints
The coffins’ interiors often bore Tibetan dhāraṇī sutras or carvings of the Four Heavenly Kings, aligning with the Qing’s Vajrayana Buddhist leanings. The placement of these inscriptions corresponded to cardinal directions, ensuring cosmic protection.

Death Attire: Opulence and Taboos

Royal burial garments balanced extravagance with pragmatism. Unlike the Ming’s excesses, the Qing curtailed wasteful practices like burning vast quantities of clothing, opting for symbolic paper replicas.

### The Empress Dowager’s Audacity
Cixi’s burial robe defied conventions:
– Imperial Overreach: Her dragon robe flaunted the “Twelve Symbols”—reserved solely for emperors—including sun, moon, and constellations representing cosmic authority.
– Buddhist Flair: Embroidered “Buddha” characters and 820 pearls elevated it to a one-of-a-kind relic.

### Simplicity in Majesty: The Qianlong Example
Emperor Qianlong, despite his opulent reign, was buried in cotton-lined robes and a rare jade cicada “tongue stabilizer”—symbolizing rebirth and Buddhist devotion.

The Enigmatic “Dhāraṇī Cover”

This silk shroud, inscribed with esoteric mantras, was believed to:
– Absolve sins and hasten reincarnation.
– Deter tomb raiders (a futile hope, as Cixi’s 1928 desecration proved).

A 2008 auction revealed Qianlong’s dhāraṇī blanket—a 2-meter-long, bilingual (Sanskrit-Tibetan) tapestry—fetching $9.6 million, underscoring its cultural cachet.

Rituals of Protection: “Tongue Stabilizers” and Tomb Guardians

### The “Yashe” Tradition
Inserting jade, pearls, or coins into the deceased’s mouth served triple purposes:
1. Silencing gossip in the afterlife.
2. Preventing hunger on the underworld journey.
3. Preserving the corpse—a practice echoing ancient “seven orifices” sealing methods.

Cixi’s infamous night pearl—later repurposed as a shoe ornament by Soong Mei-ling—epitomized this custom’s extravagance.

### The “Golden Well” Conspiracy
Cixi secretly deposited treasures into her tomb’s foundational “golden well” six times, aiming to ward off desecration. Yet, in a twist of irony, most were looted posthumously—a testament to ritual’s limits against human greed.

Legacy: Between Reverence and Ruin

The Qing’s burial rites, though steeped in spiritual idealism, often collided with reality. From Cixi’s plundered tomb to Qianlong’s stripped dhāraṇī blanket, these practices now serve as poignant reminders of power’s impermanence. Modern archaeology continues to unravel their secrets, blending history with enduring mystique.

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