2DIE4
A SHOUT OUT TO TAO JING.
WHEN RESEARCHING CHINESE DEATH RITUALS, THERE WAS THE STORY OF TAO JING, AN 18 YEAR OLD WOMAN WHO WAS ARRESTED FOR SMOGGELING DRUGS FOR HER BOYFRIEND AND GOT SENTENCED TO DEATH BECAUSE OF IT. THE STORY GOT A LOT OF MEDIA ATTENTION BECAUSE OF HER YOUNG AGE, SHE WAS THE FIRST 18 YEAR OLD WOMAN EXECUTED IN 50 YEARS. BUT ALSO THE MEDIA WAS FASCINATED BY HER BEAUTY. WHEN SHE APPEARD IN COURT WITH A ROPE AROUND HER NECK SHE STILL HAD THIS KIND OFF ANGELIC LOOK ABOUT HER, COMPLETE SERENITY AND ACCEPTANCE. BUT LOOKING IN HER EYES YOU CAN SEE THIS FEELING OF BEING LOST AND SCARED. EVEN WITH ALL THIS ATTENTION SHE COULDN’T ESCAPE HER FATE AND GOT EXECUTED BY A SHOT THROUGH THE BACK OF HER HEAD.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE CHINESE FUNERAL RITUALS YOU’LL GET A WARM FEELING INSIDE BECAUSE OF ALL THE LOVE THAT THE PUT INTO THERE LOSTONES. THERE ARE SO MANY RITUALS TO PREFORM FOR FAMILY BUT ALSO EVERYBODY THAT KNEW THE DECEASED. EVEN WITHIN FAMILY EVERYONE AS A JOB TO DO AND EVEN EVERY FAMILY MEMBER DRESSES IN THE COLOR THAT IS ASSIGNENT BY THE TYPE OF RELATION YOU HAD WITH THE DECISED, FOR EXAMPLE THE MOTHER AND FATHER OF THE DECEASED WAIR DIFFERENT COLOURS THE BROTHERS, SISTERS. THIS GONES FOR EVERYONE IN THE FAMILY. DURING THE FUNERAL THEY COVER UP ALL MIRROS SO THAT THE DECEASED CAN MOVE ON TO HEAVEN AND NOT GET TRAPPED IN THE MIRROR AND HAUNT THE HOUSE. IN CHNA THEY BELIEVE THAT YOU WILL HAVE A NEW LIFE IN HEAVEN AND WHEN YOU ARE ON YOU’RE WAY TO HEAVEN YOU HAVE TO BUY OFF THE DEVIL WITH SO CALLED; HEAVEN BANK NOTES (DEATHMONEY). THIS MONEY FAMILY AND FRIENDS WILL BUY TO BURN AFTER THE FUNERAL SO THAT THE DECEASED CAN TAKE THIS WITH HIM TO BUY OF THE DEVIL AND BUILD A LIFE IN HEAVEN.
HEAVEN BANK NOTES IS NOT THE ONLY THING THE BURN AFTER THE FUNERAL. THEY ALSO BURN A WHOLE RANGE OF PAPER OBJECTS. FROM PAPER PLANES, HOUSES, LAPTOPS AND CARS TO CLOTHING, JEWELLRY, GOLD BARS, LUXURY ITEMS AND IPHONES. EVEN ALCOHOL AND SIGARETTES ARE AVAILABLE.
ALL THESE RITUALS ARE PERFORMANT FOR FAMILY AND FRIENDS BUT WHEN YOU ARE CONVICTED AND SENTICED TO DEATH THE FAMILY WILL BE ASHAMED OF YOU AND WONT TREAD YOU LIKE FAMILY ANYMORE AND WILL NOT GET ANY OF THE RITUALS NORMALY PERFORMED. THEY GET EXECUTED AND THAT’S THAT.
WHAT IF THESE CONVITED WOULD PERFORM THESE RITUALS FOR THEIR SELF’S RIGHT BEFORE THE WILL BE EXECUTED. THEY WILL COME TO THEIR EXECUTION LOADED WITH PAPER ITEMS, CLOTHES WITH PRINTED ITEMS AND BAGS WITH HEAVEN BANK NOTES READY TO GET BURNED, SO THEY CAN START THEIR NEW LIFE IN HEAVEN. WHEN WE SEE THEM THEY ARE COMPLETELY ANYNOMOUS LOADED WITH MONEY AND WITH THEIR PRINTED ITEMS. THEY KNOW WHATS COMING AND ACCEPTED IT AND ARE READY FOR THE SHOOT OUT. WHAT’S WAITING IS A NEW LIFE FULL OF THE MOST EXPENSIVE ITEMS OF THIS WORLD WITH ENOUGH MONEY TO LIVE FOREVER. QUITE SOMETHING TO DIE FOR.
CREDITS:
PHOTOGRAPHER: STEVEN VANDERIJT
STYLING: STEVEN VANDERIJT
MODEL: ALINE VAN ENCKEVORT