China boasts vast territory and abundant resources, with mountains and rivers stretching far and wide. The diverse geographical environment has led to various customs and practices in different regions. Even in terms of burial methods, different areas have their unique approaches. The most famous burial methods include natural burial and cremation. Additionally, there are other practices such as sky burial, water burial, and even hanging coffins in some regions.
Hanging coffins are a form of burial that originated from ancient Chinese minority groups, where coffins are placed on wooden poles driven into cliffs. In some areas, coffins are even placed in natural caves dozens of meters above the ground. Among the existing relics, the Longhu Mountain (Longhu Shan, Jiangxi, China) is famous for its series of hanging coffins lined along the steep cliffs, with a large river flowing below, creating a majestic and mysterious scene.
This sight raises questions about how ancient people moved and positioned these coffins. According to experts, each coffin can weigh over 300 kg, and they have remained intact for thousands of years. Despite conducting numerous investigations and studies, questions about the techniques and methods used remain inadequately answered.
One question that arises is how were the coffins placed on the cliffs? Experts have offered a reward of 400,000 yuan (approximately 1.3 billion VND) for anyone who can solve this mystery. Notably, a farmer has found the answer.
Hanging coffin on a steep cliff. (Illustrative image).
Compared to traditional burials, hanging coffins (xuan burial) are a very unique form of burial where coffins are suspended on vertical cliffs. The terrain in these areas is very steep, making it dangerous to even climb. At that time, climbing technology and safety measures had not yet been developed. Hanging a coffin weighing hundreds of kilograms on a cliff would have been quite challenging with the technological limitations of that era. Moreover, the terrain in Jiangxi is very hazardous, featuring deep ravines and swift rivers. Many believe that the coffins on the cliffs were placed manually.
However, the enormous number of coffins on Longhu Mountain in Jiangxi led the public to accept the reality that these coffins were placed with the aid of supportive tools. So the question arises: how did people place the coffins on the cliffs at that time? As early as the 1970s, many experts and scholars began researching this issue, but they struggled to provide an answer.
An elderly farmer claims the coffins were transported by a “heavenly cart.” (Illustrative image).
To find an accurate answer, experts and scholars have even offered high prices to invite locals to provide insights and opinions to resolve the unresolved mysteries of hanging coffins.
The public’s response was tremendous; people brainstormed, yet very few effective clues emerged. The mystery of hanging coffins remained unsolved.
Just when everyone was puzzled, a local elderly farmer calmly addressed the issue. It turned out that a scholar researching the mystery of ancient hanging coffins had visited the rural area near Longhu Mountain for investigation and study. During a casual conversation, the words of a local elderly farmer enlightened the scholar. This local farmer, who had lived in the area for generations, recalled hearing from earlier generations that the coffins on the cliffs had been transported there by a “heavenly cart.”
Ancient people used a huge winch to lift the coffins onto the cliffs. (Illustrative image).
After gaining this clue, experts conducted in-depth research and concluded that the so-called “heavenly cart” was likely a massive winch used by previous generations with pulley systems. The ancestors had applied the principles of wheels and axles to create a lifting machine. Experts were thrilled to reach an accurate conclusion. They applied their ideas in practice and conducted experiments at the cliff’s edge. The on-site experiments successfully replicated the method of burying hanging coffins, demonstrating that the “winch” method mentioned by the local farmer was indeed correct.
The mystery of ancient hanging coffin burials, which had long remained unsolved, was thus unraveled. Those who learned the truth once again sincerely praised the ingenuity of their ancestors.
