A click of mouse

Honoring ancestors for some Chinese is a matter as simple as a click of mouse.

A mourner burns ghost money and joss-sticks in front of a gravestone at a graveyard in Yichang, central China's Hubei Province, March 25, before Qingming Festival, a traditional occasion for commemoration in China. [newsphoto]

A burgeoning online memorial service has set for booming in China as some seven million Chinese transfer their commemoration rites to a cyber world by clicking a computer mouse with the approaching of the traditional Qingming Festival, or Tomb Sweeping Day, a time for paying respects to the deceased.

Netizens could set up a memorial hall for their loved ones on the web pages and place photos or profiles. Some websites allow registered users to set up a virtual cemetery.

In Chinese culture, during Qingming Festival, many here will clean the surroundings of the tombs of their ancestors or relatives, burn incense and candles as well as present sacrifice to their dearly departed.

Voices of criticism have emerged as some serious Chinese burn paper made accessories such as cars, houses and mahjong even mistresses, for the dead. Chinese believe the spirits of deceased ancestors will look after the whole family, while sacrifices of food and paper-money could keep them happy and attain peace.

Scholars said it is a form of superstition which the central government has vowed to eradicate since the founding of new China in 1949.

Plastic bags and wastepaper are left over by mourners at a graveyard in Yichang, central China's Hubei Province, March 25, before Qingming Festival, a traditional occasion for commemoration in China. [newsphoto]

Candles, incense, wine and dishes are always littered near the tomb. Many said it damages environment. And smokes from burning paper items and fireworks raise the likelihood of fire.

The business came in the heel of government officials' calls to maintain austere and rational on memorial expenditure in an effort to demonstrate the "social progress" and moves to tackle illegal grave trade.

China's traditional preference for graves, instead of smaller areas for urns carrying ashes, has resulted in soaring prices.

Take Zhengzhou, the capital of central China's Henan Province for example, the average price of a grave in a public cemetery was 7,800 yuan (US$1,000) per square meter, while the average house price was less than 4,000 yuan (US$513) per square meter, previous state media report had said.

Heated debate

The online remembrance has stired a heated debate in a country where filial piety and respects for the dead are painted as national virtues.

According to a poll organized by sohu.com, some 70 pct of 4086 netizens believed the trend undermines China's traditions, while 30 pct said it is creative and environmentally-friendly.

One wrote that many festivals, such as Spring Festival or Mid-autumn Festival in China have a sense of superstitions. "But they are traditions which passed on from generation to generation. I cannot agree that."

"If everything can be done through the Internet, the world will become a home to robots without love and feelings," another wrote.

A teacher from Lanzhou University in northwest China believed the online service lacks seriousness and it is not worth being promoted in the society.

Others voiced their agreements over it.

Zhang Liang, a 20 something, also a student from Ningxia University in northwest China is a stubborn advocate for the new tread.

"I just paid my respects to my grandpa who passed away three years ago via a website," Zhang said, adding it is environmentally friendly and convenient.

Another agrees with Zhang, saying it is just a form of honoring and we should not be confined to a certain form.

Official voices

A comment carried by China's official Xinhua News Agency said the nation should promote a healthy, scientific manner for remembrance.

"People should pick a modern manner to honor the dead and convey their miss in an environmentally-friendly and natural way," it said.

China's Ministry of Civil Affairs has encouraged the online service as early as 2004.