Governing Death, Making Persons: The New Chinese Way of Death

Economic reforms and changes in the management of death in China have had an impact on the governance of persons, with the Chinese Communist Party promoting personalized funerals to promote a market-oriented and individualistic ethos. However, end-of-life commemoration in urban China is characterized by the resilience of social conventions and not a shift toward market economy individualization, according to Huwy-min Lucia Liu's book.

Format: Hardback
Length: 270 pages
Publication date: 15 January 2023
Publisher: Cornell University Press

Governing Death, Making Persons explores the profound impact of economic reforms and shifts in the management of death in China on the governance of individuals. The Chinese Communist Party has embarked on a mission to harness the funeral industry and death rituals as tools for molding people into modern citizens and subjects. Since the Reform and Opening period and the marketization of state funeral parlors, the Party has actively promoted personalized funerals, aiming to foster a market-oriented and individualistic ethos. However, the reality has deviated from the intended path.

In her captivating book, Huwy-min Lucia Liu delves into the intricacies of funerals she witnessed and the remarkable life stories of two distinct groups of funeral workers: state employees who function as quasi-government officials and semilegal private funeral brokers. Through her insightful narratives, Liu unveils that end-of-life commemoration in urban China today is characterized by the resilience of social conventions rather than a wholesale shift towards market economy individualization. Rather than witnessing a rise of individualism and the decline of a socialist self, Liu presents a nuanced perspective, highlighting the enduring strength of socialist, religious, communal, and relational ideas of self. These ideas are intricately woven together through creative ritual framings, despite their apparent contradictions.

Liu's work sheds light on the complex interplay between economic reforms, state control, and cultural traditions in shaping the funeral practices and beliefs of urban China. She challenges the notion that the market is inherently superior to other modes of organizing death and emphasizes the significance of preserving social conventions and collective identities. By examining the experiences of funeral workers and the broader societal context, Liu offers a thought-provoking exploration of the dynamics of death, governance, and the enduring legacies of socialism and religion in contemporary China.

Governing Death, Making Persons is a valuable contribution to the field of anthropology, sociology, and cultural studies. It provides a nuanced understanding of the complex relationship between economic development, social change, and the preservation of cultural values. Liu's book offers valuable insights into the ways in which death and funerals shape individuals and communities, and it challenges readers to consider the broader implications of these transformations on the future of China and beyond.

Weight: 570g
Dimension: 236 x 158 x 23 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781501767210