Yunnan Ancient Cremation Tomb Study

Yunnan is located in southwest of China, during the pre-Qin period that was with Ba,Shu,and Central Plains produced contact. However, because of its remoteness, and in the Tang and Song period, Yunnan was relatively independent of political power, so in economic, cultural, life, Yunnan was differ to Central Plains. Burial practices were the product of human society. Research on the burial practices reflected from the side of society at that time the production, living conditions and religious customs. Cremation is an ancient burial practices. Cremation was found throughout the country from time to time, but the comparison, cremation tomb of ancient tombs in Yunnan account for a large proportion, and its duration longer, and its was the major funeral form in Yunnan.This article through overall study of the cremations has been found and excavated, and research on its tomb structures, funeral wares ahln, burial objects that has the zoning,staging significance, to them discrimination type and classification. Then, we divide Yunnan and southwestern of Sichuan region into eight areas according to the cremations difference. They are Erhai Lake area center on Dali; western Yunnan area center on Banshan,Tengchong; Northwest Yunnan area center on Heqing, Lijiang; Central Yunnan area center on Chuxiong, Heijing; Dianchi Lake area center on Kunming, Yiliang; eastern Yunnan area center on Qujing Batatai; south Yunnan area center on Mengzi, Jianshui, Shiping; Southwest Sichuan area center on Xichang. Cremations'characteristics will be summarized in these regions. According to a dating of artifacts in cremation tombs and with the evolution of burial, we stage and date each region of the cremation. Combined with upper and lower limits of the cremation grave problem, we discuss the relationship between the cremation distribution, the cremation distribution and Yunnan kiln areas and cremation tomb distribution areas with Buddhism. It is clear that the different conditions of the cremation development in the eight regions have not only contact but also difference, but the Buddhism factor is an important link. Therefore, the area which cremations were excavated is the area which Buddhism Tantra has been spreading. The long-term popularity of cremation practices in Yunnan is inseparable from Buddhism.