Funeral Fireplace

Gwanchoksa, Buyeo, Korea

This fireplace is used to burn the belongings of a deceased person on day 49¹ of the mourning period. Once the belongings are gone, the person's spirit is no longer bound to earth, and can ascend to heaven.

¹49 is one of those magical numbers (7 x 7, in this case) that come from Persia via India and into the numerology of East Asia and so many other cultures. See all the "sevens," on the previous page, for another example. Or just go to Las Vegas, if you will, and bet on "lucky seven."