Give the guy props for his sense of humor if nothing else. I mean, funerals are by necessity somber occasions, sad, depressing. Unless the deceased was much hated in life, or left behind a sizeable fortune to his heirs, in which case there might be some cause for celebration. In general, though, funerals are something people go to either out of obligation or because the rituals enable them, however painfully, to begin to heal, to move past the loss of a loved one. A few cultures manage to turn the tradition on its head. New Orleans Jazz funerals, for example, make more of a party out of it. Good for them, I say. Any time we can wring a little laughter out of this grim existence we call life, it’s a victory. That’s why I say good for you, too, Mr. Jian.
I don’t know if that’s his last name or his first name, but Jian did it up right. He hired—beforehand, one assumes—a couple of strippers to appear at his funeral and give a lapdance to his coffin. Apparently this isn’t THAT uncommon in China, as funerals are seen as status symbols, and the more people in attendance the better. Thus strippers are sometimes hired in an effort to pack in the bereaved. Or total strangers. Whichever. The Chinese government is starting to crack down on the practice, though. Damn Communists! Won’t let anybody have any fun!
