China Cemetery Records - FamilySearch Historical Records

China

What is in This Collection?
This collection includes cemetery records from various locations throughout China, Taiwan and Malaysia from 1820-1983. The records include both Chinese nationals and foreigners. Cemetery records include interment records (some from World War II), cremation records, and ossuarium records.

Chinese grave shapes, furnishings, and their symbolic meanings have to be understood within the context of the Chinese world view and of Chinese mythical beliefs in the origin of human life.

The article, China Cemeteries, has more information on the history of the cemetery records.

Reading These Records
These records are written in Chinese. For help reading these records see the following:


 * China Genealogy
 * Chinese Research Helps

What Can These Records Tell Me?
The following information may be found in these records:

Cemetery
 * Name of person buried
 * Date of death
 * Age at death
 * Gender
 * Last place of residence
 * Place of burial
 * Section of cemetery
 * Grave number

How Do I Search This Collection?
To begin searching the cemetery records, it is helpful to know the following information:


 * Name of deceased
 * Approximate year of death
 * Locality of cemetery

View the Images
View images in this collection by visiting the 


 * 1) Select Country
 * 2) Select Province
 * 3) Select County
 * 4) Select Cemetery Name
 * 5) Select Title and Year to view the images

How Do I Analyze the Results?
Compare each result from your search with what you know to determine if there is a match. This may require viewing multiple records or images. Keep track of your research in a research log.

I Found the Person I Was Looking For, What Now?

 * Use the age to determine a birth year
 * Continue to search for family members.

I Can’t Find the Person I’m Looking For, What Now?

 * In some cases descendants would have their ancestors exhumed when they moved to another place and reburied in their new location
 * Titles may be clues to property ownership, occupations, rank, or status within the community
 * Check for variant spellings of the names

Citing This Collection
A citation is a note that shows where you found information. Citations help you keep track of places you have searched and sources you have found. Using citations allows others to find the same records.