An Ancient Practice in the Mountains
High on cliff faces in parts of China, the Philippines, and Indonesia, wooden coffins sit in places where burials seem impossible. Some are tucked into caves, some rest on natural stone shelves, and others sit on beams fitted into the side of rock walls.
These are hanging coffins, a documented funerary tradition practiced for centuries by several distinct cultures. Archaeologists have studied their locations, materials, and histories, but many details remain unknown, especially in places where the people who created them no longer exist.
China and the Lost Bo People
In China, hanging coffins are known as xuanguan. Many of the most famous coffins were made by the Bo people, who lived in parts of Sichuan and Yunnan. The coffins were usually carved from a single piece of wood and then placed high on rock cliffs. Some rest on wooden beams that project from the cliff. Others lie inside caves or sit on natural rock ledges.
The Bo were known as skilled farmers and experienced horsemen. Chinese historical records indicate that the Bo culture declined after 1573 when the Ming Dynasty destroyed many of their communities. With the people gone, their language and customs disappeared, leaving only the coffins and a few written accounts. Marco Polo briefly recorded that bodies were placed in boxes and taken to mountains where others could not reach them.
Other groups in China also practiced cliff burials. Coffin sites appear in parts of Fujian, Hubei, Jiangxi, Sichuan, Guangxi, and Yunnan. In some places, local families believe they are descended from the Bo. The Ku people of Qiubei continue to place coffins on cliffs, and some in Yunnan with the surname He are believed to have Bo ancestry.
The Philippines and the Kankanaey People
In Sagada, on the island of Luzon, the Kankanaey people also place coffins on cliff walls. Many sit on wooden supports beneath natural rock overhangs. The coffins are small, because the bodies are placed in a fetal position. This reflects a belief that people should leave the world as they entered it.
The coffins are often carved by the future occupants during their lifetimes. Only respected community elders receive this kind of burial. The height of the coffin reflects the status of the person. Most others are placed in caves, stacked in layers or placed in crevices, with rituals known as the sangadil performed before burial.
Indonesia and the Toraja Tradition
In Sulawesi, the Toraja people place boat shaped coffins called erong on cliffs under natural or carved overhangs. Wooden effigies known as tau tau stand guard and represent the dead. Liang tokek burials date to around 780 AD and were usually reserved for village founders. Nearby cave burials and carved tombs show how different ranks and ages were honored. Today these sites remain visible in the cliffs of Sulawesi and continue to be visited by researchers and travelers.
High on cliffs in China, the Philippines, and Indonesia, coffins rest on ledges and inside caves.
Bodies were placed there by distinct groups for centuries.
Wood boxes sit on beams or shelves far above the ground, where few can reach…🧵👇 pic.twitter.com/y8l454LnDk
— Fascinating True Stories (@FascinatingTrue) November 6, 2025