Chinese Funerary Burners: A Census

Compiled by Terry Abraham <tabraham @ uidaho.edu>

The most common singular feature of overseas Chinese cemeteries and of the Chinese section of host community cemeteries is the "burner" (sometimes erroneously called "oven"). These brick or masonry structures, often over seven feet tall (approx. 2.1 m), serve as a safe place for the ritualized burning of spiritual tributes.

Hell Banknote These paper and cardboard facsimiles of money, clothing, possessions, and houses, for example, are to serve the deceased in the afterlife. Burning these simulacra passes them to the spirit realm.

The majority of the more than 75 burners listed here appear to have been originally constructed between 1880 and 1920. Their size and construction suggest that they were community efforts, funded by the name or clan association that maintained Chinese customs and traditions. There is very little documentation available on the dates of these structures or on the person or persons who built them.

For additional information, see Chinese Funerary Burners: A Bibliography. Additionally, see the more extensive list of Overseas Chinese Cemeteries.

Burning ritual objects is a daily part of life in much of Asia. For comparative examples of Incense Burners and Holders, Temple Burners, Grave Burners, Dzidzat Shops, and other artifacts, see Other Burners, Other Fires.

New or revised entries are highlighted. Click on "Map" for the approximate location of the burner or cemetery entrance. See Mapping Funerary Burners for more information.

Additional information on these, or other extant burners, would be greatly appreciated.

For ongoing discussion about Chinese funerary practices, you may wish to participate in the Chinese Cemetery Studies list. It is an electronic discussion list, begun by Wendy Rouse in 1997, which brings together the community of scholars working on aspects of Chinese (particularly overseas Chinese) funerary and mortuary practices. For additional information about the list and how to participate, see <http://www.uidaho.edu/special-collections/cemintro.htm>.

Photo courtesy Janis Wilton and Golden Threads.	Pioneer Cemetery Albury New South Wales Australia	Masonry burner Chinese cemeteries in Australia Vol. 4; Golden Threads Map
Photo courtesy Janis Wilton and Golden Threads.	Condobolin New South Wales Australia	Masonry burner, constructed in the early 1990's Golden Threads; State Heritage Map
Photo courtesy Janis Wilton and Golden Threads.	Deniliquin New South Wales Australia	"Replica Chinese burning tower" Golden Threads 2001
Photo courtesy Barbara Hickson.	Chinese section of Nyngan General Cemetery Nyngan New South Wales Australia	Masonry burner; State Heritage Register Chinese Graves in cemeteries in New South Wales Vol. 11 Map
Photo courtesy Jenny Hodges.	Pioneer Cemetery Tumut New South Wales Australia	Masonry burner Golden Threads 2001
Photo courtesy Janis Wilton and Golden Threads.	Wagga Wagga New South Wales Australia	Masonry burner, painted Golden Threads; Chinese cemeteries in Australia Vol. 4 Map
	Chinese Cemetery Windeyer New South Wales Australia	"ceremonial roasting pit"?; Heritage NSW (PDF); Chinese Cemetery and Oven Chinese Cemetery and Oven; Windeyer General
Photo by P. Wegars, July 2004.	Chinese Memorial Cemetery Darwin Northern Territory Australia	Cement block constructed burner; Darwin Chinese cemetery Jack, R. Ian. 1995. Chinese cemeteries Outside China. In Histories of the Chinese in Australasia and the South Pacific, 303; Chinese Graves in cemeteries in Victoria Vol. Map
Photo by R.I. Jack, 1981. Courtesy, Asian American Comparative Collection 49/3.	Cooktown Queensland Australia	Two burners adjacent to altar. Australian Heritage Places Inventory
Photo courtesy Ted Shaw at www.mountmorgan.com.	Chinese Cemetery Mount Morgan Queensland Australia	Burner Jack, R. Ian. 1995. Chinese cemeteries Outside China. In Histories of the Chinese in Australasia and the South Pacific, 304; Map
	Moorina Cemetery Pioneer Tasmania Australia	Burner Pioneer
Photo by Helen Vivian, 1984. Courtesy, Asian American Comparative Collection 49/4.	Weldborough Tasmania Australia	Masonry burner Jack, R. Ian. 1995. Chinese Cemeteries Outside China. In Histories of the Chinese in Australasia and the South Pacific 304.
Photo by Mellissa Edwards, 2003	Glenpatrick Chinese Cemetery Avoca Victoria Australia	Masonry burner; "Now the main visible sign is 'Glenpatrick Cemetery', seen from the road." Chinese cemeteries in Australia Vol. 3; http://bbs.keyhole.com/ubb/showflat.php/Cat/0/Number/557073 Map
Photo by P. Wegars, February 2000.	New Cemetery Ballarat Victoria Australia	Masonry burner Map
Photo by P. Wegars, February 2000.	Old Cemetery Ballarat Victoria Australia	Masonry burner, sheet metal top Map
Photo by Mellissa Edwards, 2002	General cemetery Beechworth Victoria Australia	Twin masonry burners, metal caps. Jack, R. Ian. 1995. Chinese Cemeteries Outside China. In Histories of the Chinese in Australasia and the South Pacific 302, 304. Map
Photo by Mellissa Edwards, 2003	Bendigo Cemetery Bendigo Victoria Australia	Masonry burner; "hexagonal (80 cm for each side) tuckpointed brick structure some 4 metres high"; Chinese Cemeteries in Australia Vol. 2 Australian Heritage Places Inventory; Bendigo Public Cemetery - Bendigo Cemeteries Trust Map
Photo by Mellissa Edwards, 2003	Castlemaine Cemetery Campbells Creek Victoria Australia	Burner Chinese cemeteries in Australia Vol. 1 Map
Photo by Anthony Briggs, February 2003	Dunolly Cemetery Dunolly Victoria Australia	Burner Map
	Echuca Victoria Australia	Burner Golden Dragon Museum. Chinese Memorials & Memories. Bendigo: 2001. p. 37.
Photo by Anthony Briggs, May 2001	Maldon Victoria Australia	Masonry burner, triple dome on top. Built by John South, see http://www.samuelsouth.btinternet.co.uk/update048.htm. Jack, R. Ian. 1995. Chinese Cemeteries Outside China. In Histories of the Chinese in Australasia and the South Pacific, 304. Map
Photo by Mellissa Edwards, 2003	Maryborough Cemetery Maryborough Victoria Australia	Masonry burner Chinese Graves in cemeteries in Victoria Vol. 9
	Melbourne General Cemetery Melbourne Victoria Australia	Burner, "Chinese funerary ovens" Map
	Carlyle Cemetery Wahgunyah Victoria Australia	Burner, "Chinese burning towers from the goldrush era." Walkabout: Wahgunyah 2001; Image 8. Map
Photo by Mellissa Edwards, 2003	White Hills Victoria Australia	Masonry burner, "hexagonal (80 cm for each side) tuckpointed brick structure some 4 metres high." Identical to Bendigo burner Chinese cemeteries in Australia Vol. 5; White Hills Public Cemetery Map
Photo by David Kerkkonen, March 2006.	Queen's Park Cemetery Calgary Alberta Canada	Two brick burners and center altar Map
Photo by David Kerkkonen, October 2004	Chinese Cemetery Calgary Alberta Canada	Red brick burner, concrete top Chinese Cemetery; also 1920s photo at Calgary Cemetery Map
Photo by David Kerkkonen, September 2007	Rockyview Garden of Peace Calgary Alberta Canada	Buddhist Section; masonry burner, memorial tablet Map
	Edmonton Cemetery, Chinese Section Edmonton Alberta Canada	Burner. Personal communication. Map
Photo by David Kerkkonen, 2008	Mountain View Cemetery Lethbridge Alberta Canada	Burner and altar platform Mountain View Cemetery Map
Photo by Tahanni Wou, 2006	Chinese Cemetery Kamloops British Columbia Canada	Burner Kamloops Municipal Cemeteries Map
Photo by David Kerkkonen, 2011	Chinese Cemetery Nanaimo British Columbia Canada	Burner integrated with altar See City of Nanaimo Heritage Inventory; Maxwell, Judy. "Chinese cemeteries and grave markers in B.C.: A research guide." British Columbia History, 40:4(2007)15. Map
Photo by David Kerkkonen, July 2005	Nelson Memorial Park Nelson British Columbia Canada	Map
Photo by Glen Hodges, May 2010	Mountain View Cemetery Vancouver British Columbia Canada	Reconstructed burner (2010) next to altar and pavilion. Photo of original burner at Vancouver Public Library. 1910 photograph by Philip Timms. VPL 7356. Map
Photo courtesy Old Cemeteries Society.	Chinese Cemetery at Harling Point Victoria British Columbia Canada	Twin burners and altar Old Cemeteries Society Map
	Nirvana Memorial Park Semenyih Selangor Malaysia	Burner Map
	Chinese Cemetery Manila Philippines	"Kim" Burner See <http://community.webshots.com/photo/ 163376852/1163379385057477332iyKxnM> Map
Photo by Peter Bell, June 19, 1994. Courtesy, AACC 235/2.	Chinese Cemetery Auburn California United States	Masonry burner Wey, Nancy, compiler. n.d., Chinese Sites in California. Unpaginated, arranged by county. Photocopy in the Asian American Comparative Collection, University of Idaho, Moscow: Map
Photo by W.R. Hagaman, September 2001.	Hoy Sun Memorial Cemetery Colma California United States	Burner; "November 1988" on marker Map
	Look San Chinese Cemetery, Callan Blvd Daly City California United States	Personal observation Map
Photo by W.R. Hagaman, September 2001.	Look San Chinese Cemetery, Callan Blvd Daly City California United States	Brick covered in marble Map
Photo by W.R. Hagaman, September 2001.	Look San Chinese Cemetery, Callan Blvd Daly City California United States	"Hee Shen Association" Map
Photo by W.R. Hagaman, September 2001.	Look San Chinese Cemetery, Callan Blvd Daly City California United States	Map
Photo by W.R. Hagaman, September 2001.	Look San Chinese Cemetery, Callan Blvd Daly City California United States	"Leong Sen Association" Map
	Look San Chinese Cemetery, Callan Blvd Daly City California United States	Personal observation Map
Photo by W.R. Hagaman, September 2001.	Look San Chinese Cemetery, Callan Blvd Daly City California United States	Map
Photo by W.R. Hagaman, September 2001.	Look San Chinese Cemetery, Callan Blvd Daly City California United States	Map
	Look San Chinese Cemetery, Callan Blvd Daly City California United States	Personal observation Map
	Look San Chinese Cemetery, Callan Blvd Daly City California United States	Personal observation Map
Photo by W.R. Hagaman, September 2001.	Look San Chinese Cemetery, Callan Blvd Daly City California United States	Map
Photo by Randall Bloch, June 2001.	Look San Chinese Cemetery, Callan Blvd Daly City California United States	Map
Photo by W.R. Hagaman, September 2001.	Look San Chinese Cemetery, Callan Blvd Daly City California United States	Bay Area Cemeteries - Chinese Cemetery Map
	Dutch Flat California United States	Damaged Burner Personal communication Map
Photo by T. Abraham, April 2002	Suisun-Fairfield Cemetery, Union Avenue Fairfield California United States	Burner Map
Photo by P. Wegars, April 2002	Young Wo Cemetery, Forrest Street Folsom California United States	1997? construction date on burner Map
Photo by Lucky Owyang, June 2005.	Hanford California United States	Burner Map
Photo by W.R. Hagaman, October 2001.	Former Chinese cemetery Loomis California United States	Brick burner, on private property Morita, Jennifer. 2001. "Forgotten Past." Sacramento Bee, August 26, B4
Photo by Gilbert Hom, October, 2007.	Chinese Cemetery Los Angeles California United States	Orignal twin burners with altar replaced with pavilion, altar, and burner, 2007 Chinese Cemetery Map
Photos by P. Wegars, January 2001.	Evergreen Cemetery Los Angeles California United States	Two burners with altar. Chinese Historical Society of Southern California. 1998; Greenwood, Roberta S. 1996. Down by the Station: Los Angeles Chinatown, 1880-1993. Los Angeles: UCLA Institute of Archaeology. Map
	Alhambra Cemetery - Potter's Field Martinez California United States	Burner foundation only, also brick rubble Cemetery Tour of Martinez Map
Photo by W.R. Hagaman, December 2001.	Historic Marysville Cemetery Marysville California United States	"a volunteer builder is restoring a rare Chinese oven in the cemetery. The last episode of vandalism caused over $25,000 in damages." COUNCIL NEWS COORDINATOR. 13:3 (May/June 2001); Preserving a piece of history. Appeal-Democrat, April 29, 2002. Map
Photo by Randall Bloch, June 2001.	San Carlos Cemetery Monterey California United States	Burner and altar. Map
Photo by W.R. Hagaman, June 2001.	Chinese Cemetery Nevada City California United States	Burner Hagaman, Wallace R. 1998. A Short History of the Chinese Cemetery at Nevada City, California. Nevada City: Cowboy Press; Five Views Map
Photo by Lucky Owyang, February 2007.	Sierra View Memorial Park Olivehurst California United States	Map
	Chinese cemetery Salinas California United States	Burner Farkas, Lani Ah Tye. Bury My Bones in America (1998), p. 147, n. 13. Map
Photo by T. Abraham, May 2002.	Historic Chinese American Cemetery, Curtner Road San Jose California United States	Wey, Nancy, compiler. n.d., Chinese Sites in California. Unpaginated, arranged by county. Photocopy in the Asian American Comparative Collection, University of Idaho, Moscow: San Jose. Abandoned Chinese Cemetery Map
Photo by Randall Bloch, June 2001.	Evergreen Cemetery Santa Cruz California United States	Masonry burner. Replica, see Lydon, Sandy. Bringing the Dead to Life. 2005 Map
Photo by W.R. Hagaman, 2003.	Chinese Cemetery, West Mathews Road, French Camp Stockton California United States	Brick burner. Map
Photo by W.R. Hagaman, 2003.	Chinese Cemetery, West Mathews Road, French Camp Stockton California United States	Altar and two brick burners near entrance Chinese Cemetery. Map
Photo by Carrie Wills, May 2001.	Chinese cemetery Vina California United States	Masonry burner Map
Photo by Sandy Lydon.	Pioneer Cemetery, Freedom Boulevard Watsonville California United States	Masonry burner. Also referred to as the Freedom Cemetery Map
Photo by Wendy Rouse, July 2001.	Chinese American Cemetery Wheatland California United States	Burner Rebuilt by Wheatland Historical Society, 1978 Wheatland Chinese American Cemetery Map
	Chinese Cemetery Yreka California United States	"Brick oven;" "A single marker remains, inscribed in Chinese characters" Siskiyou Pioneer, 6:3(1990)98, 134; Attractions in the Gold Country
Photo by T. Abraham, 2009.	Pa'ia Chinese Cemetery Pa'ia Hawaii - Maui United States	Burner. Paia Chinese Cemetery Chung, Sue Fawn & Neizman, R. Remembering Ancestors in Hawai'i, in Chinese American Death Rituals (2005), pp. 187-188 Map
Photo by T. Abraham, 2009.	Kwong Fook Tong Chinese Cemetery Waiehu Hawaii - Maui United States	Burner. Chung, Sue Fawn & Neizman, R. Remembering Ancestors in Hawai'i, in Chinese American Death Rituals (2005), pp. 189-190 Map
Photo by P. Wegars, 1997.	Morris Hill Cemetery Boise Idaho United States	White painted brick burner in Chinese section Map
Photo by John Mihelich, April 2002.	Mount Moriah Cemetery Butte Montana United States	Burner Southwest corner of cemetery. Concrete over brick. Vandalized Map
Photo by Chris Merritt, August 2007	Forestvale Cemetery (China Row) Helena Montana United States	Brick rubble Poorhouses in Montana Map
Photo by Chris Merritt, August 2007	Philipsburg City Cemetery Philipsburg Montana United States	Rubble Map
	Chinese Cemetery Winnemucca Nevada United States	"CHINESE CEMETERY, with a pagoda-topped brick oven"; Redeveloped Nevada:A Guide to the Silver State; Chung, Sue Fawn, Frampton, F. P., and Murphy, T. W. Venerate These Bones, in Chinese American Death Rituals (2005), p. 110 Map
	Frost Woods Memorial Park East Brunswick New Jersey United States	"a black outdoor chimney"; reportedly demolished Map
Photo by P. Wegars, July 1996.	Chinese cemetery Baker City Oregon United States	Burner reconstruction, masonry; corrugated iron roof; one marker; exhumation pits Map
Photo by P. Wegars, May 1999. Courtesy, Asian American Comparative Collection.	Olney Cemetery Pendleton Oregon United States	Burner vandalized, now has concrete cap Asian American Sites Map
Photo by Ken Eng, 2010.	Merion Memorial Park Bala Cynwyd Pennsylvania United States	Burner Zhang, Juwen. 2001. Falling Seeds Take Root. PhD thesis U of Pennsylvania; 215 (photo p. 235). Map
Courtesy Concordia Heritage Association, 2010.	Concordia Cemetery El Paso Texas United States	Masonry burner with concrete facing Crawford, Sybil. 2001. 19th, 20th, and 21st Century Gravestones. AGS (Association for Gravestone Studies) Quarterly 25:2(Spring) 11-12; Concordia's Chinese Cemetery Map
	Salt Lake City Cemetery Salt Lake City Utah United States	"a square cement box where, when a burial took place, a part of the clothing of the deceased, prayers written on paper, and incense were burned" HANDCART-L Archives Map
Photo by P. Wegars, 1997.	Mountain View Cemetery Walla Walla Washington United States	Red brick burner, sloping cap http://www.cinarc.org/Topics.html#anchor_360 Map

Burners No Longer Extant

Douglas Road Cemetery. New Westminster, BC. "Permission has been granted by the council to Chinese residents to build a furnace in the old cemetery on the Douglas road, for the purpose of burning Chinese prayers and other inflammable materials used in connection with Mongolian funerals." Victoria Colonist, October 18, 1892. Site of New Westminster Secondary School development project, see <http://www.royalcityrecord.com/issues04/092204/news/092204nn3.html> (Not Available 2007); <http://www.boothill.ca/faq.html>.
Old Chinese Cemetery. Bakersfield, CA. Gia, Gilbert. "Our Fair City: What became of the Old Chinese Cemetery?" Bakersfield Blackboard. June 2002. <http://www3.igalaxy.net/~g gia/Articles/1956--BakersfieldsOldChin.html>
Chico Cemetery. Chico, CA. Book, Susan. "Ashes to Ashes: Chinese Cemeteries in Butte County." Diggins, 18(1974)9.
Demersville Cemetery. Kalispell, MT. Shea, Marie Cuffe. Early Flathead and Tobacco Plains. [Eureka? Mont.]: M.C. Shea, 1977. p. 82.
Lone Fir Cemetery. Portland, OR. Personal communication.
Mount Moriah Cemetery. Deadwood, SD. <http://www.deadwoodunderground.com/funerals.html> Not available, 2006.

Acknowledgments

Thanks to those who have contributed information for this census: John Adams, John Atkin, Tom Banse, Peter Bell, Randall Bloch, Anthony Briggs, Mel Brown, Jerry Bryant, Sue Fawn Chung, Mellissa Edwards, Ken Eng, Barbara Gorrell, Roberta Greenwood, Gordon Grimwade, Wallace R. Hagaman, Barbara Hickson, Glen Hodges, Jenny Hodges, Carol Holsworth, Gilbert Hom, Lon Johnson, David Kerkkonen, Hiroko Kowta, Emma Louie, Sandy Lydon, Mary L. Maniery, Randy Meeks, Chris Merritt, John Mihelich, Sylvia Sun Minnick, Julia Neal, LaVada Nudo, Lucky Owyang, Gertrude Perkins, Wendy Rouse, Melissa Sargent, Ted Shaw, Janet Six, Carrie Wills, Ian Welch, Janis Wilton, Jim Wong, Ken Wou, Busaba Yip, and especially Priscilla Wegars.