DNA Research Identifies Ancient 'Hanging Coffin' People in China

Ancient 'hanging coffin' practices in southern China's Yunnan province have been traced back to their ancestral roots through a new genetic study. Researchers analyzed the remains of 11 individuals interred in hanging coffins over 2,000 years ago, and supplemented this with genetic data from four log coffin remains found in a cave in northwestern Thailand, dating back to 2,300 years ago.

This research, published on November 20 in the journal Nature Communications, identifies the modern Bo people as descendants of those who practiced this unique burial custom, providing insights into the genetic, cultural, and historical roots of their traditions.

Researchers noted that the Bo people, who now number in the few thousands and are categorized under the official Yi ethnic group, have a unique language and culture distinct from their neighbors. This ancient burial tradition, which involved placing wooden coffins on cliffsides, dates back at least 3,400 years, originating in the Wuyi Mountains of southeastern Fujian province.

The hanging coffins are scattered throughout southern China and Taiwan, with evidence of their practice ceasing during the Ming dynasty from 1368 to 1644. Historical records, including a reference from the Yuan dynasty between 1279 and 1368, describe the coffins as auspicious, emphasizing that the higher the placement, the better for the deceased.

The study revealed a genetic link between the modern Bo and Neolithic populations who lived 4,000 to 4,500 years ago in southern China and Southeast Asia. The researchers concluded that the Bo people are a direct continuation of the ancient tradition, with folklore describing their ancestors as 'Subjugators of the Sky' and 'Sons of the Cliffs.' The findings underscore a shared heritage that transcends modern national boundaries, highlighting the importance of genetic research in understanding human migration patterns and cultural continuity in the region.

These connections not only illuminate the history of the Bo people but also the broader context of the Tai-Kadai-speaking peoples who were present before the Han Chinese dominance from the first century B.C. onward.