Actress Barbie Hsu's Unconventional Burial Stirs Up Controversy

Another complicated controversy has been stirred up around the demise of the legendary actress Barbie Hsu.

Legendary Actress Barbie Hsu Passes Away At The Age Of 48

Recently, Hsu’s younger sister, Dee Hsu, announced that the family had decided to bury her ashes through an eco-friendly burial process where the ashes would be placed in a biodegradable container and buried under a tree in a registered cemetery. This burial process doesn’t involve a gravestone, and neither is the deceased’s name recorded at the site. Dee Hsu stated that it was Barbie’s wish to be put to rest that way and the family also wanted her to rest in peace among nature.

While the concept is noble, many fans have taken issue with this burial after media outlets reported that tree burials might not be as peaceful as they are portrayed to be. According to experts, created remains contain no-biodegradably substances that can form clumps and hinder the growth of trees. So, the cemetery staff often dig up the trees after a few years to remove these clumps, cremate them again, and then scatter them again.

This claim hints at the possibility that Hsu’s ashes might be exhumed and re-cremated after a few years. Moreover, since there are no gravestones at the cemetery, it is possible that Hsu’s family might not even recognize her exact burial location in the future. Many have raised concerns over the uncertainty of such a cemetery since trees can be relocated or the land can be redeveloped in the near future, requiring the actress’s ashes to be re-scattered.

The Chinese public is hence outraged at the decision of Hsu’s family to lay her to rest in such a way. Fans have demanded a proper and dignified burial, pointing out that her untimely demise was already enough of a tragedy.

Hsu was cremated in Japan on February 3, and her ashes were brought to Taiwan by her husband, Koo Jun Yup, and her family on a private plane. Initially, Dee Hsu had wanted to keep the ashes in her home, but the decision was opposed by her neighbors in Taipei. The family then changed their decision. Fans’ demands for a better burial, however, have been met with silence.

You can read more about Barbie Hsu and her family here: