"Will Also Care for Mother-in-Law"... Taiwanese Woman Holds 'Soul Wedding' Unable to Forget Deceased Boyfriend

3000-Year-Old Chinese Civilization Custom
Ceremony to Comfort Spirits of Those Who Died Unmarried

A Taiwanese woman who lost her boyfriend in a traffic accident is reportedly planning to hold a so-called 'spirit wedding,' drawing attention among local netizens.

Hong Kong's South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported on the 23rd (local time) the story of a woman identified as A, residing in Taiwan. Earlier, on the 15th, A was traveling by car on a Taiwanese highway with her boyfriend Mr. Hong and others.

The vehicle carried four people in total: Mr. Hong, his younger sister, A, and another friend. However, the car A was in became involved in a major traffic accident involving a chain collision of four vehicles.

The photo is not related to any specific expression in the article. [Image source=Pixabay]

The accident resulted in two deaths and five injuries. The deceased were Mr. Hong and his younger sister. At the time of the accident, A, despite her injured leg, rescued those around her but was ultimately unable to save her boyfriend and his sister.

After the accident, A fell into despair. In an interview with local Taiwanese media, she said, "I saved three other people around me, but my greatest regret is that I could not save the person I love and his sister," expressing self-blame.

Recently, A decided to hold a 'spirit wedding' to commemorate her late boyfriend Mr. Hong. Although Mr. Hong has already passed away, she plans to marry his spirit and take care of his mother, who was left alone, on his behalf.

Spirit weddings, which marry the living to the deceased to soothe their souls, are a long-standing custom with about 3,000 years of history in China. According to SCMP, many people in the Sinic cultural sphere still believe that "souls who do not marry cannot find peace."

While a typical wedding involves both prospective spouses, a spirit wedding is attended by only one person. Instead, the living participant brings the deceased's clothes, photos from their lifetime, and other items to the ceremony to symbolically bring the spirit. Aside from this, the ceremony follows traditional Chinese wedding procedures.

A’s story spread on local social networking services (SNS) and moved many netizens. One user admired, "The courage of the woman who tried to save others in a crisis is remarkable." Another commented, "The woman’s love and her sense of responsibility toward her boyfriend’s remaining family are touching," adding, "Spirit weddings can also serve as a form of consolation for the bereaved."