Korean''Death Beads''

By Crusader1307

While the term ''Korean Death Beads'' have a rather ominous sound – they are in reality the ''latest'' in Memento Mori, perhaps – the ''ultimate'', in fact. The Country known as The Republic of South Korea is rather small in landmass per population. For thousands of years, Koreans have buried their dead in accordance with Buddhist and later Christian Customs. As such, they are running out of ''room'' as it were. In fact, a real Government Regulation states that after 60 years of internment, a body (or it's remains) must be vacated from it's grave and cremated (save historical Tombs 500 years or older). This somewhat traumatic move has created a ''cottage'' Funerary Jewelry called ''Death Beads''. Made of glass, cremated (ash) remains are so infused with the glass and ''turned'' into rings, necklaces and wristlets. Becoming so popular, these heirloom family pieces are seen as a means of (hopefully) solving the need for ''burial grounds''.