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world7h ago
‘Ferryman of the souls’: the man who helps Taiwan’s dead return home to China
- Liu De-wen helps waishengren return their loved ones' ashes from Taiwan to Fujian, China, a 23-year effort.
- The work follows a long history of families longing for final rest in their homeland after displacement in the civil war era.
- Liu charges no fee for the service and receives no government funding, though funding details remain unclear.
- Liu’s journeys are documented with social-media posts showing the urn in a backpack and even a portable seat on travel.
- Beijing and Taiwan view the stories of kinship as part of broader reunification narratives and cross-strait politics.
- Liu says his aim is to build a bridge for veterans to go home, focusing on peace rather than politics.
- The urns symbolize a life lived and a soul deserving respect, according to Liu and those who recount Lin Ru Min’s story.
- The Guardian profile situates Liu's work within Taiwan’s charged history and its direct link to cross-strait tensions.
- The urns' journey from Taiwan to Fujian is a ritual framed as filial duty and respect for elders.
- Liu’s work has drawn attention from Taiwanese outlets and Chinese state media alike, highlighting its cross-strait resonance.
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