Grandfather's grave 
In a previous post, I wrote about the scarcity of grave sites in Korea and promised further investigation if I didn't think my in-laws would find the questions too ghoulish.
Well, I found it too ghoulish. I joined in with the bowing and tried to be respectful but, I'm sorry, it didn't mean much to me. While bowing at my grandfather-in-laws' grave, my brother-in-law spent a little more time than needed to merely follow the forms. I felt it meant something to him so I didn't press with questions.
Anyway, this is my in-laws' farm and there are a few graves of their ancestors there. They have plenty of room among the persimmon. The grandfather and 'mother on the other side were cremated and are kept in a local temple.
While getting a ride to the airport, we passed a huge traffic jam in only one lane; the lane to a cemetery so they do have them in Kyeongsangnam-do, which I questioned earlier.
Finally, in looking at news reports about Chuseok, I found most newspapers used the term 'tomb' while I prefer 'grave'. I always thought tomb referred to a larger or fancier place than grave did.
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2 comments:
most korean grave look little bit different from your granfather in law's. typical korean grave is bigger,decorate tomb all around with stones there will be stone lanterns and tombsone and somekind of stone altar.
I am not sure if the typical grave is that different. Most Koreans were farmers not too long ago and I suspect their graves were not very ornate. I certainly notice the decorated graves more but I think the simple ones are common, too.
Thanks for visiting.
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