Society

Education on death leads to better life

By Zhang Jiawei (chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2011-03-31 16:51

Have you imagined what it will look like when your Judgment Day falls and you are about to bid farewell to the world? Fearful, anxious? What does death really mean?

In Chinese culture, these topics have at most times been considered taboo as no one would talk openly about the issue. Referring to death, people seldom use the word "death," but will use substitute words like "pass away," and "part forever."

But the fact is, people die.

To 26-year-old doctor Yang Zhaoyi, who studied medical science for five years and works at a hospital in Xinyang city of Central China's Henan province, death is nothing to be feared, but the end of organs' function and metabolism.

And the ticking clock, which reminds people that their time is passing, is an inspiration for people to cherish life, to study and work harder and realize the value of life, Yang told chinadaily.com.cn.

Born and raised in typical Chinese culture, Yang is no exception in being both reverent and fearful of death when he was a teenager.

His fear of death diminished as his knowledge grew, and by the time he decided to study medical science, he'd already gained enough knowledge to realize "death is one of the most common natural phenomena."

"When facing death now, I have no fear but pity for the loss of life. And I also feel sorry that current technology can do nothing to hold back one's life from death," said Yang, whose job gives him frequent chances to witness life vanish.

"There will be one day when I come to the end of my time, but I will face it with ease and treat it as my return to nature," he said.

Yang's openness toward death comes with his identity as a doctor who had received education on mortality in college.

"It is quite inhumane for a person to die without getting rid of the fear of death and die in great pain," Yang said, adding that education on death is important not only for the living but for the dying.

For the dying, the education will help them alleviate pain and say a final goodbye to the world peacefully; and for the relatives, it will make them accept the fact death is natural, Yang said.

He said death education is important not only in medical schools but also in non-medical ones, while admitting the task will be hard to fulfill due to the deep-rooted influence of Chinese culture.

"But I am sure more and more people would accept death education as their educational level improves and Chinese and Western cultures interact," Yang said.

His ideas were echoed by professionals and students in the medical field.

"As a doctor, I feel quite sorry at witnessing the vanishing of life," said Yu Yanbing, head of the neurosurgery department at Beijing-based China-Japan Friendship Hospital and a professor at Peking University Health Science Center.

"But you have to accept the fact that it is a natural phenomenon and treat it with ease," he said, adding that education on death is key to people's openness to the topic.

"I am sure lessons on death, if there are any, will be quite popular on campuses," said Yu Bing, a postgraduate student majoring in medical science at Zhengzhou University in Central China's Henan province, while adding that such education is far from enough.

Yu and Guo Yue, a graduate student from Xinxiang Medical University in Henan, both said they didn't take special lessons on death and their knowledge about the topic was mainly from other medical courses, which enabled them to stay calm while witnessing life vanish.

"Death education is quite necessary in China," Yu said. "But that should not start at an early age, because the topic may frighten a child and leave some bad impressions on his or her mind."

"I suggest educating adults, who are above 18 years old, on death," he said. He was echoed by Yang, who also thinks death education should be for adults, especially college students.