Why does this serene space exist amidst Tokyo’s vibrant energy? This is Maya Cemetery. It is a place where respect for the deceased intertwines with the beauty of nature.
Maya Cemetery offers a tranquil escape. It is a place to reflect on life and remember those who have passed.
The Maya greatly respected death. They were taught to fear it. They grieved deeply for the deceased. They also believed some deaths were more noble than others. People who died by suicide were thought to be transported directly into heaven. The gods were thankful for their sacrifice to them.
Before Spanish influence, there may not have been a common idea of the afterlife. The Yucatec Maya believed that there were different routes after death. The Maya built idols containing ashes of the dead. They brought them food on festival days. The most common way to sacrifice someone was cutting the abdomen and taking out the heart.
The Maya dead were laid to rest with maize in their mouth. Maize is a symbol of rebirth. It was also food for the dead for the journey to the otherworld. A jade or stone bead placed in the mouth served as currency for this journey. Burying the deceased with jade allowed them to follow the path of the Maize God. This led to their rebirth.
Often, whistles carved from rocks into the shapes of gods or animals were included in the grave offerings. This helped the deceased find their way to Xibalba. When a typical Maya citizen died, their family began fasting and procuring goods. They held an all-night vigil around the corpse. They burned incense calling on their ancestors to watch over the new soul. Elders would wash and clothe the corpse. Being buried naked was an insult.
On the way to the church, the chuchjaw would beat the ground. This was so the soul would not linger on Earth. Once at the church, elders would spin the corpse. This made the soul lose track of its home. Once the corpse was buried, the family would hold a feast and abandon the person’s house. The houses of the dead become abandoned. It was believed that nine days after a successful journey through the underworld, the soul would return home and sleep for nine days.
The Maya associated the color red with death and rebirth. They often covered graves with cinnabar. The bodies of the dead were wrapped in cotton mantles before being buried. Burial sites were oriented to provide access to the otherworld. Graves faced north or west, in the directions of the Maya heavens. Others were located in caves. Caves are entrances to the underworld.
In the late Preclassic period, people were buried in a flexed position. Later, the dead were laid to rest in an extended position. In the late Classic period, the elite constructed vaulted tombs. Some rulers ordered the construction of large burial complexes. In the Postclassic period, cremation became more common.
The Maya believe that the soul is bound to the body at birth. Only death can part the body and soul. To them, there is an afterlife that the soul reaches after death. Deceased ancestors can still contact their descendants. They can give advice when asked.
The Popol Vuh gives importance to the Maize deity. It tells the story of the reincarnation of the Maize god. In the tale, the maize god retreats to the underworld. He is reborn again and again. The Earth itself is a living being.
The Lakandon bury their people facing the sun. They are wrapped in a tunic and hammock. The Q’eqchi’ bury their dead in a straw sleeping mat. A hat, sandals, and a net are provided to help in the journey to the afterlife.
The tombs were filled with precious goods. These included fine pottery, figurines, jade, and masks. Obsidian and exotic shells have also been found in Maya tombs.
Maya Cemetery is more than just a burial ground. It is a testament to the Maya’s enduring beliefs about life, death, and the journey beyond. It is a place where the past whispers to the present.