Chinese Student Born on Qingming Festival Admitted to Funeral Studies Program
AM730 · 2 SOURCESabout 2 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
A young man from Henan Province has sparked widespread discussion online after his coincidental life path converged with China's traditional Ghost Festival and funeral industry. Wei Binjie, a high school graduate from Jiaozuo City, Henan Province, was born on April 4—precisely on Qingming Festival, when Chinese families traditionally pay respects to their ancestors at gravesites. He scored 444 points on this year's Gaokao, China's national university entrance examination, and was subsequently admitted to the Modern Funeral Technology and Management program at Sanmenxia Social Management Vocational College. The extraordinary sequence of coincidences—including his birthday, examination score, and chosen field of study—prompted netizens to dub him "the chosen one of the King of Hell."
Key Points
- Wei Binjie from Jiaozuo City, Henan Province, scored 444 on the Gaokao and was admitted to the Modern Funeral Technology and Management program at Sanmenxia Social Management Vocational College
- He was born on April 4, which coincides with Qingming Festival; he learned of this coincidence only after gaining public attention
- Wei developed interest in funeral services from his first year of high school, inspired by online content creator Tang Mutanzhe, a funeral industry influencer
- Despite his father's objections hoping he would change majors, Wei plans to document his learning journey through social media to normalize the profession
- The Sanmenxia program, established in 2023, is China's sixth vocational college offering funeral studies; it covers funeral services, body preservation, and cosmetic restoration
Why It Matters
This story highlights the gradual destigmatization of funeral-related professions among young Chinese, with Gen Z showing increased openness to non-traditional career paths. Wei's deliberate efforts to challenge superstitious beliefs—including visiting gravesites and pouring wine at his grandfather's tomb to announce his enrollment—reflect a broader shift in how young people approach sensitive cultural practices with both respect and rationality.
This story highlights the gradual destigmatization of funeral-related professions among young Chinese, with Gen Z showing increased openness to non-traditional career paths. Wei's deliberate efforts to challenge superstitious beliefs—including visiting gravesites and pouring wine at his grandfather's tomb to announce his enrollment—reflect a broader shift in how young people approach sensitive cultural practices with both respect and rationality.