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Encyclopedia of Religion entry forBaby-TowersIn China it has been the practice to throw away the corpses of infants. In some parts of the Empire they have been left in urns or wooden boxes in the open country. In other Parts structures called baby-towers have been built to receive them. These are round, polygonal, or square, and are constructed of stone blocks or of bricks. They have an aperture like a window into which the infants are dropped. Sometimes there are two apertures, one labeled " male infants," the other inscribed " female babies." On a slab of stone in front of such a tower may be found the inscription, " Pagoda or Tower for hoarding up bones " or " Place of Resort for Infants." See J. J. M. de Groot, R.H.C. citations: Encyc. of Rel., Canney
article created 2006-04-12 , last updated 2006-04-12 |
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