Back in 2008, Cai Ruigong made internet news when he hired a stripper to perform at his father’s funeral. The Taiwanese man had promised his dad if he lived to be 100 he would have strippers at his memorial service and he kept his word.
It seems, however, this isn’t an unusual occurrence in Taiwan (or possibly China although it seems government officials have been cracking down on the “unmoral” practice there.) You can call in a company like Electric Flower Car (EFC) and they’ll bring in a neon-lit platform for their ladies to dance off their clothes for everyone there.
In both Taiwanese and Chinese cultures, the more people at the funeral the better luck the deceased will have. Thus, hiring an exotic dancer draws more people from the village and with good attendance comes a good after life. Kind of the same idea as the professional mourners in Taiwan; women paid to cry hysterically for the deceased because the more tears shed the better the life after this one. These women might also perform acrobatics. And there often are brass bands playing at these send offs as well.
In fact, all the entertainment and ritual makes Taiwan’s funeral business a very lucrative one. And it might seem to the western eye, slightly festive. It could make the Irish tradition of parting in the pub to celebrate the deceased look a bit tame. Source.
