THE annual Qingming Festival, also known as Tomb-Sweeping Day, is a traditional occasion on which the Chinese remember their dead. The occasion, which fell yesterday this year, causes those still on this earthly plane to reflect more deeply on life and death.

Xu Fang, 43, is well aware of this peak period for death-related pondering. Working at the public notary agency in Yinchuan, the capital city of Northwest China’s Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, she has been busy dealing with queries from citizens keen to make their wills or seeking information on the subject.

“There is a significant rise in the number of phone calls and in-person consultations. Some demands are quite urgent as the applicants are aged or in a critical health condition,” said Xu.

During the peak season for making wills, the agency also provides door-to-door services at lunch breaks and on weekends.

Over the past two decades as a notary, Xu has served people from different age groups and in different health conditions. She clearly recalls one old lady who passed away just three days after Xu’s visit earlier this year.

“It’s more like a responsibility than just a job. We try to ensure that people depart this world in peace, rather than with regrets,” Xu added.

Death, an eternal topic for human beings in both art and daily life, was once a taboo subject for public discussion in China. However, thanks to China’s rapid social and economic development, which has boosted the education and wealth of its population, more people are willing to openly discuss the issues surrounding inheritance.

Meanwhile, the country has made unremitting efforts to further improve its legal system to better protect people’s legitimate rights and interests, especially through the Civil Code, which took effect Jan. 1, 2021.

“People believe that the arrangements for their assets in their will are protected by the law,” said Chen Kai with the China Will Registration Center, an agency providing professional services for will registration. The center now has over 60 sub branches across China.

According to Chen, the past decade has witnessed a growing number of testators, and their average age has declined from 77.43 to 68.13 years old. Even some millennials are joining the ranks, making wills on their virtual property, such as virtual currencies and online gaming accounts.

“Who knows what will come first — tomorrow or the unexpected. That’s probably what I heard most from the young testators who are currently in good health,” said Zhang Wenjuan, a colleague of Xu.

She added that, in making their own wills, the young often want to express their own personal choices and protect their own rights.

About two years ago, a female testator in her 40s wrote down her will at the China Will Registration Center, deciding to leave all her wealth, including an apartment, to her beloved nieces.

“Before I made this will, I was anxious about my possible future guardian. Now I feel reassured, as I can protect my loved ones from potential property disputes,” said the testator surnamed Wang.

Chen, also a senior lawyer, agrees with the testator on that point.

Official data collected by China Judgments Online shows that, of the approximately 6,000 cases concerning bequest disputation in 2022, those cases involving wills made by the deceased accounted for less than 12%.

“The will is not just a piece of paper, but is a legal document able to pass on love and care to your family,” said Chen. Making wills plays an increasingly important role in easing the judicial burden and maintaining the harmony of family and society, he added.

For some people, the process of making wills prompts them to re-examine the meaning of their lives.

“I couldn’t stop crying as I was writing down my final words to my family members. All of a sudden, I felt relieved, and realized that death is not terrible. What is terrible is losing one’s passion and respect for life,” said a 35-year-old testator.

Xu foresees a huge demand for making wills in the country, where many people lack legal knowledge and access. She has started to visit communities and villages with her colleagues on a weekly basis, promoting people’s legal awareness. “We offer free notarization of wills for those aged above 80,” Xu said. (Xinhua)