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Sisters Beyond the Grave

On this sonic museum tour, we awaken the spirits of four sisters-in-law housed within a Chinese ancestral tablet that's been in storage at The Horniman Museum in south London.

In Chinese culture, it is believed that once a person dies their soul continues to exist. It lives on in the grave as well as in an ancestral tablet. In this episode we hear from the spirits of four sisters-in-law, hungry and neglected, these spirits travel to the living realm in search of their descendants.

Whilst the deceased embark on their journey, Hanna Adan, with the assistance of experts, explores traditional Chinese religion, the role that ancestral tablets play and ultimately asks - what is the Museum鈥檚 duty towards objects of spiritual significance, especially those without claimants?

Produced and Presented by Hanna Adan
With story by George Bailey
Assistant Producer and Editor: Kwaku Dapaah-Danquah
Researcher: Seyi Bolarin
Production Mentors: Jane Thurlow and Corinna Jones
Sound Designer: Lauren Armstrong-Carter
Tech Producer: Bob Nettles
Executive Producers: Khaliq Meer & Leanne Alie
Commissioned for 成人论坛 Sounds Audio Lab by Khaliq Meer
Artwork by Joshua Obeng-Boateng

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38 minutes

Podcast