The finite nature of human life makes life valuable. Life's experiences are accumulated, enriched, and refined throughout the limited life of a person. By knowing the customs and expressions of different groups of people at various important events in their lives, we can see the colorful world of individuals and groups, see the world of life and death.
Life has its ending. Each new life embarks on the journey search for meaning from the day one and towards the end of life. It begins with the joyful welcoming of "Birth", continues through "growing up" with hope of the community, the "Mid-Life" of commitment and meaning, the wisdom of "Old Age and arrives at the unknown "Death and Afterlife". People continue to accumulate on this path. These accumulations have led to the highly skilled religious artifacts in our museum, which represent the trust and reliance, worship and celebration of human civilization in this process of inquiry.
Birth
The arrival of a new life is a gift. A life that survived the test of being a fragile newborn needs blessing, luck, and care. A newborn carries hope and is a miracle of blessing to mankind. Like a tree representing hope and possibility, in this section of the hall, benches are made by different types of wood, symbolizing different stages of life.
The bench made by birchwood in the "Birth" section symbolizes fertility. Often being the oldest tree in the wilderness, birches symbolize young trees can become a forest, and in many cultures in Eurasia, birchwood is often used to make cradles. Sitting on this birchwood bench, quietly admiring its beautiful wood grain as if touching its vigorous life history.
Coming of Age
In the most rapid accumulation and growth stage of life, people need to get out of their reach of family and face independence. It takes courage, wisdom, and ability. A solid personality is shaping.
The Ash tree, known as a “tree of the worlds” that connects heaven and earth in the ancient Scandinavian mythology, were chosen to make the bench in this section of the hall, and Ash tree has been the tree used to make the first human in the mythology. Ash wood has been representing the good wishes and hope for a young life.
Mid – Life
This is a significant part for a person’s life journey, and it brings most of its meanings. It can be fruitful and bringing offspring, and taking responsibilities, being a bridge for the old and the young. In this stage of life, people need insights, wisdom, and introspection. In this stage, people may be at the peak of his or her energy, may be able to affect others more, may have more commitment. Meaning of life is in shaping.
The bench in this section is made of western fir, placed in the middle age section, is said to have multiple symbols: sacredness, love, dedication, and protection. Can you see its splendor?
Old Age
Aged people are survivors, are transmitters of knowledge and wisdom. They need to be blessed, to be cared, and to be tolerated. In this stage of life, people tend to have a deeper understanding of life, an inner vision of self, and practiced one’s understanding of life.
Death and Afterlife
The life will finally end, and then what’s the next? Is it a return from nothing to nothing? In terms of the course of life, it is not a return to nothing, but a mark of life. In the culture of East Asians, we have always avoided the word "death", but avoidance does not make it far away. The world after death, as suggested by many religions and civilizations, is also a view of life.
The bench in this section is made from the elm tree, a symbol of death, which is thought to have an effect to slow down the decay and is often used to make coffins, this type of the tree is also known as the tree of slumber. Can you feel its tranquility and calmness? Sitting on the elm bench and watching the funeral rituals of various religions in the video gives us a quiet space to reflect, to contemplate or answer our own innermost thoughts, and to open the door to spiritual awakening.
