Sisters Beyond the Grave

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’s 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 BBC Sounds Audio Lab by Khaliq Meer Artwork by Joshua Obeng-Boateng