CHINA — Authorities in Donghai County, Jiangsu province had to spring into action recently in order to stem the increasing tide of what is being called “obscene performances” at Chinese funerals.At issue is the recently uncovered practice of some funerals offering strip-tease entertainment along with the eastern Chinese send-offs.

Although the police insist that the practice is “obscene” and drove home the point by arresting five people believed responsible for arranging such a thing for the funeral of a dead farmer, they also admit that the context is different from that found in a nightclub setting.

“Striptease used to be a common practice at funerals in Donghai’s rural areas to allure viewers,” the police report observed. “Local villagers believe that the more people who attend the funeral, the more the dead person is honored.” Financially well-off families have been known to hire as many as two troupes of dancers in order to encourage more people to share in the mourning.

In other words: strippers equal funeral guests, which equal greater respect for the dearly departed.

In the case of the dead farmer, 200 guests honored him, thanks to the attendance of the five dancers who were detained.

Local officials quickly distributed notices concerning proper funeral management and those planning funerals must now submit their plans within 12 hours of the villager’s death. “Funeral misdeeds” can also be reported on a hotline.