Dashuang found a seemingly new rocking chair in a dark alley and thought it was a waste to leave it there. Since his apartment lacked furniture and the chair was made of expensive redwood, he decided to take it home to use it.
The rocking chair mysteriously moved from the living room to the bedroom overnight and began rocking on its own. Dashuang also had a dream of an elderly man claiming the chair was his, and the chair reappeared in his apartment after he had thrown it away.
Dashuang discovered that the rocking chair belonged to a deceased man whose family was holding a funeral. He returned the chair to the family, who explained that the chair was meant to be cremated with the man’s other belongings to allow his soul to move on.
The family explained that the rocking chair was a cherished possession of the deceased man and that burning it with his other belongings was necessary for his soul to transition to the afterlife. They believed that the spirit of the deceased could linger on their possessions.
Dashuang learned that taking items without knowing their history or significance could lead to unexpected and unsettling consequences. He also understood the cultural belief that the spirits of the deceased can remain attached to their belongings.