Chinese woman declared dead and nearly cremated in 1995 was saved by a funeral home worker's last-second discovery; today, she is an award-winning artist
PC: SCMP How a funeral home worker noticed she was still alive Months of treatment and an unexpected reunion A letter that changed everything Recognition
PC: SCMP How a funeral home worker noticed she was still alive Months of treatment and an unexpected reunion A letter that changed everything Recognition in Chinese art Returning to thank the people who saved her In 1995, a routine day at a funeral home in southern China took an extraordinary turn when a worker noticed that a young woman who had already been declared dead was still alive. Without any identification, no family beside her and barely any signs of life after collapsing days earlier, she had been mistaken for a corpse. That brief moment of attention prevented a fatal mistake and changed the course of her future. More than three decades later, Chen Cuiju is known not for the incident that almost ended her life, but for a career in traditional Chinese painting that grew from an unexpected act of kindness and years of determined work.Her remarkable journey from the brink of cremation to becoming an award-winning artist has since inspired countless people across China and beyond.Chen Cuiju grew up in a poor family in Guizhou province. At 18, she left home in search of work, joining the large manufacturing workforce in Dongguan, Guangdong province.
Long shifts, poor living conditions and inadequate nutrition gradually weakened her health.While suffering from a fever one day, she collapsed near a river and lost consciousness. She remained there until a passing boatman found her several days later.With no identification documents and almost no visible signs of life, she was believed to have died. Her body was taken to a local funeral home as that of an unidentified person.Preparations for cremation were already under way when a funeral home employee, identified in reports only by the surname He, spotted a slight movement in one of her feet. The discovery immediately halted the procedure. Police were contacted and Chen was rushed to hospital instead.As reported by South China Morning Post (SCMP), doctors later diagnosed Chen with severe malnutrition, dehydration and multiple organ failure. Although she arrived without identification, money or relatives to speak on her behalf, hospital staff continued treating her.Her recovery was slow. It took more than three months before she regained consciousness, after which local authorities helped trace her family and arrange a reunion. The unusual circumstances surrounding her survival attracted widespread attention across China.
Many people who had never met her wrote letters offering encouragement, employment opportunities and practical support as she began rebuilding her life.Painter and art teacher Chen Zhonglian invited her to Jinhua in Zhejiang province, offering not only to teach her painting but also to cover her living expenses while she studied. He later explained that learning a skill could provide her with independence and stability that had previously been missing from her life.In 1996, Chen accepted the invitation and moved to Jinhua with her younger brother. Even after leaving hospital, the emotional effects of her experience remained. She reportedly struggled with confidence and found it difficult to move beyond the perception held by some people that her survival had brought misfortune.Her teacher encouraged her to spend time with fellow students and gradually recognised an artistic ability that deserved attention. He persuaded her to enter painting competitions, giving her opportunities to develop both her skills and self-belief.A turning point came in 1999 when Chen received her first major painting award. The recognition opened the door to wider opportunities, and she gradually established herself in the field of traditional Chinese painting.Over the following years, her work appeared in national and international exhibitions.
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