In Taiwan, some funeral processions include an unusual spectacle: scantily clad dancers performing on brightly lit mobile stages called electric flower cars. These converted pickup trucks, adorned with neon lights and sound systems, follow the funeral procession with performers dancing and sometimes stripping to attract crowds.

The tradition might seem bizarre to outsiders, but it serves multiple cultural purposes. Large, lively funerals are considered prestigious in Taiwanese culture—they demonstrate that the deceased lived a fulfilling life surrounded by family and friends. The more attendees, the better the deceased's journey into the afterlife.

Attracting Crowds and Wandering Spirits

Funeral strippers aren't just entertainment for the living. According to folk religious beliefs, the performances also appease wandering spirits and create the celebratory atmosphere needed to properly send off the dead. A rowdy, well-attended funeral signifies the living's willingness to let the deceased move on from the physical world.

Historical records show women performing at temple events dating back to the late 1800s, but electric flower cars exploded in popularity around 1980. During Taiwan's economic boom in the mid-1980s, people had disposable income to invest in elaborate religious and cultural events, and funeral strippers became commonplace.

From Urban Spectacle to Rural Tradition

Today, the practice has largely moved out of Taiwan's urban centers. Electric flower cars are now concentrated in rural areas and city outskirts, where traditional funeral customs remain stronger. The performances are still legal, though full nudity is now prohibited.

Anthropologist Marc Moskowitz documented the phenomenon in his 2011 film Dancing for the Dead: Funeral Strippers in Taiwan, examining how the seemingly paradoxical mix of religion and sexuality fits within Taiwan's folk traditions.

While less common than in their 1980s heyday, funeral strippers remain part of Taiwan's unique cultural landscape—a tradition that turns grief into celebration and ensures the departed leave this world with maximum fanfare.

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