Yu Dynasty Yingdala (4338-4636)

[Wu Han]

State Funeral for Former Chancellor of Indrala
Thousands attend and watch the funeral broadcast
30 April, 4298



Huang Zitao's family, friends and politicians from all parties and many nations around the world joined thousands of members of the public to celebrate the life of the Former-Chancellor and Lotus Party leader at a state funeral Saturday in Kaizhou.

The funeral began after an emotional procession through downtown Kaizhou, attended by tens of thousands of well-wishers standing alongside the procession route while Huang's flag-draped coffin passed by on its way from the Jiaozhi Provincial Conference to the Kaizhou Conference and Exhibition Centre.

Huang's widow, fashion designer Kim Bo-young and his children Bohai, Yao and Xia followed the hearse on foot.

When the family entered and took their seats, people in the packed hall stood. Chancellor Zhang and the First Lady greeted Huang's family and bowed to pay their respects.


The Chancellor and First Lady bowing to the family of Huang Zitao, seated higher up.

Unable to speak, former-First Lady Kim prepared a video message. "I'm sad, we're sad. But let us not look behind us, let's look forward, and continue Zitao's work," Kim said, wiping back tears, as part of a video tribute tracing her husband's path to power. Following the video message, various members of the Lotus Party, as well as individuals from non-profit organizations and foreign dignitaries gave eulogies.

Huang's youngest son, YingPop icon Huang Yao performed a number of traditional Indralan funeral songs with the aid of the Jiaozhi Children's Choir, before he too gave a eulogy. Speaking through tears, Huang said:

It's hard for me to imagine moving forward in my life without my father's guidance. In one of his many classics, Master Jienshi wrote, "Although your father and mother are dead, if you propose to yourself any good work, only reflect how it will make their names illustrious, and your purpose will be fixed." Thus, I will redouble my efforts to live a purposeful and constructive existence. I am lacking in many ways, and yet, selfishly, my one wish is that I can be reborn as my father's son. I hope that my efforts in this life can make me deserving of such a great blessing.

Following the ceremony, nearly 40,000 people gathered in downtown Kaizhou to say their farewell to Huang. Holding their cellphones to the sky, they created a sea of light reminiscent of Huang's massive 4285 campaign rally, which he often referred to as a personally "inspiring" moment.

Later this week, a separate funeral will be held for the immediate members of Huang Zitao's family where he will be interred in his family's memorial plot near the village of Kaisong, Jiaozhi.

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Originally posted by Wu Han on 7 November 2017.