What are the ancient Chinese beliefs in life after death

The ancient Chinese believed in an afterlife but imagined that it would be very similar to their life on Earth. They believed that people would have the same needs in the after life as they did when they were alive, which is why many people were buried with useful household items. In early times, the servants and families of wealthy people were expected to sacrifice themselves to accompany their master into the afterlife. Later, however, carpenters and sculptors were commissioned to make statues of servants that could be buried with the dead.