The eight obituaries of a Shanghai person
Decline and fall
One: 16 March 2074
Donghua Advertising Company is deeply saddened to announce that, owing to company restructuring and resource optimization, Mr Chen Qi, a senior employee at our company, reached the end of his career on 15 March 2074.
Mr Chen Qi demonstrated unparalleled professionalism and enthusiasm during his service with the company, and we are full of blessings for his future.
To commemorate Mr Chen Qi’s contributions, we will hold a memorial service in the company’s meeting room on 17 March 2074, to express our remembrance and deep respect for him.
Memorial service registration: 0/20 — Donghua Advertising Company
Two: 21 June 2074
The Central Bank of Shanghai regrets to announce that, as a result of his failure to meet the terms of the loan agreement signed with our bank, and after strict financial audits and unsuccessful negotiations, Mr Chen Qi is officially declared bankrupt from 20 June 2074. This marks the death of Mr Chen Qi as an economic entity.
According to Chapter 1, Article 13, of the Shanghai Economic Law, Mr Chen Qi will no longer have any economic opportunities in Shanghai, including but not limited to loans, employment and signing any money-related contracts.
We sympathize with his situation and hope he can find an opportunity for rebirth. — Central Bank of Shanghai
Three: 6 September 2074
Owing to the potential collateral impact of Mr Chen Qi’s economic status, on 1 July 2074 his relatives applied to the People’s Court of Shanghai to sever relations. This took effect after the court’s deliberation, officially dissolving the familial relationship from 5 September 2074. The action marks the end of Mr Chen Qi’s social relationships, and we hope all parties involved can start anew.
The relatives of Mr Chen Qi agreed to accept the death clause instead of the disappearance clause, which means that Mr Chen Qi is considered a deceased family member rather than one who never existed.
The relatives of Mr Chen Qi will hold a memorial service on 7 September 2074, to commemorate his past contributions and sacrifices. — People’s Court of Shanghai
Four: 7 September 2075
Xiyin Real Estate Company announces that, because of his failure to repay his housing loan and according to relevant laws, from 7 September 2025 Mr Chen Qi has lost his citizenship, and has been taken into the company’s possession as an item of property with the product code 176-04.
During the confiscation period, Mr Chen Qi attempted to escape but was recaptured by the company and imprisoned. He will now undergo penal labour, which will be open to the public for free visits in the hope that the general public will take this as a warning.
We sympathize with Mr Chen Qi’s unfortunate fate and hope that he finds value in his new identity.
A memorial service for Citizen Mr Chen Qi will be held online along with other products of the 176th batch to express our condolences, date to be determined. — Xiyin Real Estate Company
Five: 27 December 2075
Shike Body Sharing Company announces that the Shared Body product AJD-044, formerly known as Chen Qi, has been declared dead, the body having been scrapped and recycled yesterday.
AJD-044 was purchased by our company from Xiyin Real Estate Company on 27 September 2075, and transformed into a shared body for rental use. Because of its docile nature, it received countless positive reviews during its period of service.
Yesterday, after being rented by a Mr Hu, AJD-044 underwent an intense real-gun Paintball experience in Mr Hu’s private estate. This caused excessive damage to the body, resulting in it being scrapped. Fortunately, our company’s product safety standards are extremely high and, although the product was severely damaged, the consciousness of Mr Hu renting the product was completely unharmed.
At the request of Mr Hu, a memorial service for AJD-044 will be held; registrants please contact Ms Bi from the PR department. — Shike Body Sharing Company
Six: 2 January 2076
Renjian Medical Technology Company announces that on 2 January 2076, our company purchased the body parts (including consciousness) of the shared body AJD-044 (alias Chen Qi) for medical research and organ replacement.
From this point on, AJD-044’s body is completely dead. We promise that these parts will be used to save other people’s lives.
In accordance with Article 299 of the company’s code, the life story of AJD-044 has been listed on the electronic monument, and we welcome friends from all walks of life to view and donate. — Renjian Medical Technology Company
Seven: 14 February 2076
Brain-in-a-Vat Entertainment Technology Company announces that it acquired the consciousness of AJD-044 (formerly known as Chen Qi) from Renjian Medical Technology Company on 13 February 2076.
According to our company’s plan, we will release the Brain-in-a-Vat immersive experience of AJD-044 on 20 March 2076, marking the end of Mr Chen Qi’s consciousness.
However, we believe that by sharing his experiences, more people will be able to appreciate the meaning of life and the joys of living in Shanghai, and that it will allow high-net-worth individuals to see what they won’t experience.
We will hold a product launch and memorial service at the Shanghai Exhibition Center on 19 March 2076, to commemorate Mr Chen Qi’s life journey and his profound impact on society. — Brain-in-a-Vat Entertainment Technology Company
Eight: 1 May 2076
Ruhua Literature Publishing House is honoured to announce that we have exclusively acquired the life story of Mr AJD-044 (formerly known as Chen Qi), which will be adapted into a literary work titled Eight Obituaries of a Shanghainese.
From this point on, Mr AJD-044 will no longer be a simple, independent individual but will be transformed into a shared product belonging to the publishing house and our extensive readership. We aim to touch hearts and inspire thoughts through his story.
To commemorate the extraordinary life of Mr Chen Qi, we will hold a book launch and memorial service at the publishing house’s library on 1 May 2076, to express our respect and remembrance for him. — Ruhua Literature Publishing House
The story behind the story
Yixuan Zhu reveals the inspiration behind The eight obituaries of a Shanghai person.
A key issue in the world today is the potential exploitation and alienation of individuals by the system.
The eight obituaries of a Shanghai person is set in a future Shanghai in which the system is highly advanced, and a person’s death is broken down into eight parts.
1) Death of their career — redundancy.
2) Economic death — bankruptcy.
3) Social relationship death — relatives sever ties to avoid repaying debts.
4) Death as a person — being repossessed by the company and transformed into a product to repay debts.
5) Death as a product — being damaged by customers.
6) Physical death — being dismantled into parts.
7) Death of consciousness — being turned into a brain in a vat.
8) Dissolution of overall meaning — after complete death, one’s life is developed into a book by a publisher, consumed and read by others.
The final death also reflects the act of writing and reading this story, extending it beyond the confines of the narrative.
Hopefully, the story offers both a pessimistic reflection — that there are countless ordinary people being exploited whose suffering seems to become mere entertainment for others — and a hint of optimism in that, if we do something, perhaps we can avoid this final death.
doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-024-03543-7
This story originally appeared on: Nature - Author:Yixuan Zhu
