【Endorsements from Notable Figures】

Death is the ultimate question for every human being, yet it has always been a taboo that Chinese people avoid discussing. This book breaks that silence with gentle yet firm prose, comprehensively unraveling the perplexities of life’s final chapter – from understanding death, to collaboration between family and medical staff, to dignity protection and bereavement healing. The book weaves together deep intertwinings of philosophy and medicine – exploring metaphors of death as a wall and a door – alongside countless real-life cases: the dedication of medical workers, the agonizing choices of family members, the late-life realities of elderly living alone. All this makes abstract life-and-death questions tangible and relatable. The author does not shy away from the ethical dilemmas behind medical progress, nor does she romanticize the struggles of the dying moment. Yet between the lines, she conveys a core belief: the dignity of life lies not only in its length. From the resistance to advance directives to psychological reconstruction after loss, from the balance between technology and humanity to the tension between family love and responsibility, this book offers courage and guidance to every ordinary person facing the end. Reading it, you may come to understand: facing death squarely is not saying goodbye to life, but learning to cherish love and companionship in the limited time we have – allowing our final farewells to be filled with dignity and warmth.
— Jing Jun, Professor of Sociology, Tsinghua University

As a professional who studied palliative care and hospice in the United States and has worked in this field in China for over a decade, I recommend this book. It presents and explores, as richly as possible, stories of patients, psychological dilemmas, the balance between life and death, and the soothing of grief – resonating with a wide range of readers.
— Li Ling, Deputy Director of the Hospice and Palliative Care Committee, Chinese Anti-Cancer Association; Vice President, Zhengzhou Third People’s Hospital

To embark on the final journey without fear or worry is something we must prepare for throughout our lives and face calmly. This profound topic has been studied with compassionate heart by Guo Yue for half his life. He will help us open this page of the book.
— Liu Liu, Writer and Screenwriter

This is a brave and precious “documentary of the end of life.” With rare courage and warmth, it paints a true picture of what the end of life looks like for contemporary Chinese people. The book does not avoid the ethical struggles of “to intubate or not,” the warmth and tearing apart of “at home or in the hospital,” but instead examines these sensitive and complex dilemmas within specific stories and cultural contexts. It not only reveals how medical progress may prolong survival while also prolonging the process of dying, but also guides us to think: what is a good death, dignity, and true farewell? This book is a guide for everyone who will eventually face “the final great matter” – full of depth and warmth.
— Lu Guijun, Life Education Expert; Director of Pain Department, Beijing Tsinghua Changgung Hospital; Recipient of 2025 “Honorable Healer – Science Popularization and Humanities Award”

This book questions the subject of death through philosophical reflection, discussing the end of life from a clear and comprehensive perspective, dissolving people’s fear and confusion about the end. As a medical professional and administrator, reading it helps one understand the way of doctor-patient relationships, and learn to accompany patients through their final journey with reason and warmth, protecting the dignity and warmth of life. We will all grow old, everyone must face this “final great matter.” Let us think ahead and meet it calmly.
— Lu Lu, Vice President of Shanghai Good Hope Hospital; Geriatric Critical Care Expert

Why do people need this book? Not simply because everyone will eventually encounter life-and-death matters, but because “death” has now become a difficult problem – far more complex than one might imagine: it’s hard to know in advance what you will face, how to answer those urgent and difficult choices, whether medical interventions are prolonging life or prolonging the process of dying… On one hand, medical equipment is advancing rapidly; on the other, people’s panic and helplessness in the face of death are growing. This sharp contrast highlights our lack of understanding of modern death. This book sorts out the four major dilemmas contemporary people face when confronting death, and offers many enlightening ideas and knowledge, helping people create a life journey illuminated by love and dignity, and gain the strength to grow.
— Lu Xiaoya, Life Education Expert; Senior Hospice Volunteer

People cannot choose the manner of death – sudden passing or prolonged suffering? But in the face of death, most still hold an unrelenting longing for life, wishing only to bid farewell with a beautiful and pure soul, with dignity.
— Wang Qingkun, Director of Internal Medicine, Changzhou Jiuyue Hospital; Associate Chief Physician

This book, with its multi-dimensional perspective, vivid writing, and fresh stories and cases, inspires people to view the end of life rationally and optimistically. Drawing on the experience of a senior medical professional with a philosophical background, it offers reflections and suggestions on “the final great matter of life.” When facing life’s countdown, everyone becomes a philosopher. This book speaks about the “philosophy of calm acceptance” in life.
— Xiao Gongqin, Professor of History, Shanghai Normal University; Distinguished Researcher, Fudan University Contemporary China Research Center

Having worked in elderly care for over a decade, I have witnessed the persistence and helplessness of countless seniors. Some elderly patients have been with our ward since its opening – four or five years of daily companionship have long transcended the doctor-patient relationship, becoming like family. I have experienced the complexity of human nature, yet remain committed to the original heart of medical care – not only treating illness but also guarding the final dignity and decency of life. May every elderly person find a peaceful end under professional care – this is the faith I have always upheld.
— Ying Na, Executive Dean, Putuo Renji Hospital; Chief Physician

In this book, Dr. Guo Yue, a philosophy PhD engaged in the management of geriatric medical care, uses wise and far-sighted insight to dialectically analyze the profound meanings of a series of contradictory categories: life and death, healing and family love, longevity and dignity, the deceased and the bereaved. He demonstrates the life philosophy of moving from pursuing “life expectancy” to pursuing “healthy life expectancy,” from prolonging life through treatment to ultimate care.
— Zhao Lin, Professor of Philosophy, Wuhan University

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【Reader Reviews】

Every story in this book comes from real hospital wards, real conversations, real tears, and real perseverance. We see patients struggling with pain while maintaining dignity, families torn between hope and letting go, medical staff balancing professionalism and emotion in their dedication and helplessness. The book does not deliberately create conflict; it focuses on the most authentic reactions of ordinary people in extreme situations – fear, reluctance, hesitation, determination, guilt, and release. It is precisely this restrained yet truthful expression that gives the writing a power that touches the heart.
— Reader “Qijin Nian”

When a person lies in a hospital bed, what they need is not just IV drips and medication, but to be understood, respected, and to regain the dignity and value of life.
— Reader “Crystal”

If looking back over one’s life is an internal confirmation of self, then completing relationships with others is an external fulfillment of connections. In hospice practice, the widely known “Four Sayings” – thank you, sorry, I love you, goodbye – provide a simple framework, guiding the dying to sort out and resolve unfinished wishes and lingering conflicts with others. The ultimate dignity of life comes from how we face it, how we accompany, and how we love.
— Reader “Jiaozi”

★ This is not a cold book about death, but a life guide for everyone facing the ultimate end.
★ A nonfiction work co-authored by a cross-disciplinary team, rooted in extensive on-site interviews at frontline hospitals. It dissects four major dilemmas at the end of life: understanding death, medical choices, dignity protection, and bereavement healing.
★ Integrating international hospice care concepts, it directly confronts the difficult decisions of end-of-life care, offering solutions and reflections on issues such as “no place to die,” “the obsession with life-prolonging interventions,” and “family caregiver burnout.”

This is a nonfiction work deeply rooted in the hospice care scene in China. Based on on-site interviews at multiple Chinese hospitals, the book focuses on the final journey of life, documenting the real experiences and reflections of medical staff, patients, and their families when facing life-and-death decisions.

It seeks to explore: before reaching the inevitable end, is it possible for us to write a warm and dignified conclusion to our lives?
When a cure is hopeless, is it better to suffer “survival” or to live with dignity “until the very end”?
Should the final days of life be spent in a hospital smelling of disinfectant, or in the warmth of one’s own home?
Facing the dying choices of a loved one, are we passive recipients, or can we bravely participate?
When a beloved one passes away, how do we deal with the grief and guilt that have nowhere to go?

Death is a subject everyone will eventually face, but it is not merely a cold medical outcome – it is also a life practice concerning love, dignity, and farewell.

Guo Yue
Senior medical investment manager, PhD in Philosophy from Wuhan University, founder and chairman of Shanghai Joy Medical Group. Vice Chairman and China Director of the Asian Society for Chronic Care, Executive Vice President and Secretary General of the Chronic Disease Management Branch of the Chinese Non-Government Medical Institutions Association. He has significant influence in the fields of medical health and chronic disease management.

Zhou Ang
Senior media professional, formerly a director at China Central Television (CCTV), senior reporter for China Weekly magazine, and editor-in-chief of the history channel at ifeng.com. Throughout his career, he has encountered countless stories about life, death, and the human condition, and has long reflected on the subject of death.

Foreword: The Dignity of Death – Xu Jilin / I
Preface / VII

Chapter 1: Wall and Door – Chinese Perceptions of Death
The Victory of Medicine / 006
From Taming to Brutality / 011
Who Decides My Life? / 021
Invisible Obstacles / 027
Wall and Door / 034
Hidden Realities / 043
Choice Is the Answer / 052
Principles of a Good Death / 062

Chapter 2: Home and Hospital – Where Warmth and Professionalism Meet
The Home You Cannot Return To / 076
Invisible Wounds / 082
Knocking on the Patient’s Heart Door / 087
From “Treating Disease” to “Treating the Person” / 094
The Significance of Family / 101
The Dilemma of Knowing and Hiding / 108
How to Solve Living Alone in Old Age / 118

Chapter 3: To Insert or to Remove – The Dignity and Decency of Life
Redrawn Boundaries of Life and Death / 128
Where Does Obsession Come From? / 137
The Divide Between Active and Conservative Treatment / 144
Removing the Mountain of Pain / 153
Granting Dignity at the Final Moment / 160
The Timing of Letting Go / 170
Recognizing the End of Life / 180

Chapter 4: Loss and Family – Life’s Final Chapter and Lasting Love
Grief Has No Rules / 192
Don’t Be Ashamed to Express Grief / 199
Find Your Own Way Out of the Darkness / 206
Where Does Your Guilt Come From? / 216
Establishing a New Connection with the Deceased / 226
When AI Intervenes in Grief Healing / 234
How Can You Comfort the Living? / 243

Afterword / 253