Did you know that only five world leaders' bodies are preserved forever? Behind this fact lies a complex interplay of technological breakthroughs and the choices of the era.

Lenin became a pioneer in the permanent preservation of modern bodies quite by chance. When he died in 1924, he was initially scheduled to be buried normally, but public mourning remained intense, and as his body began to deteriorate, an emergency freezing was carried out. This marked the beginning of Lenin’s preservation story.

From there, Soviet scientists took it seriously. They repeatedly experimented, developing a special preservative solution that replaced water in the body and suppressed bacterial growth. By combining freezing technology with preservation treatments, they succeeded in maintaining the body in almost perfect condition for nearly 100 years. Lenin’s tomb is equipped with a constant temperature cooling system, and laboratory experts perform weekly restoration work, conducting regular comprehensive maintenance. Sometimes, even minor transplant surgeries are necessary, reflecting a thorough management system.

However, technology alone doesn’t solve everything. Stalin was also a Soviet leader, but after being buried in Lenin’s tomb in 1953, changing political values led to his cremation in 1961. The choices of the times greatly influence the fate of preserved bodies.

Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh wished to be cremated during his lifetime, but his successor decided on preservation. During the Vietnam War, his body was secretly stored in a mountain cave for five years, and Soviet experts completed the preservation process while avoiding bombings underground—a rather dramatic story.

In the case of Angola’s Nétu, there were even more technical challenges. To address the unique issue of preserving the pigmentation of Black skin, Soviet specialists developed a special technique to prevent pigment leakage. His body is only publicly displayed once a year on his birthday.

Meanwhile, Gottwald’s body deteriorated due to inadequate preservation technology and was cremated in 1962. Dmitrov was preserved for over 40 years but was cremated along with Eastern European political upheavals and buried in a cemetery.

The body of Joba Mountain in Mongolia was also placed in a tomb after preservation, but in 2005, the tomb was destroyed, and he was cremated according to Buddhist rituals. The changing times ultimately determined the final disposition of these bodies.

Looking at all this, the permanent preservation of bodies is a product of both technology and history. It relies on technological support like freezing and preservation treatments, as well as the political perceptions of the time. Bodies in crystal coffins are not only proof of technological achievement but also mirrors of history.