HONG KONG — A campaign in southeastern China to phase out burials has led to widespread complaints about the destruction of thousands of coffins and the exhumation of at least one corpse.

The province of Jiangxi had been promoting “burial reform,” and encouraging residents to have their dead cremated rather than buried. The goal is to reduce the use of land for graveyards and spending on expensive coffins.

Such changes have been promoted in several places around China in recent years, and often clash with traditional ideas about the treatment of dead bodies.

On Wednesday, the Jiangxi provincial government backtracked somewhat. It did not apologize but instead blamed overzealous local officials, saying some counties and towns “were excessive in handling matters.”