Joss paper, also known as ghost money, are sheets of paper and/or paper-crafts
made into burnt offerings which are common in various Asian religious
practices including the veneration of the deceased on holidays and special
occasions. Joss paper, as well as other papier-mâché items, are also burned in
various Asian funerals, to ensure that the spirit of the deceased has lots of
good things in the afterlife. Traditional
Joss paper is traditionally made from coarse bamboo paper, which feels
handmade with many variances and imperfections, although rice paper is
also commonly used. Traditional joss is cut into individual squares or
rectangles. Depending on the region, Joss paper may be decorated with seals,
stamps, pieces of contrasting paper, engraved designs or other motifs.
Different types of spirit money are given to distinct categories of spirits.
The three main types of spirit money are cash, silver and gold. Cash monies are
given to newly deceased spirits and spirits of the unknown. Gold spirit
money is given to both the deceased and higher gods such as the Jade Emperor.
Silver spirit money is given exclusively to ancestral spirits as well as spirits
of local deities. These distinctions between the three categories of spirit
money must be followed precisely to prevent confusion or insult of the
spirits. Contemporary
More contemporary or westernized varieties of Joss paper include paper
currency, credit cards, cheques, as well as papier-mâché clothes, houses, cars,
toiletries, electronics and servants. The designs on paper items vary from the
very simple to very elaborate. In 2006, in response to the burning of
"messy sacrificial items" according to Dou Yupei, China's deputy minister for
civil affairs, the ministry intended to ban at least the more extreme forms of
joss paper. = "Hell Bank Notes" =
The most well known joss paper item among Westerners is the Hell Bank Note.
Hell Bank Notes are sent by living relatives to dead ancestors as a tribute
to the King Yanluo for a shorter stay or to escape punishment, or for the
ancestors to use themselves in spending on lavish items in the afterlife.
The word "hell" may have been derived from:
What was preached by Christian missionaries, which told the Chinese
that non-Christians go to hell when they die.
A translation of the word "hell" that matches the pre-existing Chinese concept
of "underground hold/court," which in Taoist cosmology had been considered the
initial destination of the soul of the dead regardless of his or her virtue
during life. Hell Bank Notes are also known for their
enormous denominations ranging from $10,000 to $5,000,000,000. The bills
almost always feature an image of the Jade Emperor on the front and the
"headquarters" of the Hell Bank on the back. Another common feature is the
signature of both the Jade Emperor and the lord of the Underworld.
Use Spirit money is most often used for
venerating those departed but has also been known to be used for other purposes
such as a gift from a groom's family to the bride's ancestors. Spirit money has
been said to have been given for the purpose of enabling their deceased
family members to have all they will need or want in the afterlife. It has
also been noted that these offerings have been given as a bribe to Yanluo to
hold their ancestors for a shorter period of time.
Venerating the ancestors is based on the belief that the spirits of the dead
continue to dwell in the natural world and have the power to influence the
fortune and fate of the living. The goal of ancestor worship is to ensure the
ancestor's continued well-being and positive disposition towards the living
and sometimes to ask for special favours or assistance. Rituals of ancestor
worship most commonly consist of offerings to the deceased to provide for
their welfare in the afterlife which is envisioned to be similar to the earthly
life. The burning of spirit money enables the ancestor to purchase
luxuries and necessities needed for a comfortable afterlife.
Many temples have large furnaces outside the main gate to burn joss paper.
Folding the paper is an important part of the burning ceremony as it
distinguishes joss paper from actual money. Burning actual money would be
untenable for most people, and is also considered unlucky in Asian cultures.
The Joss paper may be folded into specific shapes which are meant to bring
on good luck and people tend to burn lavish amounts to ensure that the
offering is well received. Every fifteen days business owners in
Taiwan burn spirit money in red braziers and set out offering tables on the
sidewalk for both Gods and ghosts. This coincides with an ancient calendrical
system divided into twenty-four fifteen day periods.
A simplified modern Chinese offering is made by drawing a circle with chalk on
the sidewalk or the pavement between residential buildings and burning the
paper offering within the circle. This is quite common in all Chinese cities
and villages today. Due to environmental concerns,
contemporary Joss paper burners have now been fitted with a special cover which
eliminates the spread of burning ashes. The cover allows enough oxygen in to
ensure that all of the offering are completely burned.
Spirit money is most commonly burned, but may also be offered by being held
into the wind or placed into the deceased's coffin at funeral ceremonies.
Depending on the type and status of the deity being worshiped, paper with metal
foil or with ink seals of various sizes may be burned. Different regions of the
world have preferences on the type of Joss paper that is used. For instance,
Hell Bank Notes are commonly found in regions where Cantonese populations
dominate but are rarely seen or used in places such as Taiwan or Macau, which
use "gold paper". The Joss paper is folded in half, or bought pre-folded
into a shape of gold ingots before being burned in an earthenware pot or a
specially built chimney. Joss paper burning is usually the last performed
act in Chinese deity or ancestor worship ceremonies. The papers may also be
folded and stacked into elaborate pagodas or lotuses.
In Taoist rituals, the practice of burning joss paper to deities or
ancestors is acceptable. Health Concerns
There are many health concerns caused from the burning of joss paper. The
by-products are toxic, such as lead, mercury, arsenic and many other.
Symptoms can include nausea, diarrhoea and permanent brain damage.
See also Ancestor worship
Ghost Ghost Festival
Hell money Joss house
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