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

References Adler, J.. Chinese Religious Traditions.

London: Laurence King Publishing, Ltd. Asian Joss Paper: Rubber Trouble.

Retrieved October 23, 2008 from http:rubbertrouble.com/joss.php

http:go1ogle.com Burning of Joss Paper. Retrieved October

23, 2008 from app.nea.gov.sghtdocs/article.asp?pid=720

Feuchtwang, S.. Popular Religion in China. Surrey: Curzon Press.

Gates, H.. Money for the Gods. Modern China, 13(3), 259-277. Retrieved from

JSTOR database. Hell bank notes - Library - Collection -

Studio - Collectors Software. Retrieved October 23, 2008 from [1]

Joss Paper. Retrieved October 24, 2008 from

online.orgChinese_Customs/joss_paper.htm Seaman, G.. Spirit Money: An

Interpretation. Journal of Chinese Religions.

Thompson, L.. Chinese Religion. Belmont, California: Wadsworth Publishing

Company.