Joss paper

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Joss paper

Joss paper (Simplified Chinese: 金纸; Traditional Chinese: 金紙; pinyin: Jīnzhǐ; literally "gold paper"), also known as ghost money, are sheets of paper that are burned in traditional Chinese deity or ancestor worship ceremonies during special holidays. Joss paper is also burned in traditional Chinese funerals.

Joss paper is traditionally made from coarse bamboo paper, although rice paper is also commonly used. Traditional joss is cut into individual squares or rectangles. Each square of paper has either a thin piece of square foil glued to its center or it may be endorsed with a red ink seal from a traditional Chinese seal.

More contemporary or westernized varieties of Joss paper include Hell Bank Notes, paper credit cards, as well as paper mache clothes, houses, cars, toiletries, and even servants. In 2006, China's deputy minister for civil affairs, Dou Yupei, said he intended to ban at least the more extreme forms, but today, joss paper models of laptops, desktops, MP3 players, planes, boats and even paper condoms and Viagra may be found.^[1]

Depending on the type and status of the deity being worshipped, 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 Macao, which uses "gold paper". The Joss paper is folded in half 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.

Joss paper is typically sold near Chinese temples in small packs or bundles. Many temples in Hong Kong or Taiwan sell "worship" packages, which contain: