Hell bank note
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Hell bank notes (simplified Chinese: 冥币; traditional Chinese: 冥幣; pinyin: míng bì) are a special and more modern form of joss paper, an afterlife monetary paper offering used in traditional Chinese ancestor veneration, that can be printed in the style of western or Chinese paper bank notes.
In order to ensure that spirits have lots of good things in the afterlife, their relatives send them paper and papier-mâché presents by burning them, and one of the things that are usually sent to ancestors are Hell Bank Notes – money to spend in the afterworld.
In some Chinese mythology, the Hell Bank Notes are sent by living relatives to dead ancestors as a tribute to the King of Hell for a shorter stay or to escape punishment, or for the ancestors to use themselves in spending on lavish items in the afterlife. In these more modern times, the creation of Hell Bank Notes, credit cards, and checks has become very popular. The designs on these "credit cards" vary from the very simple (with just a basic "VISA" stamped on a gold cardboard card), to very elaborate (with custom artwork and names).
Regardless of the presentation, Hell Bank Notes are also known for their outrageously large denominations, ranging from $10,000, $100,000, $1,000,000 or even $500,000,000. In Singapore, it is extremely common to find 10 billion dollar banknotes in shops. On every bill, it features an image of the Jade Emperor, the presiding monarch of heaven in Taoism and his Western signature (Yu Wong, or Yuk Wong) countersigned by Yanluo, King of Hell (Yen Loo). On the back of each bill, it features a portrait of the bank of Hell.
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[edit] The name "hell"
In Chinese mythology, the name of hell does not carry a negative connotation. The hell they refer to is Di Yu (trad. 地獄, simp. 地狱; lit. "underground hold/court"). Diyu is a maze of underground levels and chambers where souls are taken to atone for their earthly sins.[1]
A popular story says that the word hell was introduced to China by Christian missionaries, who preached that all non-Christian Chinese people would "go to hell" when they die, and through a classic case of misinterpretation, it was believed that the word "Hell" was the proper English term for the Chinese afterlife, and hence the word was adopted.[2]
Furthermore, it is believed in Chinese mythology that all who die will automatically enter the underworld of Diyu to be judged before either being sent to heaven, to be punished in the underworld, or to be reincarnated. As such, the word "Hell" usually appears on these notes. However, some printed notes omit the word "hell" and sometimes will replace it with "heaven" or "paradise". These particular bills are usually found in joss packs meant to be burned for Chinese deities. They have the same design as the above picture but with different colors.
[edit] Designs
The most well known and commonly sold Hell Note is the $10,000 note that is styled after the old United States Federal Reserve Note. The front side contains, apart from the portrait of the Jade Emperor, the seal of the Hell bank. The seal consists of a picture of the Hell bank itself. Many tiny, faint "Hell Bank Note"s are scattered on the back in yellow. These are sold in either packs of 50 to 150, and are wrapped in cellophane.
Stores that specialize in selling ritual items, such as the Gods Material Shops in Malaysia, also sell larger and elaborately decorated notes that have a larger denomination than the usual $10,000 note. Some bills do not portray the Jade Emperor, and will portray other famous figures in Chinese mythology, such as the Eight Immortals, the Buddha, Yama, or images of dragons. Some even portray famous people who are deceased, such as US President John F. Kennedy (as noted below).
[edit] Consideration when using hell bank notes
Although in Western eyes hell bank notes may look like toys or superstitious items, there are considerations concerning the use of Hell Bank Notes that some Chinese people take seriously.
It is not advised to give a hell bank note to a living person as a gift (even as a joke); it is often considered as wishing the person's death - a grave insult to that person in Chinese tradition. Hell bank notes are usually kept places nobody can see (e.g. cupboards), as having these notes around in the house is considered bad luck.
When burning the notes, the notes are treated as real money: they are not casually tossed into the fire, but instead placed respectfully in a loose bundle. Alternatively in some customs, each bank note may be folded in a specific way before being tossed into the fire. This practice is an extension of the belief that burning real money brings bad luck.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
[edit] External links
- Hell Money - on BigWhiteGuy.com
- Hell Money - on LuckyMojo.com
