Joss paper

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Joss paper

Joss paper (simplified Chinese: 金纸; traditional Chinese: 金紙; pinyin: Jīnzhǐ; literally "gold paper"/ Vietnamese: vàng mã in the North or giấy tiền vàng bạc in the South), 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 papier-mâché clothes, houses, cars, toiletries, and servants. In 2006, China's deputy minister for civil affairs, Dou Yupei, said he intended to ban at least the more extreme forms of joss paper, such as MP3 players, planes, boats and even paper condoms, paper prostitutes and Viagra. ^[1]

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" shaped like ingots or towers. The Joss paper is folded in half, or folded into a shape of a gold ingot 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:

Incense sticks ("Joss sticks")
Candles
Joss Paper (either Hell Bank Notes or "gold paper")
A small food item

In Taoist rituals, the practice of burning joss paper to deities or ancestors is acceptable. However in Buddhism, particularly in the Pure Land Buddhist sect, the practice of burning joss paper to the deceased is strongly discouraged, as the deceased would have no use for material possessions upon reaching either a heaven or hell realm, and that by not burning joss paper would also help conserve paper used to print joss paper and to save money, time, and the environment.