Paper offering: fast facts

Traditional paper handicraft for a libation ceremony displayed in Nanhua Temple in Shaoguan, a prefecture-level city in northern Guangdong Province. Photo: CFP
 

The practice of burning paper offerings reportedly first appeared around 386 AD at the start of the Wei Dynasty when Chinese people started burning paper money at funerals.

It became a convention by the Jin Dynasty (265-420) and a flourishing new business by Tang Dynasty (618- 907). By the end of Qing Dynasty (1644-911), making paper offerings was an independent craft pursued by generations of families.

Paper offering is practiced not just at funerals but also for memorial days, especially Chinese New Year, Tomb Sweeping Day and Double Ninth Festival.

Opinions vary on the Chinese mainland about the usefulness and religious, superstitious and secular purpose of the paper practice.

For

If birth can be seen as reincarnation, then so is death. The circle of life continues through the earth as a symbol of maternity. To be buried in earth is thus to be reborn.

"Burning paper money is not only an act to venerate the dead, but also a practice that roots in the longing for new life. This explains why the practice of 'burning offering' has survived for thousands of years in China," wrote Li Xianglin in "Longings in Veneration of the Dead: An Alternative Reading of 'Burning Offering' " in Ethnic Arts Quarterly.

"Paper offering employs auspicious materials that can protect the dead and shelter their offspring from misfortunes. It is often taken to be a superstitious ceremonial practice without realizing the deeply rooted cultural meaning behind," wrote Ran Fan in "Sacrificial Offering and Auspicious Material: A Preliminary Comment on Paper Money and the Psychology of the Traditional Funeral Custom" in the Journal of Guangxi University for Nationalities.

"Burning paper offering is not forbidden in Hong Kong ... Why should we set rules on the practice? Why should we eradicate the tradition from our life?" said "Charles", a participant in the forum discussion on http://shequ.enorth.com.cn/system/ 2009/09/04/004188015.shtml

Against

ires sparked by burning paper offerings have been reported around the time of the Tomb Sweeping Festival and the Double Ninth Festival, creating safety problems and doing great damage to the local environment.

According to statistics released by the Fire Control Sector of Forestry, 60 percent of fires in the woodlands of Lanzhou, capital city of Gansu Province, were caused by burning offerings, especially joss sticks placing 3.6 million mu – 240,000 hectares – of forest in danger, according to Global Environmental Protection Online at http:// www.etccn.com/info/detail/38-1082. html

The Public Security Bureau of Forestry this year publicized a letter for tomb sweepers, advocating alternative practices during their memorials, such as placing flowers or planting trees instead.

Bringing flowers or planting trees is not as popular with the public.

Ms. Li, a university teacher from Chenguan district of Lanzhou expressed her opposition, saying it would be very difficult to change a tradition handed down for so many generations that she did not consider a superstition. Bringing flowers and planting trees were not promising alternatives, in her opinion, as no one will care for the plants after the festival.

Profits from selling paper offerings reached 200-300 percent a few years ago, according to the Shenyang-based Huashang Morning Post, vendors earning thousands of yuan at the festival. After authorities banned production and distribution of paper offerings in Shenyang, they could make 100 percent profits from their secret trade in the capital city of Liaoning Province.

"This year, we observed people playing memorial music on their Mp4s or venerating the dead with handmade paper cards," Bai Feng reportedly wrote in the Ningxia-based Yinchuan Evening News.

"These acts mark a change of ideas in the Chinese people, a willingness to mourn for the dead in a more civilized way.

"We are firmly against superstitions and uncivilized practices."

Production and distribution of paper money, paper offerings and fragrant candles were forbidden for the Tomb Sweeping Festival in Kunming, capital city of Yunnan Province, according to the Xinhua News Agency.
The civil administrative and related sections of industry and commerce carried out confiscation and fines of up to three times the value.

Global Times

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