Photos of Interesting Things to Burn for Your Ancestors in Chinese Ceremonies

[brian]

Photos of Interesting Things to Burn for Your Ancestors in Traditional Chinese Ceremonies


On a recent trip to Hong Kong, I have visited many local markets. There, you could buy a variety of items including fresh vegetables, fish, herbal medicines, clothes, toys, and even power tools!

One of the interesting stores you would find sells incenses and candles in ceremonies to honour the gods and your deceased relatives. In Chinese, this type of store would be called a “paper bundling” store because you would find that many of items were made out of paper. You would find joss paper and papier-mâché used in ancestral worship ceremonies. What would you do with joss paper?

Sample Joss Paper

On a funeral or on certain holidays, you would burn the ornate joss paper, often folded into a traditional gold bar shape. The burning would be an offering to the deceased relatives, so that they could use it as a currency in the afterlife. It is a form of honouring the deeds, memories, and the sacrifice of the deceased. The spirits, possessing supernatural power, would be your “guardians,” protecting your family and guiding your path of life.

In addition to joss paper, you could also burn money printed by “The Bank of Hell” in astronomical amount, like $100,000,000. The money would complement the “gold bars” you are sending to the deceased relatives.

Sample Currency Notes from The Bank of Hell

In funerals and when you feel generous, you could burn few of the papier-mâché items to go along with the joss papers. Here are some of the creative items to outfit the deceased, so that they would live in a lavish, comfortable afterlife.

XO Liquor with Wine Glasses, Gold Coins, Gold Nuggets, Gold Bars, Gold Bracelet & Gold Jewellery

More Gold Bars, Coins, and Gold Jewellery

Shirts, Dresses, Suits & Accessories

Children's Clothing with Sandals and Snacks

Shoes & Heels

Running & Walking Shoes

Continued Below...

[brian]

Dry Goods of Delicacies Pack: Abalones (a Type of Molluscs), Swallows' Nests, and Shark Fins

Dim Sum

"Ferro Rocher" Chocolates

A 6-Pack of "San Miguel" Beer

A 6-Pack of "Coca Cola"

"Marlboro" and other Brands Cigarettes & Lighter

Digital Camera, Portable DVD Player, Mobile Cell Phone, & Digital Camcorder Set

"Nokia" and "Sony Ericsson" Mobile Cell Phones & "PalmOne" (or "PocketPC?") PDA with Chargers

Corded Phone with Colour Visual Call Display

Large-Screen Plasma Television!

Picture Hosting Courtesy of ImageShack.us

[akh0963]

these seem too pretty to burn. Great pictures!

[guxww]

I remember seeing these when I visited China.

[SuzyQ1955]

The plasma TV & Cell phone I can almost understand but the Coke won't the can blow up?