Chinese burial money

A string of clay Ban Liang (半兩) cash coins discovered at the Mawangdui site in Changsha, Hunan

Chinese burial money (traditional Chinese: 瘞錢; simplified Chinese: 瘗钱; pinyin: yì qián) a.k.a. dark coins (traditional Chinese: 冥錢; simplified Chinese: 冥钱; pinyin: míng qián)[1][2] are Chinese imitations of currency that are placed in the grave of a person that is to be buried. The practice dates to the Shang dynasty when cowrie shells were used, in the belief that the money would be used in the afterlife as a bribe to Yan Wang (also known as Yama) for a more favourable spiritual destination. The practice changed to replica currency to deter grave robbers,[3][4] and these coins and other imitation currencies were referred to as clay money (泥錢) or earthenware money (陶土幣).[5][6][7]

Chinese burial money has been discovered dating as far back as 1300 BCE and remained popular throughout Chinese history until the advent of joss paper and hell money during the late 19th century CE.

  1. ^ Asian Art – Providing for the Afterlife: "Brilliant Artifacts" from Shandong. Banliang coins – Han dynasty (206 BCE–220 CE) – Bronze – Diam. (average) 2.3 cm – Collection of Shandong Provincial Museum (cat. #18A). Retrieved: 15 May 2018.
  2. ^ "King's 2,100-Year-Old Mausoleum, Vast Trove Of Artifacts Discovered In China". Owen Jarus – LiveScience (for the Huffington Post). 6 December 2017. Retrieved 15 May 2018.
  3. ^ "Lavish tomb buried for 2,100 years with gold and treasure discovered in China – Liu Fei, ruler of Jiangdu Kingdom, was left with every comfort for the afterlife". Lizzie Dearden (for The Independent). 5 August 2014. Retrieved 15 May 2018.
  4. ^ Ann Paludan – Chinese Tomb Figurines (Images of Asia) – ISBN 978-0195858174, ISBN 0195858174.
  5. ^ "Chinese Burial Money". Gary Ashkenazy / גארי אשכנזי (Primaltrek – a journey through Chinese culture). 20 March 2015. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
  6. ^ "Chinese Funeral Traditions". Lauren Mack (for ThoughtCo.). 23 April 2018. Retrieved 15 June 2018.
  7. ^ Nations Online Joss Paper. Joss Paper, also known as ghost or spirit 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. Retrieved: 15 May 2018.