Joss paper

Joss paper
Traditional joss paper (金紙) sold in stacks at a store
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese金紙
Simplified Chinese金纸
Literal meaninggold paper
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu Pinyinjīnzhǐ
Alternative Chinese name
Traditional Chinese陰司紙
Simplified Chinese阴司纸
Literal meaningnetherworld paper
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu Pinyinyīnsīzhǐ
Yue: Cantonese
Jyutpingjam1 si1 zi2
Second alternative Chinese name
Traditional Chinese紙錢
Simplified Chinese纸钱
Literal meaningpaper money
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu Pinyinzhǐqián
Yue: Cantonese
Jyutpingzi2 cin4*2
Third alternative Chinese name
Traditional Chinese冥幣
Simplified Chinese冥币
Literal meaningshade/dark money
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu Pinyinmíng bì
Vietnamese name
Vietnamese alphabettiền vàng mã
tiền âm phủ
đồ mã
Hán-Nôm錢鐄𦄀
錢陰府
圖𦄀

Joss paper, also known as incense papers, are papercrafts or sheets of paper made into burnt offerings common in Chinese ancestral worship (such as the veneration of the deceased family members and relatives on holidays and special occasions). Worship of deities in Chinese folk religion also uses a similar type of joss paper. Joss paper, as well as other papier-mâché items, are also burned or buried in various Asian funerals, "to ensure that the spirit of the deceased has sufficient means in the afterlife". In Taiwan alone, the annual revenue that temples received from burning joss paper was US$400 million (NT$13 billion) as of 2014.[1]

  1. ^ Everington, Keoni (8 November 2016). "Monks gone wild: Fast and furious nuns, monks peering at porn". Taiwan News. Retrieved 17 November 2016.