Joss Paper - Traditional

Traditional

Joss paper is traditionally made from coarse bamboo paper, which feels handmade with many variances and imperfections, although rice paper is also commonly used. Traditional joss is cut into individual squares or rectangles. Depending on the region, Joss paper may be decorated with seals, stamps, pieces of contrasting paper, engraved designs or other motifs.

Different types of spirit money are given to distinct categories of spirits. The three main types of spirit money are cash (also known as copper), silver and gold. Cash monies are given to newly deceased spirits and spirits of the unknown. Gold spirit money (jin) is given to both the deceased and higher gods such as the Jade Emperor. Silver spirit money (yin) is given exclusively to ancestral spirits as well as spirits of local deities. River money is given to unrelated ghosts. These distinctions between the three categories of spirit money must be followed precisely to prevent confusion or insult of the spirits.

Jiujin (九金, lit. Nine gold): large paper squares with a golden metallic rectangle and printed with angled shaped and characters, burned for spiritual army officials and close relatives.

Kanjin (刈金, lit. Cut gold): large paper squares with a golden metallic rectangle, burned for higher level gods and spirits or any elder ancestors.

Xiaoyin (小銀, lit. Lesser silver): small paper squares with a silver metallic rectangle, burned for close relatives, ancestors, and the earth gods and spirits.

Jingyi (經衣, lit. Threads and clothes): A type of joss paper with items needed by the dead in "daily life", such as clothes, shoes, cups, and scissors printed on the surface.

Famous quotes containing the word traditional:

“The very natural tendency to use terms derived from traditional grammar like verb, noun, adjective, passive voice, in describing languages outside of Indo-European is fraught with grave possibilities of misunderstanding.”
—Benjamin Lee Whorf (1897–1934)

“The community and family networks which helped sustain earlier generations have become scarcer for growing numbers of young parents. Those who lack links to these traditional sources of support are hard-pressed to find other resources, given the emphasis in our society on providing treatment services, rather than preventive services and support for health maintenance and well-being.”
—Bernice Weissbourd (20th century)

“If the technology cannot shoulder the entire burden of strategic change, it nevertheless can set into motion a series of dynamics that present an important challenge to imperative control and the industrial division of labor. The more blurred the distinction between what workers know and what managers know, the more fragile and pointless any traditional relationships of domination and subordination between them will become.”
—Shoshana Zuboff (b. 1951)