4104 – Spirit Money
- Physical description:
- Four artificial dollars, traditionally burned so that they can be used by the Spirits of the Dead. From China.
- Museum classification:
- Ceremony and Ritual
- Size:
- 65 x 150
- Information:
These examples of fake currency are used in funeral rituals for various Asian religions. Mourners burn the money in hopes of granting their deceased loved ones all the necessary resources in the afterlife. The burning of Spirit Money (an example of what is also known as Joss Paper) is also part of traditional Chinese deity or ancestor worship ceremonies during holidays. The tradition dates to as far back as about 1000 BCE, as archaeologists have found stone and bone imitations of money in tombs.
The term Spirit Money is sometimes Westernised as Hell Money. However, it has nothing to do with Western concepts of Hell. The Asian understanding of the afterlife is very different from Western versions. In Chinese belief, for instance, all who die will initially end up in the same place: the underworld of Diyu. Then, they are sent to Heaven, or to be punished, or to be reincarnated. The term "Hell", then, as used in "Hell Money", represents the neutral form for afterlife in general.
Various different currencies are used, in case the Spirit wants to travel to other countries.
See also MWM id. nos. 3836 and 3837.
- Resource:
- Object
- Materials:
- Paper
- Copyright ownership:
- MWM
These examples of fake currency are used in funeral rituals for various Asian religions. Mourners burn the money in hopes of granting their deceased loved ones all the necessary resources in the afterlife. The burning of Spirit Money (an example of what is also known as Joss Paper) is also part of traditional Chinese deity or ancestor worship ceremonies during holidays. The tradition dates to as far back as about 1000 BCE, as archaeologists have found stone and bone imitations of money in tombs.
The term Spirit Money is sometimes Westernised as Hell Money. However, it has nothing to do with Western concepts of Hell. The Asian understanding of the afterlife is very different from Western versions. In Chinese belief, for instance, all who die will initially end up in the same place: the underworld of Diyu. Then, they are sent to Heaven, or to be punished, or to be reincarnated. The term "Hell", then, as used in "Hell Money", represents the neutral form for afterlife in general.
Various different currencies are used, in case the Spirit wants to travel to other countries.
See also MWM id. nos. 3836 and 3837.