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Taiwan - Spiritual Currency & Paper Gifts

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Fake foreign currencies (spiritual money). These are more in use by Chinese people, Taiwanese prefer 'eco-friendly' bamboo paper with gold or silver layers. These will be burned for gods (mostly the 'gods of wealth')

Across the global Chinese diaspora, burning paper offerings (joss paper) is meant to send ancestors, ghosts or gods gifts that they can use in the afterlife (elysium). Recently, traditional paper replicas of currencies, crafted bamboo paper with gold or silver layers have given way to modern items like paper electronic devices (phones/ tablets/ computers) washing machines, cars, tvs et cetera. There’s also passports with destination to ’heaven’, imitations of credit cards or membership cards for ’Star Cups’. In designated shops, devotees may even purchase fake McDonald’s products (well, even the whole McDonald’s outlet), cardboard snacks, papery cigarettes (the brand grandpa liked most), or spirits like Rémy Matrin or Hsnenesy Cognac.

Filename
Taiwan-Spiritual_Currency_for_gods-2.jpg
Copyright
Claudio Sieber
Image Size
5719x3818 / 10.6MB
Contained in galleries
Taiwan - Spiritual Currency
Fake foreign currencies (spiritual money). These are more in use by Chinese people, Taiwanese prefer 'eco-friendly' bamboo paper with gold or silver layers. These will be burned for gods (mostly the 'gods of wealth')<br /> <br /> Across the global Chinese diaspora, burning paper offerings (joss paper) is meant to send ancestors, ghosts or gods gifts that they can use in the afterlife (elysium). Recently, traditional paper replicas of currencies, crafted bamboo paper with gold or silver layers have given way to modern items like paper electronic devices (phones/ tablets/ computers) washing machines, cars, tvs et cetera. There’s also passports with destination to ’heaven’, imitations of credit cards or membership cards for ’Star Cups’. In designated shops, devotees may even purchase fake McDonald’s products (well, even the whole McDonald’s outlet), cardboard snacks, papery cigarettes (the brand grandpa liked most), or spirits like Rémy Matrin or Hsnenesy Cognac.