Who does not know the proverb: "You can't take anything with you to the next world." And the Chinese are trying to refute it. It is customary for them to send gifts and even money to their ancestors. True, they are not real. With the help of this "currency", deceased relatives will be able to make their existence in the other world more comfortable, and at the same time will also help the living …
Hotels for deceased ancestors
On the Chinese Day of Commemoration of the Dead (Qingming), the relatives of the deceased go to the cemetery and present him with gifts. The offering depends on the size of the wallet and the degree of respect for the deceased.
The Chinese believe that the afterlife is not much different from ours, which means that the deceased must ensure a comfortable existence. He may need food, clothes, and various gadgets, and, of course, money … The latter are especially needed, since the afterlife is full of various officials keeping records of arrivals. And they, like earthly bureaucrats, are very fond of monetary rewards and can close their eyes to minor misdeeds for it …
If loved ones forget about offerings, then a sad fate awaits the deceased. Hungry, without money, tormented by thirst, they turn into evil spirits. The same awaits those who have not left behind direct descendants. Hence the famous oriental love of children, and reverence for dead ancestors …
In ancient times, real food, money, clothes, pets and even building materials for the afterlife were brought to the sacrificial fire … But the number of dead relatives is growing, and everyone needs to be gifted. This is how the custom of replacing real things and money with their counterparts, issued specifically for afterlife rituals, became widespread.
Gradually, such “substitutes” became so fashionable that the burning of genuine products and money began to be considered a bad omen. And if, through negligence, donate a “beyond the grave” bill to a living Chinese, then you may encounter a negative reaction, just as we react to a cemetery wreath presented instead of a bouquet …
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To the village to the dead …
The offerings to the deceased are to be burned. Together with the smoke, they will reach the addressee. And then grateful ancestors can bestow health and prosperity on their descendants, pacify quarrels in the family. They should even be asked to do so. After fulfilling an urgent request, it is necessary to present another gift, as a thank you …
It is important for the deceased to know from whom exactly the present came. For this, China produces special envelopes on which the name and surname of the sender is written. And to be faithful, practical Chinese mark the exact address, date and time of departure of the "afterlife" on the envelope.
Afterlife "bank"
Officially, this custom is not encouraged, but the “afterlife gift” business is constantly evolving. Originally, "otherworldly money" was made from gold or silver paper. Sometimes gold and silver bars were imitated using the same paper. Later, they began to use paper banknotes, and they even put registration numbers on them.
With the penetration of the Chinese market, dollars began to produce their imitation in the "afterlife" version. For plausibility, the banknotes indicate that the "Bank of Hell" issued them, and the portraits of American presidents are replaced by the image of the ruler of the other world - Dizang-wang.
On the reverse side, a building that looks like a temple is depicted. In fact, this is the Bank of Hell, which supposedly issues this kind of "currency" … The facade of the building is decorated with images of dragons.
The denomination of bills depends on their size. Sometimes they represent an imitation of ancient money on A4 sheets. And the denomination is usually indicated in millions and trillions. Paper for issuing such "money" can be either expensive, thin, silky, or cheap, made of rough cardboard. Thus, both the rich and the poor get the opportunity to endow their ancestors with millions of dollars. Moreover, such banknotes are inexpensive - from 30 cents to a dollar per pack. The pack, neatly wrapped in cellophane, contains 30-50 bills. And recently even “beyond the grave” VISA cards have appeared …
Ecstasy for the dead
All goods intended for the inhabitants of the afterlife are sold in specialized stores. There you can buy not only the "otherworldly" equivalent of money, but also a varied assortment of "afterlife gifts". Among them are imitations of cars, iPhones and other "luxury goods".
The producers' fantasy does not stop there. After all, the set of ritual items for the "afterlife" is not regulated in any way. So, on the shelves you can see paper equivalents of Viagra, ecstasy, condoms, images of girls of easy virtue. Well, what are the dead, such are the "souvenirs" …
Elena Gimadieva