Chinese joss paper a new global trend to commemorate ancestors

Traditional Chinese joss paper – paper craft burnt as an offering for ancestors – is becoming popular among people outside China looking for a way to pay their respects to their ancestors or deceased loved ones.

A man with a pile of joss paper money. [Photo: provided to China Plus]

Joss paper is usually burnt at funerals or during China's traditional ghost festival, which falls on August 15 this year. The paper is most commonly printed to resemble money, or fashioned into items such as houses, cars, household appliances, even the latest model smart phones. Burning these paper items is believed to help one's ancestors enjoy prosperity in the afterlife.

This tradition has been celebrated in China for thousands of years. Although it's most popular among older people in rural areas, even in China's biggest cities you can catch sight of people burning joss offerings during the ghost festival. But the practice has been discouraged by many local governments due to mounting concerns about air pollution and the potential fire hazard.

Some of the joss paper items for sale online. [Photo: provided to China Plus]

Some Westerns have even taken up the tradition of using joss paper to worship their ancestors. Data released by AliExpress, Alibaba's international e-commerce platform, shows that buyers of joss objects can be found in the United States, Russia, and in many parts of Europe. Some English-speaking web users have even filmed videos to teach others the traditional Chinese etiquette about how to properly worship the ancestors. Joss items commonly bought by people outside China include cash, cars, smart phones, and airplanes.

Some of the joss paper items for sale online. [Photo: provided to China Plus]

Ninety percent of the joss paper produced in China comes from a small village called Mibei in Hebei Province. The village has embraced e-commerce, turning this traditional craft into an industry worth billions of yuan each year.