The practice of burning paper money or paper model offerings at funerals in Chinese society can be traced back to the Tang dynasty (618-907 AD). Chinese people believe that when someone passes away, there is a death of the body, but the continues to live in the next world. This “next world” is a mirror of the human world, where the “residents” need places to live, money to spend, daily necessities, and entertainment just like when they were . Some of these necessities are buried with the deceased, while most others are “shipped” to them by burning paper models. As the ashes fly high, the offerings are by the residents in the next world.
Relatives of the deceased want to see their beloved family members live comfortably in the next world, so the paper houses are big and the cars are very , mostly Mercedes-Benzes. A complete package of paper offerings may include a couple of servants, cash, and credit cards so that the deceased will have all their satisfied.
These traditional paper offerings were sold only at specialty stores in the past. The style and variety of the products were . For example, “houses” looked all the same and were built by pasting paper around a bamboo frame, with of a door, windows, and a roof printed on it. There were no trendy, modern supplies to choose from. Now, the can be made on the Internet. And with the incorporation of new materials and designs, paper offerings come in many more varieties. The old one-style-fits-all houses have been by buildings that are fully equipped with decorations, furniture, and household appliances. Digital cameras, iPhones, and even skin care products are also . It seems that, with the help of a simple click, this old Chinese tradition has been given a face-lift.
