What is the significance of ghost money?
Ghost money, also known as ghost paper or ghost notes, is a traditional offering cremated during folk worship of the gods, spirits, and ancestors. It serves as money for the deceased's use in the afterlife.
🌷Today, we'll discuss how to use ghost money, how to purchase and select it, precautions for burning it, and how to store it.
1. Usage
✔️Burning: The most common way to dispose of ghost money is by burning it. The smoke it creates can evoke images of the underworld. This custom may have been influenced by Buddhism, as Indians believed that fire could be used to convey offerings to spirits.
✔️Other Methods: Besides burning, ghost money can be buried in the ground, hung on a tree, or thrown into water, but burning is the most common method.
2. Purchasing and Selection
🔅Choose genuine products: When purchasing ghost money, choose legitimate channels to avoid counterfeit or illegally printed US dollar images.
III. Precautions During Burning
👉 Time of Day: The best time to burn paper money is at night, as the daytime's stronger yang energy makes this practice less suitable. However, in designated locations like cemeteries, burning paper money can be done either day or night.
👉 Demeanor: Maintain a solemn and respectful attitude during the burning process. Avoid playful behavior, playful behavior, or anger, as this is disrespectful to the ancestors.
👉 Complete Burning: The paper money must be completely burned before leaving the burning area, ensuring that the deceased receives the full "money."
👉 Avoid Paper Ashes: Avoid ashes and piles of paper ash encountered on the road. Do not step on them. If you cannot avoid them, carefully walk through them and express your apology.
👉 Do not look back: After burning paper money, do not look back to avoid unnecessary trouble or seeing something unpleasant.
IV. Storage and Taboos
🌟Storage Location: Hell money should not be kept in conspicuous areas at home, nor should it be played with. If you are not in a hurry to use it, it should be placed in an inconspicuous, high place to prevent moisture and show respect to the ancestors.
🌟Avoid prolonged storage: Hell money should not be stored for long periods of time. After purchase, it should be taken to the cemetery and burned as soon as possible to prevent the ancestors from remembering it.
