During the Hungry Ghost Festival, it’s common to see small, makeshift alters set up on the curbside outside of homes, and people burning money and paper models of various luxury goods. This is “ghost money”, also known as “joss paper”, jīnzhǐ 金纸; (gold paper), or míng bì 冥币 (shade money).
Nowadays, ghost money can come in many forms. Besides banknotes, people can burn small paper coins, and even gold ingots made out of paper! Traditional Chinese beliefs teach that burning ghost money is the way to send it to one’s deceased ancestors in the afterlife.
You can even buy clothing!
People burn joss paper during the Hungry Ghost Festival as gifts for their ancestors and as offerings for ghosts and gods.
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