Superstition vs Tradition: Nantong’s Ghost Money Ban Sparks Debate

In the lead up to Qingming Festival (Tomb Sweeping Day), which fell on April 4, authorities in Nantong, East China’s Jiangsu Province announced a ban on the production and sale of joss paper, also known as ghost money, and other paper offerings to be burned for the deceased. The ban was justified on the grounds that these items symbolize “feudalistic superstition.”

The burning of joss paper and paper offerings has long been a form of ancestral worship in China. During visits to the tombs of relatives, people typically burn joss paper along with paper replicas of various items such as houses, cars, furniture, electronics and gold bars, wishing for the well-being and comfort of their loved ones in the afterlife.

Nantong’s joss paper ban ignited heated debates on social media over superstition and traditional culture. Many netizens criticized the government for equating a centuries-old cultural practice with outdated superstition. Supporters of the ritual argue that burning joss paper is a gesture of love, respect and reverence toward ancestors, emphasizing its roots in folk belief rather than superstition.

Responding to the backlash, Wan Zhiguang, secretary general of the Municipal Funeral Association of Nantong, defended the ban in a local newspaper article on March 27, citing air pollution concerns and fire risks caused by the burning of paper offerings. Some experts shared the stance of many netizens, condemning the ban as a typical example of rigid, negligent and hasty public governance.