Backlash hits city over ban on ‘ghost money’, paper offerings for ancestors

A city that banned the manufacture and sale of “ghost money” and other paper funeral products used to worship ancestors was told the rule was “too straightforward and rude”.

Burning paper gifts for the dead, such as miniatures of gold bars, cars, houses, animals and even helpers, is an important traditional ritual for Chinese people when they visit the graves of their ancestors.

As well as a way of paying respects, burning paper gifts is also believed to ensure that dead loved ones would be wealthy in the afterlife.

Ahead of this year’s Ching Ming Festival, or grave-sweeping festival, which fell on April 4, the authorities in Nantong, in the eastern coastal province of Jiangsu, came under scrutiny after they outlawed the making or selling of paper offerings.

While branding the offerings a “symbol of feudal superstition”, the authorities said the main reason for the ban was to protect the environment and prevent fires, news outlet thecover.cn reported.

Anyone who violated the rule would have their products confiscated and be fined up to three times their income, the local civil affairs and market supervision authorities said on March 25.

The Nantong government said the public should commemorate their ancestors using “green and environmental means” such as giving flowers, planting trees and writing letters.

The order from the city sparked an outpouring of criticism on mainland social media, with the state-run China National Radio (CNR) joining the discussion.

“Burning paper money for ancestors is not a feudal superstition, it is what Chinese people have done to mourn their ancestors for a very long time,” the media outlet said in an editorial on March 27.

“You can call on the public to adopt environmental ways, but simply banning people from burning paper money is too straightforward and rude.

“This management style is not practical and lacks human warmth. We suggest the authorities be prudent when making this order,” CNR said.

Banning people from burning paper money is too straightforward and rude STATE-RUN CHINA NATIONAL RADIO

“We have noticed the reaction on the internet, and will research whether or not we need to change the rule,” an official from the Nantong municipal civil affairs authority said.

Nantong was not the only city in China to run counter to the long-held Ching Ming Festival practice.

In past years, other mainland cities including Beijing, Chongqing, Tianjin in the north and Liaoyang of Liaoning province had introduced similar rules.

“It’s not superstition. It’s our belief. It is a method of communication between us and our dead relatives,” said one person on Douyin.

“It’s a cultural tradition of China. We inherited this practice from our ancestors. I don’t support cancelling this custom,” another said.