What is the meaning of “paper offerings” ?

Paper offerings, according to Chinese traditions, are those ‘daily necessities’ offered to ancestors. Paper offerings were burnt in different occasions like during funerals. People want their ancestors to live happily in the other world, so they expressed their respect for their ancestors by burning paper offerings. They also hope that the ancestors would protect the offspring, so that they would enjoy luck, wealth and health in this world.

The categories of paper offerings:


1)Pitched paper: handmade. Binding by scissors, bamboo ceremonial paper and bamboo. Examples: funeral paper bound offerings, pinwheels, flower cannons, binding etc.

2)non- pitched paper : printed or painted paper examplesgold and sliver paper (hell money) , white money, clothing paper