When the candle of life is extinguished, how do we talk to the deceased?
In the long history of human civilization, death has always been an eternal mystery. It is like an unbridgeable chasm that separates the living from the dead forever.
However, human intelligence and emotion are not willing to give up contact with their deceased loved ones. Driven by this desire, different cultures have developed their own unique funeral rituals and ways of paying tribute. Among them, the custom of burning paper money is particularly common in East Asian cultural circles.
Where did this ancient custom come from? What does it mean? How should we view this behavior in modern society? Let's explore this topic, which is both old and always new.
The origins of paper money can be traced back to ancient China. During the Shang and Zhou dynasties, people would place real coins in tombs for the deceased to use in the underworld. With the invention and popularization of papermaking, people began to replace real money with paper money. This practice not only saves resources, but also gives more symbolic meaning to the sacrificial ceremony.
However, as the times have changed, so has the connotation of this custom. In today's society, burning paper money is not only a religious act, but also a cultural phenomenon and psychological comfort.
From a psychological point of view, burning paper money can be understood as a mourning ritual. The American psychologist William Worden proposed the "four tasks of mourning" theory, which includes accepting the reality of loss, experiencing the pain of grief, adjusting to the environment without the deceased, and maintaining a lasting connection with the deceased in the continuation of life. The act of burning paper money satisfies precisely these needs, especially the last one.
Through this symbolic act, the living can feel that they are still caring for and supporting their deceased loved ones, thereby relieving their feelings of guilt and helplessness. At the same time, this process also gives people the opportunity to look back on the time spent with the deceased, express their inner feelings, and gradually accept the fact of losing a loved one.
From the perspective of cultural anthropology, burning paper money is a "transitional ritual". The French anthropologist Arnold van Gennep proposed that major life transitions are accompanied by specific rituals that help individuals and societies overcome the unease of change. Death is undoubtedly the biggest turning point in life, and funeral rituals such as burning paper money are an important means to help the living and society as a whole get through this transition.
However, with the development of society and the popularization of scientific knowledge, more and more people began to question the rationality of this practice. Some environmentalists point out that burning paper money in large quantities causes air pollution. It is also believed that such behavior promotes superstitious thinking and is contrary to the values of modern society.
In the face of these doubts, we need to look at this traditional practice with a more open and inclusive attitude. As the famous sociologist Durkheim put it, the essence of religious rituals lies not in their literal meaning, but in the social function and cultural significance they carry. Although the act of burning paper money cannot really pass on the items to the deceased, it satisfies the psychological needs of the living and maintains the cultural traditions of the society, which are the important significance of its existence.
In the modern world, we may be able to explore some greener and more modern ways to continue this tradition. For example, some places have started to use electronic ritual systems, where people can worship virtually online, preserving the traditional sense of ritual while avoiding the environmental concerns of physical burning. Still others choose to honor the deceased by donating money that would otherwise be used to buy paper money to charity, which is undoubtedly a good modern interpretation.
In addition, we can also understand and inherit the spiritual core of this custom from a deeper level. The essence of burning paper money is to miss and respect the deceased, and it is the continuation of the emotions between the living and the deceased. We can express this sentiment in other ways, such as regularly organizing and reviewing photos and relics of the deceased, telling stories about them, or participating in public welfare activities related to the deceased's aspirations.
It is important to note that while burning paper money is a common practice in some cultures, not all cultures have such a tradition. In Western societies, it is more common for people to commemorate the deceased by laying flowers, lighting candles, or holding memorial services. This reminds us that different cultures have their own unique ways of coping with the universal topic of death. Understanding and respecting these differences helps us to look at life and death issues more openly and inclusively.
In discussing the custom of burning paper money, we can't help but ponder a deeper question: What exactly are humans looking for in the face of death? Is it the fear of the unknown that drives us to create rituals to soothe our inner turmoil? Or does the eternal desire for life make us reluctant to accept the finality of death?
The French philosopher Pascal once said, "Man is a reed of thought." "In the face of the vastness of the universe and eternal time, humanity seems so small and fragile. However, it is our thoughts and emotions that allow us to transcend the limitations of the physical body and pursue eternity on a spiritual level. The custom of burning paper money is, to some extent, the embodiment of this pursuit.
At the same time, this custom also reflects the unique view of life and death in Eastern culture. In traditional Chinese culture, it is believed that death is not the end, but a transformation of the form of life. The idea of "life and death as one" allows people to face death with a more peaceful mind, while rituals such as burning paper money build an imaginary bridge between the living and the dead.
We also need to be wary of the tendency to over-mystify or commercialize such rituals. Some unscrupulous traders take advantage of people's longing for their loved ones to make and sell all kinds of strange "dead objects", such as paper houses, cars, and even computers and mobile phones. This practice not only promotes superstitious thoughts, but also desecrates sincere feelings for the deceased to some extent.
In this era of rapid technological development, we should perhaps rethink how to better commemorate the deceased and pass on culture. For example, we can use modern technology to create digital memorials that allow future generations to "walk" into the lives of the deceased through virtual reality. We can set up an online memorial platform so that relatives and friends from different parts of the world can remember the deceased together. We can also preserve the DNA information of the deceased through genetic technology, so that their biometrics can be preserved permanently.
We need to realize that whether it is burning paper money or any other form of memorial, the core of it is to express love and remembrance for the deceased. True remembrance is not in form, but in how we carry on the spirit of the deceased, fulfill their unfulfilled wishes, and live the way they want us to live. As the poet Rabindranath Tagore said, "Death is not to extinguish the light, but to extinguish the light, because the dawn has come." "
In the face of death, we may never be able to fully unravel its mystery. However, through continuous thinking, discussion and practice, we can gradually cultivate a more mature and intelligent view of life and death. Whether it is burning paper money or other forms of sacrifice, it should become an opportunity for us to think about the meaning of life, cherish the present, and create value. Let us work together to create a more modern and meaningful way of commemorating the deceased, on the basis of respecting tradition, so that the spiritual light of the deceased will always illuminate our way forward.