hell banknotes

Eleven paper 'Hell' banknotes (50.000.000). Funeral use.

Used in contemporary Chinese religious worship, ‘spirit money’ is presented as an offering to the gods to keep them happy and to encourage them to grant good luck to the living. The money is transmitted to the Underworld by burning it. Spirit money, as well as food and clothing, are also given as offerings to the dead by his or her family (through the same burning process). It is believed that these items are used by the dead on their journey through the Underworld. The dead have to pass through a series of hells (or law courts) before they are allowed to reach “heaven” and spirit money is also used to bribe the guardians of these hells.

object
MUSEUM NUMBER
HC.1999.599
COLLECTION
MEASUREMENTS
overall: 60 x 120 mm
MATERIAL/TECHNIQUE
paper; pigment
CATEGORY
Education Handling Collection: Anthropology
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Collection Information

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