Dwee 5th Gear April 10, 2014 Share April 10, 2014 “What burning ‘paper money’ really meant those days.” During a funeral ceremony in ancient China, paper-made models of houses, sedan chairs, treasure chests, clothes, daily utensils, and even effigies of servants, were burnt as the cortege was leaving home for burial in the cemetery. The ORIGINAL meaning of such an act is to show everyone present that all former possessions of the deceased cannot be brought along to the next life. At one’s death, everything one had ever owned has to be left behind. The burning only emphasizes this message, as it is the most graphical, symbolic, and dramatic way of showing total loss! There is a Chinese saying that ‘no possessions can be brought along to the next existence; the only thing that follows one is his deeds, or ‘karma’ ‘ ( 万般带不去，唯有业随身 ). Furthermore, his relatives and friends only follow the deceased up to the grave, but soon turn to go home, leaving the dead alone in his tomb! Thus, the burning of cheaply-produced paper models and effigies served as an effective educational tool. Witnessing how fire consumes every ‘former possession’ of the deceased, even an illiterate peasant or young child was able to understand this sense of total relinquishment at death. Today, this practice is completely misunderstood by the majority of Chinese. Instead of the original meaning, paper-made models have been turned into “paper offerings” – with the mistaken thought that whatever one burns, his departed relatives will obtain in the netherworld! Hence people nowadays burn paper models of the latest i-Pads, smartphones, LED screens, and “paper money” in inflated sums in order to please the dead. All these will not help the departed ones at all. In fact, this misunderstanding will only harm the living by maintaining their ignorance and delusions. http://www.nalanda.org.my/what-burning-paper-money-really-meant/ ↡ Advertisement 16 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maxus-MIFA9 Supersonic April 10, 2014 Share April 10, 2014 At least we get to keep the 'real' house .... Imagin if we practise ancient times, have to burnt the house, properties and his possessions down together with the deceased .... 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dwee 5th Gear April 10, 2014 Author Share April 10, 2014 No leh , in ancient times the burning of cheaply-produced paper models and effigies served as an effective educational tool. They don't burn the actual possessions. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tigerwoods Turbocharged April 10, 2014 Share April 10, 2014 It is an accept fact in Chinese belief that when 1 dies, he will go straight to Hell, 18 levels of it. Its a very pessimistic view of death. Why can't we Chinese believe we can go straight to Heaven ? This is one of the reasons why I can't accept this belief even when I was a kid and in my later years found God and then everything makes perfect sense. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jman888 Moderator April 10, 2014 Share April 10, 2014 It is an accept fact in Chinese belief that when 1 dies, he will go straight to Hell, 18 levels of it. Its a very pessimistic view of death. Why can't we Chinese believe we can go straight to Heaven ? This is one of the reasons why I can't accept this belief even when I was a kid and in my later years found God and then everything makes perfect sense. i thought chinese also believe in its own heaven? 极乐世界 ? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickenfarm Turbocharged April 10, 2014 Share April 10, 2014 To each his own 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kangadrool Supersonic April 10, 2014 Share April 10, 2014 'cos everyone does some evils in one way or another, only matter of gravity. So, got to go through various stations for sentence and punishment. It is a very practical and "down to earth" thinking which I reckon there's some good motives behind this, rather than painting a nice picture of eternal haven just by doing something which may or may not exist. It is an accept fact in Chinese belief that when 1 dies, he will go straight to Hell, 18 levels of it. Its a very pessimistic view of death. Why can't we Chinese believe we can go straight to Heaven ? This is one of the reasons why I can't accept this belief even when I was a kid and in my later years found God and then everything makes perfect sense. 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jman888 Moderator April 10, 2014 Share April 10, 2014 No leh , in ancient times the burning of cheaply-produced paper models and effigies served as an effective educational tool. They don't burn the actual possessions. ancient time when the master die, they buried servant alive with him Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dwee 5th Gear April 10, 2014 Author Share April 10, 2014 ancient time when the master die, they buried servant alive with him They just burn the paper servants to him. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ender Hypersonic April 10, 2014 Share April 10, 2014 I also don't get it why would a paper iphone after being burnt will end up in hell as a full fledge working model. But since my father is doing it during qing ming, I just followed, don't ask question. 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matoonia 6th Gear April 10, 2014 Share April 10, 2014 It is an accept fact in Chinese belief that when 1 dies, he will go straight to Hell, 18 levels of it. Its a very pessimistic view of death. Why can't we Chinese believe we can go straight to Heaven ? This is one of the reasons why I can't accept this belief even when I was a kid and in my later years found God and then everything makes perfect sense. Not really. Actually Buddhism main "principle" is karma where you accumulate good karma and avoid doing harm to get a better rebirth. Actually if you are "neutral" you will reincarnate into human your next life. If you have more bad karma then good when you pass on, then will be "demoted" to go to hell, become ghost or animals. From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhism, Each rebirth takes place within one of five realms according to Theravadins, or six according to other schools. Naraka beings: those who live in one of many Narakas (Hells); Preta: sometimes sharing some space with humans, but invisible to most people; an important variety is the hungry ghost;[30] Animals: sharing space with humans, but considered another type of life; Human beings: one of the realms of rebirth in which attaining Nirvana is possible; Asuras: variously translated as lowly deities, demons, titans, antigods; not recognized by Theravāda (Mahavihara) tradition as a separate realm;[31] Devas including Brahmas: variously translated as gods, deities, spirits, angels, or left untranslated. 5 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tianmo Hypersonic April 10, 2014 Share April 10, 2014 It is an accept fact in Chinese belief that when 1 dies, he will go straight to Hell, 18 levels of it. Its a very pessimistic view of death. Why can't we Chinese believe we can go straight to Heaven ? This is one of the reasons why I can't accept this belief even when I was a kid and in my later years found God and then everything makes perfect sense. Hell is the first stop you one reports to when we die.......and we get dispatch to where we sld be send to base on our deeds when alive................if one has done good he gets to be reborn into a level higher up......... 18 levels of punishment are meant for ppl whom have done bad things............depending on the damage done......it is not pessimistic..............it is just reward and punishment.......... 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tianmo Hypersonic April 10, 2014 Share April 10, 2014 i thought chinese also believe in its own heaven? 极乐世界 ? 西方极乐世界........is not a chinese believe...............is a Buddhist believe.............and it is not heaven.......it is just a place more peaceful than 沙婆世界............a place where one can concentrate better in attaining enlightenment........... 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hamburger Hypersonic April 10, 2014 Share April 10, 2014 It is an accept fact in Chinese belief that when 1 dies, he will go straight to Hell, 18 levels of it. Its a very pessimistic view of death. Why can't we Chinese believe we can go straight to Heaven ? This is one of the reasons why I can't accept this belief even when I was a kid and in my later years found God and then everything makes perfect sense. i roamed for forty years and finally realized He has keep a watch on me all this while... when He wants me back nothing can deny Him. Yes, He chose me not i choose Him. 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vega Turbocharged April 10, 2014 Share April 10, 2014 I also don't get it why would a paper iphone after being burnt will end up in hell as a full fledge working model. But since my father is doing it during qing ming, I just followed, don't ask question. if no one burnt the Telco, how to use the iphone? 8 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tigerwoods Turbocharged April 10, 2014 Share April 10, 2014 Hell is the first stop you one reports to when we die.......and we get dispatch to where we sld be send to base on our deeds when alive................if one has done good he gets to be reborn into a level higher up......... 18 levels of punishment are meant for ppl whom have done bad things............depending on the damage done......it is not pessimistic..............it is just reward and punishment.......... hahahaa... reporting first in Hell... like Reservist like that... As for me, I'd like to be Innocent Until Proven Guilty. That is why I prefer to go Heaven first hahahaaa... if no one burnt the Telco, how to use the iphone? hahahaaa.... good one! Starhub singtel or M1 already made a contractual agreement with HellTel ... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tianmo Hypersonic April 10, 2014 Share April 10, 2014 hahahaa... reporting first in Hell... like Reservist like that... As for me, I'd like to be Innocent Until Proven Guilty. That is why I prefer to go Heaven first hahahaaa... going to hell is just reporting leh..............you are still Innocent Until Proven Guilty..................that is when and where one is been dispatch......... so you prefer to go Heaven first...........proven Guilty and drop to hell later???.............wahahahaha................. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrianli Hypersonic April 10, 2014 Share April 10, 2014 “What burning ‘paper money’ really meant those days.” During a funeral ceremony in ancient China, paper-made models of houses, sedan chairs, treasure chests, clothes, daily utensils, and even effigies of servants, were burnt as the cortege was leaving home for burial in the cemetery. The ORIGINAL meaning of such an act is to show everyone present that all former possessions of the deceased cannot be brought along to the next life. At one’s death, everything one had ever owned has to be left behind. The burning only emphasizes this message, as it is the most graphical, symbolic, and dramatic way of showing total loss! There is a Chinese saying that ‘no possessions can be brought along to the next existence; the only thing that follows one is his deeds, or ‘karma’ ‘ ( 万般带不去，唯有业随身 ). Furthermore, his relatives and friends only follow the deceased up to the grave, but soon turn to go home, leaving the dead alone in his tomb! Thus, the burning of cheaply-produced paper models and effigies served as an effective educational tool. Witnessing how fire consumes every ‘former possession’ of the deceased, even an illiterate peasant or young child was able to understand this sense of total relinquishment at death. Today, this practice is completely misunderstood by the majority of Chinese. Instead of the original meaning, paper-made models have been turned into “paper offerings” – with the mistaken thought that whatever one burns, his departed relatives will obtain in the netherworld! Hence people nowadays burn paper models of the latest i-Pads, smartphones, LED screens, and “paper money” in inflated sums in order to please the dead. All these will not help the departed ones at all. In fact, this misunderstanding will only harm the living by maintaining their ignorance and delusions. http://www.nalanda.org.my/what-burning-paper-money-really-meant/ I think this sentence is not true leh. Look at the 1st Emperor of China : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mausoleum_of_the_First_Qin_Emperor ↡ Advertisement 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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