I. Why Worship Ancestors During the Ghost Festival?
Many people believe that after death, the soul disperses and has no influence on descendants. This is not the case. Although the physical body of ancestors disappears, their aura remains in the universe, forming a deep connection with their descendants—the closer the blood relation, the stronger the shared genetic makeup, and the smoother the communication of auras.
From a practical perspective, ancestor worship is a direct manifestation of "respecting ancestors and fulfilling filial piety." According to Taoist culture, this is an important ritual for the salvation of the deceased and "sending sustenance" to ancestors. Burning paper money (yuanbao) transforms this sentiment into a "universal currency" usable by ancestors in the "underworld," making it the core carrier of "filial piety in the afterlife."
People believe that ancestors and descendants are like "roots" and "fruit": we nourish the roots with paper money, allowing them to take firm root; ancestors, in turn, reward us with blessings, transforming them into nutrients to nourish the fruit, helping descendants to prosper and thrive. This two-way energy connection is the deep logic of ancestor worship culture.
II. Burning Incense Paper or Gold Bars? Why Do Taoist Priests Prefer Gold Incense Paper?
The ancient Taoist text *Ming Bao Ji* records: "The items used by ghosts are all different from those used by humans. Only gold and silk are universally accepted. However, even these are not as valuable as fakes. Using yellow-coated tin to make gold, and paper to make silk, is the most precious."
This directly points to the "hard currency" status of gold ingots—like gold in the human world, it is a recognized high-value currency in the "underworld." It is precisely because of this "universality" and "high value" that Taoist priests generally believe that burning gold ingots is the best choice to send "wealth" to ancestors.
III. What are the specific effects of burning ingots for ancestors?
In traditional understanding, ingots are not merely "money," but also carriers of energy and sentiment. Their functions can be summarized in six points:
1. Providing for necessities: Ensuring ancestors have money to purchase goods and maintain a stable life "on the other side";
2. Replenishing energy: Ingots act as "energy packs," replenishing the ancestors' aura and helping them find peace;
3. Facilitating two-way communication: Folk belief holds that ancestors need to expend "financial resources" to communicate in dreams, and ingots provide "support" for this connection;
4. Resolving karmic debts: If ancestors have unresolved karmic debts, ingots can serve as "repayment funds";
5. Strengthening protective abilities: Sufficient ancestral energy allows for stronger protection of descendants and guidance to prevent future mistakes;
6. Avoiding potential troubles: If ancestors lack money or resources, there is a risk of creating new karmic consequences through "scrambling," with descendants bearing seven-tenths of the impact. Burning ingots can mitigate this risk in advance.
IV. Ingot styles vary from place to place; do ancestors receive them? With the right method, ancestors can receive the ingot regardless of its design.
The key lies in two points: first, the "energy" contained within the ingot—this is the core factor determining its value in the "underworld"; second, the "escort" process—which must be presided over by a powerful sorcerer to ensure the ingot is successfully transformed into a universally accepted item in the "underworld" and accurately delivered to the ancestors.
V. Is there a difference between machine-made and handmade ingots? The core difference lies in the "energy" and "blessing," not in the manufacturing method itself.
Machine-made ingots depend on their origin: products from small private workshops are essentially ineffective due to a lack of energy infusion; those made in legitimate temples or Taoist monasteries, or specially "blessed" by those skilled in magic, can carry energy and function, regardless of whether they are Buddhist or Taoist. Handmade ingots are generally superior to ordinary machine-made ones. This is because during the folding process, people invest time and effort, infusing their own "intention" and "vital energy" into the ingot, making its energy more abundant. However, it's important to note that if mass-produced using home machines, the lack of heart or magical infusion will result in a weaker effect. In short, whether machine-made or handmade, the key to the value of the paper ingot lies in whether it's imbued with magical power. This is why most people hire a sorcerer with magical abilities to burn it on their behalf (careful discernment is necessary to avoid being misled by market irregularities).
VI. Why hire someone with magical abilities or a sorcerer to burn it? Many people believe that "burning more paper items is enough," but they overlook the difficulty of "delivery"—if burned by oneself, the wandering spirits around, having no descendants to offer sacrifices, will scramble for the paper ingots, leaving the ancestors with nothing. A sorcerer, on the other hand, will use a "memorial inscription" to clearly identify the sender and receiver of the wealth, and then invite deities or use their own magical power to "escort" it, ensuring the paper ingots are not intercepted and are accurately delivered to the ancestors, preventing the wealth from being lost. As the Buddhist brother said: If one's own merit is sufficient, there is no need to rely on burning ingots; however, when one's merit is insufficient, using this simple Taoist method to resolve karmic issues and solve problems is a safe choice as it does not violate the Way of Heaven, is effective quickly, and does not incur karmic consequences.
VII. Can I burn ingots at other times besides the Ghost Festival?
Of course, the effect of burning ingots is not limited by time.
In some special situations, ingots are even more important "assistance": for example, when a master helps someone achieve enlightenment or cure illness, a large number of ingots need to be burned to "dismiss" karmic creditors, otherwise it will harm the master by interfering with karma; when someone is seriously ill, in addition to reducing pain in the ritual formation, they also need to repent and burn ingots to gradually resolve karma; even for major events like "enlightenment," it is necessary to use ingot burning and rituals to appease the relevant departments in Heaven and the Underworld to ensure smooth progress. Many people don't understand that burning paper money (yuanbao) is truly effective. It's used to repay karmic debts, either by burning paper money, chanting scriptures, or by offering physical sacrifices to ward off bad luck, illness, madness, and various misfortunes.
Using the Master's power, combined with burning paper money, the effect is even better! Many fellow practitioners have already witnessed miracles! Things are not as simple as they seem; they require incense offerings!
The Master's factory has three machines constantly producing paper money, and the Master is constantly blessing these machines, "imbuing" them with energy. Three workers are also hired to help the Master burn many of these "high-energy" paper moneys every day… The Taoist priests at the entrance of the Wudang Mountain palace and the volunteers in the temples fold paper money year-round, which also testifies to its widespread effectiveness. The saying "If merit is insufficient, paper money can make up for it" perfectly illustrates the wondrous use of paper money in resolving karmic debts and accumulating blessings. It shouldn't be simply categorized as "feudal superstition." When the fires of the Ghost Festival are lit, the ritual of burning paper money transcends the superficial meaning of "sending money"—it is an expression of remembrance for loved ones, a reverence for the source of life, a continuation of folk culture, and, more importantly, a "promise" between descendants and ancestors that transcends life and death: We have never forgotten you, and we will always be grateful for the life and protection you gave us.
Finally, a reminder: please pay attention to safety when burning paper money, take proper fire prevention measures, and ensure this sentiment is conveyed safely. Leave professional tasks to professionals whenever possible.
The ashes of the paper money may drift away with the wind, but the piety and longing will forever be imprinted in our hearts, becoming a warm bond connecting the past and the future.
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