Burning paper at the intersection of Ghost Festival
Burning paper at the intersection of Ghost Festival
Why choose a crossroads?
According to folk sayings, the crossroads are places where ghosts go from south to north. At the crossroads, it is for the convenience of mailing, because there are postmen in the underworld. Intersections, especially positive intersections, are positive in the southeast and northwest. No matter how far away the deceased relatives are, they can receive the banknotes of their living relatives. China's cultural history of thousands of years has continued in this way. Every year, New Year's Day, Tomb-Sweeping Day and October 1st of the lunar calendar are festivals to commemorate the lost relatives. Those close to home will burn on the grave, and those far away will choose to burn at the crossroads.
I hope the ghost can bring some paper money to my relatives.
Crossroads are places where yin and yang meet. It is said that the intersection is not only a place where Yang people pass by, but also a place that leads to the underworld at night. So all the relatives who pay homage to them burn money and paper at the crossroads, hoping that ghosts will lead them to the underworld and bring them to their dead relatives.
People and ghosts go different ways.
Metaphysics believes that when you burn clothes and paper money for your ancestors, you should try to choose one side of the crossroads or one side of the fork in the road. This is because it is convenient for ghosts to run around and send clothes to your ancestors as soon as possible. Some people think that ghosts should go their own way and never entangle with paper burners, which can also prevent other ghosts from harassing paper burners.
Burn it to who?
First, burn to the gods.
In addition to the temple view, it is also possible to choose clean outdoor places, not in dark and humid places such as back streets and alleys and near toilets. In addition, some people say that it is very unnecessary to write the name of honesty on paper. Burning incense is from the heart, it is to repair the victim's heart through external etiquette, not to do business with the gods. I'm afraid that the immortal might not receive the "gift" or make a mistake, so I might as well not burn it.
Second, burn to ancestors and relatives.
There are two situations, one is the intersection near home. Before incineration, you can write your ancestors' names on the money order, but don't write your descendants or your own names. If you want to write, you will generally refer to your descendants; The other is to burn in front of the ancestral grave or beside the coffin according to the rules.