How to Write the Paper Bundles Used in the Cold Clothes Festival?
The paper bundles usually consist of a large paper bag, one chi in height and one and a half chi in width. A plain white bundle has a blue label in the middle to write the name of the deceased. A decorated bundle is a large white or red paper bag printed with ink line drawings. The four sides have a black border with the phonetic translation of the Buddhist "Sutra for the Departed." In the center is a lotus seat plaque for writing the name of the deceased.
On the upper right corner of the plaque is printed "“One set of gold and silver, paper clothes”", and according to the situation, you can add text such as "“Offered on Qingming of the Year Wu Zi”" or "“Offered for the Anniversary”" below. On the lower left side is where the name of the person offering the bundle is written. There are two figures dressed in ancient costumes, said to be Yang Jiaei and Zuo Botao from the Sui Dynasty (appointed as guardians of the tomb).
Each bundle also includes a four-inch square woodblock print of the "“Mortal Postal Service”" stamp. After placing the paper money and clothes, it is pasted on the back of the bundle.
On the upper right corner of the plaque is printed "“One set of gold and silver, paper clothes”", and according to the situation, you can add text such as "“Offered on Qingming of the Year Wu Zi”" or "“Offered for the Anniversary”" below. On the lower left side is where the name of the person offering the bundle is written. There are two figures dressed in ancient costumes, said to be Yang Jiaei and Zuo Botao from the Sui Dynasty (appointed as guardians of the tomb).
Each bundle also includes a four-inch square woodblock print of the "“Mortal Postal Service”" stamp. After placing the paper money and clothes, it is pasted on the back of the bundle.
When Is It Appropriate to Burn the Paper Bundles?
1. For poor families without a burial ground, after death, people were buried in the "unmarked graves." Over time, the exact location of the grave could not be found.
2. Those who had a burial ground and a grave keeper (allowing the grave keeper to cultivate land outside the "grave plot" without paying or paying less rent, thus replacing wages) would normally give the grave keeper some money when visiting the grave and leave all the leftover offerings for the grave keeper to enjoy. The grave keeper would symbolically return gifts of local specialties (such as chestnuts, persimmons, black dates, peanuts, sweet potatoes, and sticky flour). However, when the family became poor, due to face, they would no longer go to the graveyard.
3. Some people from other regions came to Beijing to work or do business and did not return home for years, making it inconvenient to make a special trip back to visit the grave.
4. Those who became prostitutes and could not return to their hometowns to visit the grave.
5. Even though they were local residents with a burial ground, due to official duties, they couldn't take time off. Also, those who worked hard or ran small businesses needed to earn money daily and couldn't stop working to visit the grave.
6. During times of great turmoil, when warlords were fighting and there was chaos and bandits were rampant in rural areas, going to the suburbs to visit the grave could be dangerous.
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2. Those who had a burial ground and a grave keeper (allowing the grave keeper to cultivate land outside the "grave plot" without paying or paying less rent, thus replacing wages) would normally give the grave keeper some money when visiting the grave and leave all the leftover offerings for the grave keeper to enjoy. The grave keeper would symbolically return gifts of local specialties (such as chestnuts, persimmons, black dates, peanuts, sweet potatoes, and sticky flour). However, when the family became poor, due to face, they would no longer go to the graveyard.
3. Some people from other regions came to Beijing to work or do business and did not return home for years, making it inconvenient to make a special trip back to visit the grave.
4. Those who became prostitutes and could not return to their hometowns to visit the grave.
5. Even though they were local residents with a burial ground, due to official duties, they couldn't take time off. Also, those who worked hard or ran small businesses needed to earn money daily and couldn't stop working to visit the grave.
6. During times of great turmoil, when warlords were fighting and there was chaos and bandits were rampant in rural areas, going to the suburbs to visit the grave could be dangerous.
Destiny calculation is not what we call superstition. Destiny calculation also has very solid basis. Want to know your destiny? Click on the excellent calculations below to see how your destiny is.
