Joss Paper and Funeral Envelope

Death and dying is highly taboo in Chinese culture – more so around the Lunar New Year, when even uttering words that sound similar to “death” could get your Chinese kindred and even friends staring daggers in your direction. 

So when UK newspaper The Observer used joss paper – an offering traditionally burned for deities as well as the dearly departed – as a prop in a piece about dishes for the Lunar New Year, many were aghast, shocked and stunned. 

The article, published on the website shared with its sister publication The Guardian on January 16, shares recipes such as buckwheat noodles and char siu pork. 

In the photo (left) accompanying the recipe for pork and crab dumplings, the plate of pan-fried dumplings with spicy sour sauce is accompanied by a few Chinese feng shui coins which symbolize wealth and good luck as well as a single piece of joss paper. 

FYI, along with other paper offerings, heaps of flaming joss paper are a common sight at Chinese funerals and during the annual hungry ghost festival – but certainly never on festive occasions like the Lunar New Year. 

Culture journalist Vivienne Chow took to Twitter on the same day to point out the faux pas while explaining the significance of joss paper as “hell money” that’s meant for the deceased in Chinese culture. 

Joss paper (right) comes in a variety of designs for different purposes – including worshiping specific deities and paying respects to ancestors. 

It’s unclear whether the type of joss paper featured by The Observer was meant for deity worship or an offering to the deceased. 

Nonetheless, many were appalled at the blooper. This flub drew thousands of retweets and online reactions – and the boo-boo kickstarted intense discourse surrounding yet another instance of cultural ignorance on the part of Westerners. 

In particular, many Twitter users are highlighting how Chinese cultural elements are too often repackaged for Western consumption and “aesthetics”, without paying due attention to their cultural context. 

Anyway, I read that the offending image has since been amended to remove joss paper from the dumpling shot. 

Still, on the same topic, BBC Food's website features a recipe for "Lo mein with scallops and Tenderstem broccoli" offered by chef and founder of School of Wok Jeremy Pang, detailing how to make the dish in just seven steps. The finished dish, however, was accompanied by a red packet and an envelope given out at funerals, which even contains the name "吉儀" on the front of the envelope!

Traditionally, in Chinese custom, attendees of a funeral will receive the envelope after the ceremony. 

In Hong Kong, the host of the funeral normally uses a white envelope containing a piece of tissue and candy, as well as a coin. Attendees are told to spend the money and eat the candy as soon as possible after receiving the envelope, while the tissue is used to wipe away tears.

[Note: The website has since issued an apology statement on Twitter and removed the offending image from its article].