01 / What is joss paper?
Joss paper is a broad English term for paper used in some Chinese offering traditions. It may take the form of sheets, folded shapes, printed notes or more elaborate paper objects. In some settings, offerings express remembrance and care for ancestors or departed loved ones.
Paper-offering customs are practised in Chinese communities in different countries. Their forms and meanings are not uniform. The National Heritage Board of Singapore’s introduction is a useful place to begin.
02 / Why “hell bank notes”?
“Hell bank notes” is a common English label for certain kinds of symbolic paper money. The word belongs to a translated cultural context and should not be treated as an invitation to horror imagery or assumed to mean the same thing across religions.
These papers are not legal tender, an investment, or a financial instrument. Denominations are symbolic. Using or purchasing them cannot guarantee wealth, luck, protection or communication with a deceased person.
03 / More than a sheet of paper
Paper crafting spans both festive and ceremonial forms. Hong Kong’s Intangible Cultural Heritage Office describes a wider craft tradition using materials such as bamboo strips, tissue paper, colored paper and fabric; paper offerings are one part of that tradition. Our planned catalog does not imply that every product uses these techniques or has heritage certification.
Explore the paper crafting tradition ↗
04 / Jinhua and Huang Daxian
The regional history of Huang Daxian, known in Cantonese as Wong Tai Sin, connects Jinhua with a wider living tradition. Heritage sources trace this folk belief from Zhejiang into the Lingnan region. Legends are part of that cultural inheritance; we present them as beliefs and stories, not verified supernatural events.
That connection helps explain our location and our name. It does not mean joss paper is unique to Huang Daxian worship, or that the items in our collection originate from a temple.
Read the Wong Tai Sin heritage overview ↗
05 / A respectful starting point
- Learn the context. Ask what an object means within the particular family or community involved.
- Ask before gifting. Objects associated with funerals or the departed may be inappropriate as casual gifts.
- Choose thoughtfully. Avoid using sacred or remembrance objects as a joke, costume or spectacle.
- Consider a non-burning gesture. Write a memory, share a family story, or keep a paper object in a private remembrance space. This is a personal option, not a claim that it replaces a community’s rites.
- Follow local rules. Public spaces, cemeteries, religious venues and private buildings may restrict fire, smoke or offerings. Leave no litter.
Fire, smoke and the environment
We do not recommend indoor burning. Never leave a flame unattended. Keep children and pets away, avoid inhaling smoke, and do not burn in wind, drought, fire bans or near combustible materials. Coated and printed papers may release harmful emissions. Non-burning remembrance avoids smoke and fire risk.
Hong Kong Environmental Protection Department: paper offerings and alternative practices ↗
Cultural references checked September 2026. The institutions linked here do not endorse Red Pine Paper.