Use of Chaoshan Joss Paper in Life Rituals in the Chenghai Area of Swatow City, Guangdong Province, China

—Investigation and Study on the Culture of Joss Paper in China (1)

Abstract

In this study, it is focused on the use of "Chaoshan joss paper" in the Chenghai area of Swatow City, Guangdong Province, China, particularly in life rituals, based on fieldwork and interview surveys. It aims to reveal the feature of joss paper in community culture formation. As a result of investigation, the study findings reveal as follows: (1) Joss paper is essential in life rituals, marking milestones like birth, adulthood, marriage, and death, thereby defining life's phases and clarifying life and death in social order. (2) It serves as a bridge in life and death rituals, fostering personal and communal relationships. (3) The use of joss paper facilitates community integration and the assignment of social roles to individuals, thereby enabling the identification of personal status within the community, promoting awareness of life, sharing social order, and encouraging the transmission of joss paper culture.