Chinese burial money

What it is

Chinese burial money comprises imitation currencies placed in graves to support the deceased in the afterlife. The practice began with cowrie shells during the Shang dynasty, later evolving into clay and metal replicas of real coinage. These items served dual purposes: providing spiritual wealth for the dead and deterring grave robbers by offering worthless substitutes. Over centuries, the materials shifted from natural objects to manufactured imitations, reflecting changing beliefs about the spirit world's needs and the practical concerns of tomb preservation.

Where it comes from

The custom dates to the Shang dynasty, around 1300 BCE, when cowrie shells were buried as bribes for Yan Wang, the king of the underworld. Early forms included actual valuable items, which attracted thieves. To protect graves, the Chinese began creating clay and earthenware copies. This shift marked a transition from using real wealth to symbolic surrogates, ensuring the dead received their due without endangering the tomb's integrity through robbery.

How it is done

Burial money was placed directly in the grave alongside the deceased. In wealthy tombs, thousands of clay Ban Liang cash coins were found strung together in containers. Some charms, like the 'Laid to Rest' bronze pieces, were placed in the mouths of the dead. The items mimicked contemporary circulation currency, including spade, knife, and ring-shaped coins, but were made from fragile or cheap materials like clay, lead, or thin bronze to discourage theft.

Tools and materials

Materials evolved from cowrie shells, bone, and stone to clay, bronze, and lead. Clay money, known as ní qián, became common during the Han dynasty. Specific types included clay versions of gold plate money from the State of Chu and Wu Zhu cash coins. Bronze funerary charms bearing the inscription 'rù tǔ wéi ān' ('to be laid to rest') were also used, though they are often avoided by collectors due to taboos surrounding their placement in the dead.

What it is for

The money was intended to ensure comfort and favorable treatment in the afterlife. It could bribe Yan Wang for a better destination, pay debts to the hell government, or purchase luxury items. Later beliefs viewed the afterlife as a mirror of the living world, where the dead needed currency for taxes and daily expenses. The imitation nature of the coins also served to protect the tomb from robbers who sought real value.

Who does it

Ordinary households prepared burial money for their deceased relatives. Both wealthy and impoverished families used clay imitations, as they were inexpensive to produce. The practice was widespread across social classes, with wealthy individuals sometimes burying large quantities of clay coins alongside genuine artifacts. Funerary specialists or family members would place the items in the tomb according to tradition.

Peoples and places

The tradition is primarily associated with China, with evidence found in tombs across various dynasties. Similar customs existed in ancient Greece and Rome, where coins were paid to ferrymen of the underworld. The Chinese practice uniquely evolved from natural shells to complex ceramic and metal replicas, reflecting a detailed bureaucratic view of the afterlife. Variations include specific regional styles and the use of local currency designs as models for the imitations.

What people believe

Ancient Chinese cosmology held that the earth was square and the heavens round. Cash coins symbolized this cosmic order and could guide spirits to immortality. The character 'Zhu' in Wu Zhu coins was linked to the mythical fusang tree, an auspicious guide for the dead. Beliefs shifted over time, from viewing the afterlife as a place requiring bribes to seeing it as a continuation of earthly life, complete with debts and taxes owed to otherworldly authorities.

When it is done

Burial money was used specifically at funerals and burials. The practice persisted from the Shang dynasty through the late 19th century, when joss paper and hell money replaced physical imitations. No specific festivals or lunar days are tied to its use; it was strictly a funerary object placed with the body upon interment.

How scholars and sceptics see it

Archaeologists have uncovered vast quantities of burial money, such as the 100,000 clay Ban Liang coins in the Mawangdui tombs. Scholars note the transition from real currency to surrogates reflects both economic pragmatism and evolving spiritual beliefs about the afterlife's structure and needs.

Compare and confuse

The Chinese practice parallels ancient Greek and Roman customs of burying coins to pay for passage to the underworld. However, Chinese burial money expanded into a vast array of imitation currencies, reflecting a more complex bureaucratic afterlife. Unlike the single coin for the ferryman, Chinese tombs often contained thousands of replicas, serving multiple spiritual and protective functions.

Questions people ask about Chinese burial money

Good reading and sources

• Chinese burial money on WikipediaEncyclopedia
• More photos on Wikimedia CommonsPhotos and video
• Wikidata recordOpen data