At certain times of the year, small fires flicker at the base of trees, along back lanes and beside temples across Singapore, as folded gold paper is offered up in curls of smoke. This is part of joss paper craft, a Chinese tradition of making paper goods to be burned as offerings to ancestors and deities. Alongside the familiar squares of gold and silver paper sit remarkable paper effigies, from houses to everyday objects, crafted to be sent to the departed. This guide explains what joss paper and paper effigies are, how they are made, when and where you may see them, and how to appreciate this living practice with respect.
What Joss Paper and Paper Effigies Are
Joss paper, often called by dialect terms that translate roughly as gold paper or spirit money, is paper made to be burned as an offering in Chinese folk religious and Taoist practice. The word joss is an old term used in the region for religious images and offerings. The most common form is a small sheet, frequently stamped or squared with gold or silver foil, understood as a kind of currency for the spirit world. Burning it is widely seen as a way to provide for ancestors and to honour deities, so that the departed are cared for and the living show their respect and remembrance.
Paper effigies take the idea further. Skilled craftspeople build three dimensional models from paper, bamboo frames and glue, representing things a person might want in the afterlife. Traditionally these included houses, clothing and money, and today the range has grown to mirror modern life. The finished effigy is burned so that its essence is believed to reach the departed. Because these customs sit at the heart of a living religious and cultural tradition, their doctrine and precise meaning are best understood from practitioners, temples and each family’s own way of observing them, rather than from any single outside account.
This practice is observed to different degrees by different families. Some mark it elaborately, others simply or not at all, and beliefs about what the offerings mean vary. It is one strand of a wider culture of ancestral remembrance rather than a fixed set of rules.
How Joss Paper and Effigies Are Made
The simplest joss paper is produced in quantity, with sheets cut, stamped and squared with foil. The effigy craft, by contrast, is patient handwork. A traditional paper effigy is usually built in stages:
- Build the frame. Thin strips of bamboo are bent and tied into a skeleton that gives the object its shape.
- Cover the surface. Paper is pasted over the frame to form walls, panels and surfaces.
- Add detail. Coloured paper, print and painted features turn a plain shell into a recognisable house, figure or object.
- Finish and assemble. Parts are joined, decorated and prepared so the whole piece is ready to be offered.
The results can be strikingly lifelike, and the craft demands a good eye and steady hands. Makers keep up with the times, so alongside classic houses and clothing you may find paper versions of modern conveniences, a gentle sign that the living imagine their departed enjoying the comforts of the present day. The materials are humble, mostly paper and bamboo, but the workmanship can be considerable, and the intention behind each piece is what gives it weight.
When and Where the Tradition Is Seen
Joss paper and effigies appear year round at funerals and on days of remembrance, but they are most visible during certain observances in the Chinese calendar.
- The seventh lunar month, associated with the Hungry Ghost Festival, when offerings, prayers and burning are common in many neighbourhoods, often around June to September.
- Qing Ming, the tomb sweeping period in spring, when families visit graves and columbaria to clean, pray and make offerings.
- Funerals and death anniversaries, when joss paper and effigies form part of the rites of mourning and remembrance.
- Deity festivals and temple events, where paper offerings accompany prayers, described further in our guide to deity birthdays and temple processions.
You can encounter the craft itself at traditional provision and religious goods shops, especially around Chinatown and older neighbourhoods, where shelves are stacked with folded gold paper, incense and ready made effigies. During the seventh month, temporary stalls and getai stages appear in the heartlands. If you come across offerings or a burning bin, the respectful approach is simple: do not step over or disturb them, keep a courteous distance, and ask before photographing people at prayer.
Common Paper Offerings and Their General Meaning
The table below sketches, in broad terms, some offerings a newcomer may encounter. These are general descriptions, and the precise significance varies by family, dialect group and religious teacher.
| Offering | What it looks like | General purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Gold and silver paper | Small squared sheets with foil | Understood as spirit money for the departed |
| Paper clothing | Printed garment shapes | To provide clothing in the afterlife |
| Paper house | Bamboo and paper model dwelling | To offer comfort and shelter to the departed |
| Everyday effigies | Models of modern conveniences | To send familiar comforts to loved ones |
| Incense and candles | Sticks and lights, burned in prayer | To accompany respect and remembrance |
Why the Craft Endures and How to Respect It
Joss paper and effigy craft endures because it answers a deep human wish, to keep caring for those we have lost. Making and offering these goods is an act of love and duty, a way for families to say that the departed are not forgotten and that bonds continue beyond death. The craft also supports a small ecosystem of shops and makers who keep the skills alive.
The tradition adapts thoughtfully. Environmental awareness has grown, so temples and community groups encourage burning in designated bins, offering in moderation and keeping shared spaces clean and safe, and some families now scale down the practice. None of this diminishes its meaning, which lies in remembrance rather than in scale.
For a newcomer, appreciating this craft means treating it as a living faith practice, not a curiosity. Admire the artistry of a well made effigy, observe rituals quietly and from a respectful distance, and defer to the community and its religious teachers on what the customs mean. To continue exploring related heritage trades, see our guides to traditional signboard carving and traditional lantern making, two more crafts where paper, wood and devotion meet on Singapore’s streets. Where you want authoritative background, the National Heritage Board and Singapore’s temples are the right places to turn.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can non-Chinese people burn joss paper or visit a Hungry Ghost Festival offering? Visitors of any background are generally welcome to observe, but burning offerings is a religious act, so join in only if invited or guided by a practitioner. Keep a respectful distance, do not touch or step over offerings, and ask before taking photos of people praying.
Where is it safe and allowed to burn joss paper? Use the burning bins provided at temples and public areas rather than lighting fires on the ground. Keep the quantity modest, never leave a fire unattended and follow signs and staff instructions. Rules and designated spots can change, so check with the temple or the National Environment Agency.
Why are modern items like phones and cars made as paper effigies? Makers keep pace with daily life, because families want the departed to enjoy familiar comforts, not only traditional houses and clothing. A paper phone or car is an expression of care and remembrance. What each offering means varies by family, so ask the person making it.
Can I order a custom paper effigy, and how far ahead should I ask? Many traditional religious goods shops can supply or arrange effigies, though availability varies. Ask early before busy periods such as the seventh lunar month or Qing Ming. Discuss size, design and price with the shop, as handwork takes time and quotes differ.
Is joss paper burning bad for the environment? Burning produces smoke and ash, which is why temples and community groups encourage designated bins, moderate quantities and clean shared spaces. Some families now scale down or choose to offer less. Meaning lies in remembrance rather than quantity, and the practice is evolving with environmental awareness.
Further reading: Where to Buy Joss Paper and Seventh Month Prayer Items in Singapore