Burning paper is an ancient custom that has a long history, but the truth behind it is incredible. The original concept of burning paper was actually the product of the clever marketing of businessman Cai Mo, who seized people's superstitious psychology and exaggerated the rhetoric about ghosts and gods, heaven and hell, and successfully turned paper burning money into an indispensable funeral link. This article will reveal the historical truth behind burning paper and unravel this ancient superstition.
As one of the four great inventions in ancient China, papermaking was improved by Cai Lun of the Eastern Han Dynasty. However, long before him, there was already paper in China, which was first unearthed in the ancient Fengsui Pavilion in Lop Nur, Xinjiang, no later than 49 BC. Xu Shen's "Shuowen Jie Zi" mentions that the original paper was made of silk silk, and in the "Biography of Empress Zhao of Hanshu", there is also a precious paper made of silk "Heho" paper.
In the early days, the raw materials of paper were expensive, and it was difficult for the general public to use them, so there was no custom of burning paper after the death of ancient people. It wasn't until Cai Lun improved papermaking and used bark, hemp, rags, fishing nets and other materials to make the most cheap paper, that paper went from the bookcases of princes and nobles to the homes of ordinary people, and became an item accessible to the public.
However, Cai Lun's improvements were not the original papermakers, but his improvements made paper more popular and became the founder of modern papermaking. This technological improvement is also closely related to the rise of the custom of burning paper.
Cai Lun passed on the improved papermaking technology to his brother and sister-in-law, but due to the low level of education and equipment limitations, the paper they made was of poor quality and the business was bleak. To turn the tide, Cai Lun's elder brother Cai Mo came up with a unique marketing strategy. He put his wife Huiniang in the coffin, and he burned the coarse paper in the basin next to him, accompanied by the sound of crying.
The people around were attracted by Cai Lun's brother's cry, and suddenly, Hui Niang's voice came from the coffin, claiming that she was back. Hui Niang recounted the experience after her death, claiming that after she arrived in the underworld, she was bullied by the ghost, but because of the extra money in her hand, she was no longer embarrassed after giving it to the ghost. She even claimed to have seen Lord Yama and was told that her life was not over, so she returned to the Yang Realm.
In ancient societies, this experience deeply affected people, and burning paper became a means of rescuing the dead. Subsequently, similar scenes were imitated, and the custom of burning paper gradually took root and became an indispensable part of the funeral.
This article reveals the historical origin of the custom of burning paper, from the initial commercial marketing strategy to the mysterious experience of Hui Niang, and unravels the truth of paper burning in ancient times step by step. This profound historical investigation gives us a better understanding of the complex psychology of death and supernatural beliefs in ancient civilizations.
This article provides an in-depth analysis of the historical origins of this ancient custom of burning paper, as well as the reasons behind it and its evolution, so that readers can more clearly understand the complexity of this traditional Xi. First of all, the article takes revealing the ingenious marketing strategy of the businessman Cai Mo as the starting point, and points out that the original concept of burning paper is actually the result of the merchants seeking economic benefits with the help of people's superstitious thoughts. The use of this business method shows the shrewdness and resourcefulness of ancient merchants, and also gives people a deeper understanding of ancient commercial culture.
Secondly, the article introduces in detail the development process of papermaking, especially Cai Lun's contribution to the improvement of papermaking. Through the description of the raw materials and processes used to make paper, the reader will be able to understand the characteristics of ancient paper that was expensive and difficult to popularize. Cai Lun's improvements made paper cheaper and more accessible, so that it went from the bookcase of princes and nobles to the homes of ordinary people, which played a key role in the popularization of the custom of burning paper.
Third, the article introduces the rise of paper-burning customs through the special techniques of Cai Lun's elder brother Cai Mo. This story is vivid and interesting, and through Hui Niang's experience, it shows the mysterious aspect behind the burning of paper. Through detailed descriptions, the article makes the reader feel as if they are in the middle of it, and feel the sensitivity and superstition of people at that time to the supernatural. This realistic approach makes the whole story even more engaging.
Finally, this paper makes an in-depth analysis of the development and inheritance of paper-burning customs. By explaining how Hui Niang's experience influenced the beliefs and behaviors of people at the time, it reveals the fundamental motivation of this traditional custom. The article finally combines the custom of burning paper with the religious beliefs and supernatural concepts of ancient societies to form a complex and three-dimensional picture.
Overall, this article not only achieves in-depth and detailed historical investigation, but also makes it easier for readers to understand and accept the information conveyed by the article through vivid and interesting narrative. This is of some enlightening value for revealing the origin and development of superstitious phenomena in ancient cultures, as well as people's attitudes towards death and the supernatural.
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