Chinese altars, sometimes called "Spirit Shrines" or "Spirit Houses", are frequently in the home now rather than in temples outside of the home. Rather than use spirit tablets, pictures are often used instead because of convenience.
It is standard for altars to have pictures, as well as offerings. These offerings may include food, drink, and money. In earlier times, gold coins were left, but due to grave robbing there was a switch to paper money. (1) This fake paper money, also called joss paper, can imitate real paper money, gold coins, or other things of value (cell phones, clothing, etc.). These offerings are left in the hope that it helps the loved one in the afterlife. This paper may be folded, or sometimes even burned for luck at the altar of the deceased.
Along with paper offerings are food and drink offerings. Typically, food that is offered are things that the deceased enjoyed while they were still alive. (2) However, fruits and vegetables can be left instead--something that Buddhist practitioners frequently do. Similarly, drinks such as wine are offered. By making these offerings, the family hope to not only help the deceased, but be given luck and protection by their ancestors.
(1) "
Chinese Altars and Spirit Houses", accessed October 5, 2013.
(2) Mike Liu, "
Looking at the Altar", accessed October 6, 2013.
What exactly are spirit tablets? I was just curious because you said that pictures are more convenient but what makes them so? The idea of using fake money in place of real in order to prevent thievery seems like a good idea, especially since thievery would be extremely disrespectful. By replacing the real with fake, it almost seems to make the alters and the offerings more respectful because they still hold an important value but they are something that will be left alone. At least that's my line of thinking. I like that idea that offerings are used not only to help the deceased but also for luck and protection for the survivors. This is something that I feel is not necessarily just a Chinese custom. I have seen the grave of the Voudou Queen in New Orleans where people leave offerings and tokens for her and as a way to gain luck and such from her spirit. This seems to be a fairly universal way to think of offerings to the deceased.
ReplyDeleteI mentioned spirit tablets in my last post, but they are typically wooden plaques with the name of the deceased. Kind of like a grave marker, in a way. Pictures are typically considered more convenient because they take up a lot less space and are easier to move around.
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