Chinese cities spark outcry with ban on joss paper sales and ‘feudal superstitions’ for Qing Ming Festival

Meanwhile, others approved of the ban and suggested alternative ancestor worship rituals, such as offering fresh flowers and virtual tomb-sweeping, which they said were more eco-friendly and did not pose a risk of wildfires.

In 2021, Nantong recorded a total of 210 incidents related to the holiday, including 121 fires, according to an article published by city authorities that year.

Local governments across China have been promoting “civilised rituals” in recent years and have issued bans on “superstitious” activities during traditional Chinese holidays such as Qing Ming Festival, the Hungry Ghost Festival and Chinese New Year.

Heyuan in Guangdong province, Xunyang in Shaanxi province, and a district of Ezhou in Hubei province also announced prohibitions this year.

In addition to banning the production and sale of ritual supplies, some governments have prohibited mournful music, the burning of joss paper, the construction of mourning halls and displaying of corpses in public.

Following the ban, Nantong authorities urged people to honour the dead “in a modest and non-extravagant manner, using simple and plain methods” and to adopt environmentally friendly practices.

“(We should) integrate the remembrance of the deceased with the promotion of exemplary family values, shifting the focus from physical tomb-sweeping to spiritual inheritance, and consciously resist feudal superstitious practices and advocate for a civilised new culture,” they said.

The ban prompted a dissent from the country’s state-run media, with China National Radio calling the measure “too crude and heavy-handed”.

“In people’s everyday perception, burning joss paper is just one aspect of tomb-sweeping, similar to offering flowers as an expression of remembrance. It cannot be regarded as a feudal superstition,” the radio network’s news channel said.

“This kind of management is rigid, impractical, and lacks human touch. It should be treated with caution.”

An official from the Nantong Municipal Civil Affairs Bureau said the ban was issued in the interest of “spiritual civilisation construction and environmental protection” and was based on relevant laws and regulations, according to China National Radio.

“It is unrelated to the solemn remembrance and respect that people have for their ancestors,” the official said. “We emphasise the prohibition of manufacturing and selling in terms of market behaviour, but there is no mention of prohibiting the use.”

This article was first published on SCMP.