Thursday, September 17, 2009

This is how we occupy our time

Most parts of the day we spend our time folding paper lotuses and paper gold nuggets. They are burned after every meal and after every ritual. Specific amounts are required for certain rituals that occur throughout the days before the funeral. The gold symbolizes riches for the dead while the lotus symbolizes good faith.

Each lotus requires 18 pieces of paper, each lotus stand requires 36 pieces. To make one complete lotus 54 pieces of paper are required. So far I believe we made over 200 paper lotuses and probably thousands of gold nuggets.

Making these paper offerings pretty much occupies most of my time here.

Remnants of brunt out incense.

Spiral Incense. We have to keep this constantly lit.

Paper Money.

Paper for folding Lotuses and Gold Nuggets.

Paper shirts.

Pieces for the lotus.


Lotus Stand.
Fei is pretty proud of her lotus.


Complete Lotus.

Bags and bags of lotuses.

Paper Gold Nuggets and Paper Lotus.


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