IN A TINY SHOP ON A crowded street in San Francisco’s Chinatown, a cultural phenomenon unfolded before their eyes.
Two women, sharing a rare day off from work, were strolling by the undistinguished First Incense Corp. when a strange object in the sidewalk display caught their attention. It appeared to be a man’s green cable knit sweater and a pair of odd gloves, neatly presented in a skimpy see-through box priced at only a few dollars. Next to it was another box with what looked like a man’s suit coat, dress shirt and tie. Closer inspection revealed the clothes were made entirely of paper. Intrigued, the shoppers stepped inside the store at 753 Jackson St. and were warmly received by an elderly Chinese shopkeeper who spoke only a few words of English.
Stacked on the shelves that reached to the ceiling was a whole world of paper objects: “Hell” brand cigarettes (two packs for $5, matches included), bottles of liquor, a tuxedo with a frilly shirt, gym shoes, brassieres. There was a cardboard laptop ($33), watches, jewelry, roll-on deodorant, credit cards, cell phones, false teeth, even paper French fries and a Big Mac.
Everything in the store was highly flammable. A handwritten sign in English, obviously designed for clueless Westerners, explained that the paper objects “are burnt to the Buddhists ancestors for a good fortune, luck, health, etc.”
Relatives buy these items for the deceased, then burn them to assure that their loved ones are well-supplied in the afterlife. Not limited to necessities, there was a miniature paper yacht for $88, a BMW for $45 and $98 mansions.
One of the shoppers couldn’t resist a pair of stylish high heels made of gilded paper for $6.99 to display on her credenza, just for fun.
As they were leaving, the shopkeeper plunked a hefty stack of $10,000 bills from “Hell Bank” on the counter.
The pair scooped up the cash and were on their way out as the smiling Chinese woman called after them, “Money to burn.”
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– Some ancient cultures, such as the Incas, would sacrifice wives or slaves and bury them along with recently deceased men of status as company in the afterlife.
– Funerals of the Toraja people in Indonesia have become tourist attractions. The deceased are kept in their home for as long as a year, then buried in rock tombs following elaborate ceremonies.
Sources: Times Educational Supplement, TSL Education
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Read Ellen’s shopping adviser column every Thursday in the Tribune’s At Play section and join the conversation at chicagotribune.com/ellen. shopellen@tribune.com
