Spirit Paper Robes

This month's feature is a Chinese joss paper (also known as spirit paper or ghost paper) robe and pants. In our collection this pair of objects share the number 1993.006.728.  

These articles of paper clothing were never meant to be worn by the living. For almost 2000 years, Chinese mourners have been making joss paper objects for the dead. These objects are usually burned in ceremonies after the funeral but are sometimes buried with the deceased. It is believed that the joss paper items will become their real equivalents in the afterlife.  

Most joss paper takes the form of money or gold ingots so that the dead can purchase items needed for a comfortable afterlife. Some joss paper is made to represent other terrestrial objects the dead might desire. Marco Polo recorded seeing paper camels burned at 13th century Chinese funerals. Today everything from cars to iPads to medicine are all available in joss paper for use after death.  

Our robe and pants are not quite as extravagant as a camel but they are beautifully made. Someone very much wished for their loved to be comfortable and well-dressed in the afterlife. The paper version was formed in a similar manner to a fabric garment but glued together rather than sewn. This elaborate treatment created a stand-up collar similar to a sewn garment. Portions of the robe are faded due to sun exposure, but originally the entire robe was a deep rich blue with gold frog closures. The white underside of the paper resembled a white lining that a cloth version would possess.  

We hope that you enjoyed this peek at our collection! We'll be back next month with another artifact. Have a great September!