Qi (齊 or Chi) is the invisible life force or spiritual energy that permeates the natural world. It is believed to be the vital energy that flows through all living things, connecting the physical and spiritual realms.
Qi is the vital energy or life force that animates all living things and is inherent in the natural world. It is also believed to be the fundamental building block of the universe and the driving force behind all physical and spiritual things.
Qi flows through pathways in the body called meridians, which connect vital organs and systems. It is said to be harnessed and manipulated through practices such as Qigong, Tai Chi, and Acupuncture. In Chinese medicine, the balance and flow of Qi is believed to be essential for physical, mental, and and spiritual enlightenment. Qi can be traced back to ancient Chinese philosophers like Confucius and Laozi in 551 to 479 B.C.
Qi is the breath of life and said to flow in synchronicity with the cosmos. This life force is believed to carry the essence of the deceased, linking the living with their ancestors.
Imagine Qi as the invisible thread that weaves together the fabric of the universe. It’s not just the energy that flows through living beings, but it also permeates the environment, binding everything in a harmonious balance. Qi gives life its vitality and dynamism. It’s the essence that powers the natural phenomena—from the blowing of the wind to the growth of plants.
The act of burning joss paper is deeply intertwined with the concept of Qi. It is more than just a symbolic gesture; it’s a ritual to enhance and transmit Qi. By burning these offerings, the living are able to infuse their ancestors’ spirits with the necessary energy to thrive in the afterlife. This act not only ensures the comfort and prosperity of the deceased but also maintains the flow of Qi between generations, keeping the family lineage spiritually connected and balanced.
Through the interplay of Qi, the material world and the spiritual realm find a point of convergence. It’s a dance of energies, harmonizing the material and spiritual realm, the tangible and the celestial. This ancient wisdom of Qi continues to influence and enrich the cultural and spiritual practices in modern times, especially during sacred rituals like the Qingming Festival 清明節 and Zhong Yuan Jie Festival.
Burning joss paper, which often resembles money or other valuable items, is believed to send wealth and prosperity to the ancestors in the spiritual realm. . The ritual symbolizes the transfer of Qi from the living to the deceased, ensuring their well-being and comfort in the afterlife.
Smoke from the burning of joss paper rises and is thought to carry prayers and blessings to the ancestors, creating a connection between the physical and spiritual worlds. It is a way to honor and provide for the deceased, reinforcing the bond between the living and the dead and is a powerful spiritual practice that embodies the principles of Qi, family, community and the flow of life and death. It is a way for the living to demonstrate their love and respect for their ancestors, ensuring that their spirits are cared for and remembered.
Today Digital joss paper (offerings) provides ancestors and worshipers a deeper spiritual experience bypassing traditional physical boundaries.Digital joss paper (hell money) are said to be vaporized into electromagnetic energy where the essential essence of the offering is transformed into a spiritual or vital energy. This energy, infused with the intentions and emotions of the giver, can permeate the qi (齊) and travel into the fabric of the universe, transcending the boundary between the material world and the spiritual realm. Allowing the ancestors to receive and experience the offering on a deeper, spiritual level bypassing traditional physical boundaries.
This Digitized “qi” has the ability to traverse time and space, connecting the living with the ancestors. By sending digital Joss paper into the ethos, we can imagine the “qi” carrying the essence of the offering to the ancestors in a more efficient and accessible manner, bypassing traditional physical boundaries, eliminating dangerous chemical pollutants that disrupt the balance of qi and nature.