The widely used $10,000 Hell note. The front side contains, apart from the portrait of the Jade Emperor, the seal of the Hell bank. The seal consists of a picture of the Hell bank itself. Many tiny, faint "Hell Bank Note"s are scattered on the back in yellow. The creator of this note is unknown, but the bill is believed to have been created in Hong Kong.

Hell Bank Notes are a special form of joss paper, an afterlife monetary paper offerings used in traditional Chinese ancestor veneration, that can be printed in the style of western or Chinese paper bank notes. Image File history File links File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File links File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Jade Emperor The Jade Emperor (玉皇 Pinyin: Yù Huáng or 玉帝 Yù Dì), known informally by children and commoners as Heavenly Grandfather (天公 Tiān Gōng) and known formally as the Pure August Jade Emperor or August Personage of Jade (玉皇上帝 Yu Huang Shangdi or 玉皇大帝 Yu Huang Dadi), is the ruler of... Joss paper Joss paper (Simplified Chinese: 金纸; Traditional Chinese: 金紙; Pinyin: Jīnzhǐ; literally gold paper), also known as ghost money, are sheets of paper that are burned in traditional Chinese deity or ancestor worship ceremonies during special holidays. ... Ancestor worship, also ancestor veneration, is a religious practice based on the belief that ones ancestors possess supernatural powers. ...

In order to ensure that spirits have lots of good things in the afterlife, their relatives send them paper presents, and one of the things that are usually sent to ancestors are Hell Bank Notes – money to spend in the afterworld. Spirits redirects here. ... The afterlife (or life after death) is a generic term referring to a continuation of existence, typically spiritual and experiential, beyond this world, or after death. ...

In some mythology, the Hell Bank Notes are sent by living relatives to dead ancestors to "bribe" the King of Hell for a shorter stay or to escape punishment. In these more modern times, the creation of "Hell Bank Note Credit Cards" have become very popular. The designs on these "credit cards" vary from the very simple (with just a basic "VISA" stamped on a gold cardboard card), to very elaborate (with custom artwork and names). Tibetan Dharmapala at the Field Museum in Chicago, Illinois Yama is the name of the Buddhist god and judge of the dead, who presides over the Buddhist Narakas (Pāli: Nirayas), Hells or Purgatories. Although ultimately based on the god Yama of the Hindu Vedas, the Buddhist Yama has developed...

Regardless of the presentation, Hell Bank Notes are well known for their outrageously large denominations, ranging from $10,000, $100,000, $1,000,000 or even $500,000,000. On every bill, it will usually feature an image of the Jade Emperor, and his signature (Yu Wong, or Yuk Wong) countersigned by Yanluo, King of Hell (Yen Loo). On the back of each bill, it features a portrait of the bank of Hell. Jade Emperor The Jade Emperor (玉皇 Pinyin: Yù Huáng or 玉帝 Yù Dì), known informally by children and commoners as Heavenly Grandfather (天公 Tiān Gōng) and known formally as the Pure August Jade Emperor or August Personage of Jade (玉皇上帝 Yu Huang Shangdi or 玉皇大帝 Yu Huang Dadi), is the ruler of... Tibetan Dharmapala at the Field Museum in Chicago, Illinois Yama is the name of the Buddhist god and judge of the dead, who presides over the Buddhist Narakas (Pāli: Nirayas), Hells or Purgatories. Although ultimately based on the god Yama of the Hindu Vedas, the Buddhist Yama has developed...

History

The word Hell was introduced to China by Christian missionaries, who claimed that all non-converted Chinese people would "go to Hell" when they died. As such, it was believed that the word "Hell" was the proper English term for the Chinese afterlife, and hence the word was adopted. ^{[citation needed]} It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Christianity. ... A missionary is a propagator of religion, often an evangelist or other representative of a religious community who works among those outside of that community. ...

Furthermore, it is believed in Chinese mythology that all who die will automatically enter the underworld of Di Yu (trad. 地獄, simp. 地狱; lit. "underground hold/court") to be judged before being sent to heaven and enter nirvana, to be punished in the underworld, or be reincarnated. As such, the word "Hell" usually appears on these notes. Some printed notes omit the word "hell" and sometimes replaces it with "heaven" or "paradise". At the moment this article is only a list. ... Feng Du (Traditional Chinese: 酆都城; pinyin: FÄ“ngdÅ« Chéng) is the realm of the dead in Chinese mythology. ... This article is about a Buddhist philosophy concept. ...

Designs

A modern version of a Hell Bank Note, worth one billion dollars, featuring the Jade Emperor.

The most well known and commonly sold Hell Note is the $10,000 greenback, styled after the United States Federal Reserve Note. Image File history File links File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File links File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Jade Emperor The Jade Emperor (玉皇 Pinyin: Yù Huáng or 玉帝 Yù Dì), known informally by children and commoners as Heavenly Grandfather (天公 Tiān Gōng) and known formally as the Pure August Jade Emperor or August Personage of Jade (玉皇上帝 Yu Huang Shangdi or 玉皇大帝 Yu Huang Dadi), is the ruler of... Greenback may refer to: Greenbacks, a colloquial term for the United States dollar, often used when referring to the debate of hard vs. ... Various Federal Reserve Notes Notes are missing serial number imprints. ...

In some stores, they also sell elaborately-made notes, featuring not only the Jade Emperor, but also the Eight Immortals, the Buddha, the Yama King, images of dragons, or even famous dead people, such as John F. Kennedy or Marilyn Monroe. They are sold in packs of 30 to 50 bills, wrapped in cellophane. The Eight Immortals crossing the sea, from Myths and Legends of China, 1922 by E. T. C. Werner. ... A stone image of the Buddha. ... Tibetan Dharmapala at the Field Museum in Chicago, Illinois Yama is the name of the Buddhist god and judge of the dead, who presides over the Buddhist Narakas (Pāli: Nirayas), Hells or Purgatories. Although ultimately based on the god Yama of the Hindu Vedas, the Buddhist Yama has developed... This article deals with dragons as dealt with in The Enchanted Forest Chronicles, a series of novels by Patricia Wrede. ... John Fitzgerald Kennedy (May 29, 1917 – November 22, 1963), often referred to as John F. Kennedy, JFK or Jack Kennedy, was the 35th President of the United States. ... Marilyn Monroe (June 1, 1926 – August 5, 1962) was an iconic actress, singer and model. ... Cellophane is a thin, transparent sheet made of processed cellulose. ...

Consideration when using Hell Bank Notes

Example of Hell Bank Notes and other joss items in a loose bundle being offered (The Jade Emperor's image on the featured note is updated)

Although in Western eyes Hell Bank Notes may look like toys or superstitious items, there are considerations concerning the use of Hell Bank Notes that Chinese people take seriously. Image File history File linksMetadata IMG_0076. ... Image File history File linksMetadata IMG_0076. ...

It is not advised to give a Hell Bank Note to a living person as a gift (even as a joke); it is often considered as wishing the person's death - a grave insult to that person in Chinese tradition. Hell Bank Notes are usually kept places nobody can see (e.g. cupboards), as having these notes around in the house is considered bad luck.

When burning the notes, the notes are treated as real money: they are not casually tossed into the fire, but instead placed respectfully in a loose bundle. This practice is an extension of the superstition that burning real money brings bad luck.

See also

A million dollar note featuring U.S. President John F. Kennedy.

• Ancestor worship
• Ghost
• Ghost Festival
• Necromancy
• Worship
• Malaysian Chinese Gods
• Gods Material Shop

Image File history File links File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File links File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... John Fitzgerald Kennedy (May 29, 1917 – November 22, 1963), often referred to as John F. Kennedy, JFK or Jack Kennedy, was the 35th President of the United States. ... Ancestor worship, also ancestor veneration, is a religious practice based on the belief that ones ancestors possess supernatural powers. ... A manufactured image of a ghostly woman ascending a staircase A ghost is an alleged non-corporeal manifestation of a dead person (or, rarely, an animal or a vehicle). ... The Ghost Festival (Traditional Chinese: 中元節 or 盂蘭節; pinyin: zhōng yuán jié, and sometimes called 盂蘭盆; pinyin: yulanpen) is a traditional Chinese festival/holiday, which is celebrated by Chinese in many countries. ... Necromancy (disambiguation). ... Worship usually refers to specific acts of religious praise, honour, or devotion, typically directed to a supernatural being such as a god or goddess. ... Picture of a family of Malaysian Chinese Gods, including Kwan Yin Ma, Kwan Kong and Na Tuk Kong. ... Picture of a Gods Material Shop of Malaysian Chinese. ...

External Links

• Hell Money