They Say Everyone Borrows a Sum of Money from the Underworld Before Reincarnation

Elders in the Minnan, Taiwan, and Zhejiang regions have a saying: before a person reincarnates, they must first "borrow" a sum of money from the underworld, called "Life-Received Money" (Shousheng Qian). Only by borrowing it can one reincarnate, so everyone is born in debt, and this money must be repaid during one's lifetime.

The amount is related to the Chinese zodiac. Several tables circulate online: how much for the Rat, how much for the Ox, how much for each sign; some versions even break it down by birth month. Put a few tables together and the numbers don't match, proving they weren't copied from the same source; masters in different regions pass them down according to their own customs.

The method of repayment is burning paper: buy a type of paper called "Life-Received Money," pick a day, put it in a bag, write the name, birthday, and zodiac sign on it, and burn it at a crossroads or in a temple. Some say you repay once in a lifetime, some say you must repay several times, and some say parents can repay on behalf of underage children.

The custom itself is just burning a bit of paper; it costs very little. In some places, the whole family goes together, just for peace of mind. In recent years, a type of person has emerged online who turns it into a business: they tell you how much you owe in your fate, claim disaster will strike if you don't repay, and say you must hire them to "burn on your behalf," charging thousands for a single session.

Burning a little yourself following the old rules, and being scared into spending thousands by someone else, are two completely different things.

#Folklore #网络转载 #民间习俗 #闽台