KAOHSIUNG – The Kaohsiung City Government says it hopes to promote more environmentally friendly practices related to both funerals and traditional holidays that involve ancestor worship. The largest of these, of course, is Tomb Sweeping Day (清明節 – Qingming Jie) which generally falls in early April. The city is teaming up with local social welfare organizations to encourage the reduction of joss paper burning. Old habits are hard to change, officials admit, but the approach is to make slow, steady gains every year.
In 2025 the Kaohsiung Civil Affairs Bureau will promote the idea of contributing to social welfare instead of burning what’s sometimes called “hell money,” and will set up donation booths at public columbarium locations. “We invite all citizens to honor their ancestors by transforming their reverence into charitable support for underprivileged communities,” said Civil Affairs Bureau Director Yan Ching-chih. “This initiative respects tradition while promoting public welfare.” The Bureau is also urging the public to prioritize safety (and environmental protection), as fires often break out during tomb-sweeping activities. Officials say they hope people will adhere to some basic rules: Don’t use fire for weed removal, refrain from burning paper money, skip setting off firecrackers, and clean up garbage and other items after finishing.
AmCham Kaohsiung English News/KH City Govt
