WEBVTT

00:00:03.438 --> 00:00:06.932 
Submerging offerings, Tet or the days of
worship, burning votive paper is still a 

00:00:06.932 --> 00:00:09.178 
familiar activity in the lives of many Vietnamese families. 

00:00:09.998 --> 00:00:13.739 
However, along with social changes, the
story of how to burn properly is 

00:00:13.739 --> 00:00:15.178 
being raised more and more. 

00:00:15.538 --> 00:00:18.326 
According to cultural expert, Associate
Professor Dr. Bui Xuan Dinh, the custom 

00:00:18.326 --> 00:00:21.578 
of burning votive paper originates from
the concept of sharing wealth with the deceased. 

00:00:21.958 --> 00:00:26.138 
the belief that people going to the
afterlife will continue a life similar to the afterlife. 

00:00:26.138 --> 00:00:30.283 
Initially, this was a humane replacement
step, when real utensils and offensive 

00:00:30.283 --> 00:00:33.738 
forms of burial were gradually replaced
by symbolic votive paper. 

00:00:34.178 --> 00:00:38.607 
However, over time, burning votive paper
tends to modernize with many products 

00:00:38.607 --> 00:00:42.298 
imitating from luxury items such as
mansions, cars or electronics. 

00:00:42.698 --> 00:00:46.614 
This change partly distorts the original
meaning, leading to costs and 

00:00:46.614 --> 00:00:49.818 
environmental consequences, fire safety
as well as community activities. 

00:00:50.501 --> 00:00:55.143 
The votive paper market for many years
has been very rich and diverse and many 

00:00:55.143 --> 00:00:56.381 
things are very expensive. 

00:00:56.381 --> 00:01:03.181 
then that's that psychological factor
that creates the race to compete with 

00:01:03.181 --> 00:01:06.581 
each other to solve a part 

00:01:06.581 --> 00:01:12.581 
the psychology is filial piety to
parents, but actually that psychology is 

00:01:12.581 --> 00:01:14.081 
causing things that 

00:01:14.081 --> 00:01:21.401 
in goods today is made from materials
that have a way of containing 

00:01:21.401 --> 00:01:26.800 
the benzene is the substance that is
harmful to the environment and affects 

00:01:26.800 --> 00:01:27.410 
human health, yeah yeah 

00:01:27.410 --> 00:01:29.843 
According to experts, if votive paper
burning is still maintained, it should 

00:01:29.843 --> 00:01:34.198 
be limited to symbolic levels, small
scale, ensuring safety and not affecting the surrounding environment. 

00:01:34.915 --> 00:01:35.935 
We see that just 

00:01:36.002 --> 00:01:41.827 
Before the July rush and Tet 23rd of the
lunar month, burning is happening here 

00:01:41.827 --> 00:01:45.322 
and there, causing fires due
to burning votive paper. 

00:01:46.202 --> 00:01:50.742 
And the votive paper market has been
somewhat quiet, it is going down. 

00:01:51.862 --> 00:01:54.522 
However, it's just the beginning. 

00:01:55.182 --> 00:01:57.922 
And this is a very difficult campaign. 

00:01:58.294 --> 00:02:02.102 
Accordingly, the ritual does not lie in
the quantity or form of offerings but in 

00:02:02.102 --> 00:02:04.134 
the spiritual meaning and sincerity of each family. 

