Picture: From paper money on the right to houses on top and suits with a mobile phones on the bottom: everything can be used in the afterlife.
One pillar of the Chinese civilization is their respect for their departed ancestors. For example on the Day of the Dead deceased ancestors are worshipped and their graves are cleaned (a custom also practised in Japan). In China people believe that one has to provide goods for the deceased in order to keep them happy. Emperor Qin for example buried in Xian a whole Terracotta army with him as he hoped they will follow him into his afterlife. The custom of worshipping ancestors has remained a cornerstone of the Chinese culture. If one visits a Chinese temple today one can still see people burning fake money, paper suits and toy mobile phones so that the deceased can use them in the afterlife. 
Picture: Preparations for a Buddhist festival in Chengdu.
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