Global Times｜南通禁止制售纸钱惹争议

今日词汇
manufacture and sale 制造和销售
joss paper 纸钱
superstitious funerary products 封建迷信殡葬用品
spark a heated debate 引发激烈争论
confiscate 没收，充公
service hotline 服务热线
seek clarification 寻求澄清，要求解释
one size fit for all 一刀切，一棒子打死
disrespectful 不尊重的，不敬的
lacking compassion 不近人情
local civil affairs bureau 当地民政局
spiritual civilization construction 精神文明建设
worship/honor/pay tribute to ancestors 祭祖
memorialize online 网上悼念，在线纪念
traditional rituals 传统仪式
penalize 处罚，罚款
merchant 商人，商家
simplistic and crude 简单粗暴地



Prohibition of manufacturing, selling joss paper in Nantong before Qingming Festival sparks heated debate
Mar 27 By Global Times

Authorities of Nantong, Jiangsu Province, issued a release on Monday banning the manufacture and sale of joss paper and other "superstitious" funerary products by any unit or individual, sparking a heated debate as the traditional Chinese Qingming Festival approaches.
周一，江苏省南通市有关部门发布公告，禁止任何单位或个人制造和销售纸钱和其他“封建迷信”殡葬用品，随着中国传统清明节的临近，这一消息引发了一场激烈的争论。

The Nantong authorities referred these items, burned to pay tribute to the decreased, as "superstition funeral supplies." They stated that individuals who violate the regulation will have these items confiscated and may face a fine ranging from one to three times the amount of the manufacture or sale.
南通市有关部门将这些焚烧祭奠逝者的物品称为 "封建迷信殡葬用品"。他们表示，违反规定的个人将被没收这些物品，并可能面临制造或销售金额一至三倍的罚款。

The decision by Nantong authorities has sparked a heated debate. The service hotline "12345" in Nantong received numerous phone calls seeking clarification, with some disagreeing with the regulation, calling it "one size fit for all." Some netizens also called the policy disrespectful to tradition and lacking compassion.
南通官方的决定引发了激烈的争论。南通12345服务热线接到了许多要求澄清的电话，一些人不同意这一规定，称其为“一刀切”。一些网友还称该政策不尊重传统，不近人情。

Later, in a move to defend their actions, the local civil affairs bureau said that they had not prohibited the use of joss paper and emphasized the decision was made out of spiritual civilization construction and environmental protection. Authorities in Nantong have also published an initiative suggesting that people adopt environmentally friendly ways to pay tribute to their ancestors, including offering flowers, planting trees and memorializing online.
后来，当地民政局为自己的行为辩护时表示，他们没有禁止使用香纸，并强调这一决定是出于精神文明建设和环境保护的考虑。南通当局还发布了一项倡议，建议人们采取环境友善的方式向祖先致敬，包括献花、植树和在线纪念。

China National Radio commented that burning joss paper is just a part of traditional rituals. Local officials could call for people to honor their ancestors through other environmentally friendly ways, but they shouldn't prohibit it, and even penalize merchants manufacturing and selling joss paper in a simplistic and crude manner.
中国国家广播电台评论说，焚烧冥纸只是传统仪式的一部分。地方官员可以呼吁人们通过其他环保方式来纪念祖先，但他们不应该禁止，甚至惩罚以简单粗暴的方式制造和销售香纸的商家。