Abstract
The custom of burning paper effigies during religious rites derives from Chinese beliefs that continuity exists between the world of the living and the dead. The custom has played a significant role until recently, now threatened with disappearance. The traditional craft is also being replaced gradually by technological developments and the lack of skilled craftsmen. By comparing the techniques and designs of traditional and contemporary paper effigies, the thesis aims to suggest a new method for creating paper house effigies.