Within the broad current often called Shenism, offerings to spirits are understood as gestures of reciprocity and reverence, sustaining a living relationship between human communities and the unseen world. At the most basic level, incense is almost always present: joss sticks are lit so that their rising smoke may serve as a subtle bridge between realms, while candles or oil lamps provide a steady light that signifies spiritual presence and attentiveness. Fresh flowers, sometimes including chrysanthemums, further adorn the altar, marking beauty, respect, and the transience of life. These simple ritual elements frame the space in which more substantial gifts are presented.

Food and drink offerings form the heart of many rites. Staples such as cooked rice and noodles, along with meat dishes of pork, chicken, or duck, are commonly set out, as are fruits like oranges, apples, bananas, and other seasonal produce. Sweets, cakes, and pastries may be added, especially during festivals, and tea or alcoholic beverages—particularly rice wine—are poured as libations. The quality and variety of these offerings often reflect both the resources of the worshippers and the perceived dignity or intimacy of the spirit being addressed. In the case of ancestors, there is a marked tendency to present the foods they enjoyed in life, underscoring continuity of affection across the boundary of death.

Alongside these tangible gifts, a rich symbolic economy unfolds through the burning of joss paper and other paper objects. Spirit money—sometimes fashioned as gold and silver ingots—is consigned to the flames so that its value may be transferred to the spirit realm, providing the deceased or other spirits with currency and resources. Paper replicas of houses, clothing, vehicles, and similar goods are likewise offered, expressing the hope that the spirits may enjoy comfort and status beyond the visible world. In some contexts, whole roasted animals or other elaborate offerings appear during major ceremonies or seasonal observances, giving ritual weight to moments of collective remembrance and supplication.

Offerings are not limited to material goods alone. Verbal or written prayers, petitions, and vows accompany the physical acts of giving, articulating gratitude, requests for protection or guidance, and promises of future devotion or good deeds. On certain occasions, music, dance, or theatrical performances are dedicated to the spirits as a form of aesthetic offering, meant to delight and honor them. Across these varied practices, the underlying principle remains consistent: through respectful gifts—of food, fragrance, light, symbolic wealth, and heartfelt words—humans seek to maintain harmony with the spirits, inviting their blessings while acknowledging their enduring presence in the fabric of everyday life.