joss

"Joss" is an old word used mainly in English descriptions of Chinese religion and folk belief. It usually means a Chinese god or an idol that represents that god in a temple or shrine. You may also see it in phrases like "joss house" for a temple or "joss stick" for incense used in worship. It is not a common everyday word now, but it still appears in historical writing and in set expressions.

The word "joss" has an old-fashioned feel in English and is tied to Chinese religious life as seen by foreign traders and writers. It usually refers to a Chinese deity or to the image of that deity kept in a temple or shrine. In many cases, the line between the god and the idol in the wording is a little loose, so the word has been used for both.

The word is especially familiar from older phrases such as "joss house," meaning a Chinese temple, "joss stick," meaning a stick of incense, and "joss paper," meaning paper burned as an offering. Because of these expressions, many English speakers have seen the word without using it on its own. Today it can sound dated, and more direct words such as "god," "deity," "idol," "temple," or "incense" are often preferred unless the historical phrase itself is meant.

The history of the term is also interesting. It is widely believed to come from the Portuguese word Deus, meaning "God," which was adapted in trade contact and then entered English. So when you read "joss" in older books or cultural descriptions, think of a Chinese god, an idol of that god, or a word preserved in fixed terms connected with worship.