Friday 30 March 2007

Cantonese Traditional Customs/Taboos (广东民间禁忌)

Dear All,
 
Here's some intro on the Cantonese traditional customs (taboos).
 
For those who cant read it, pls perform a download from the attachement for the word copy.
 
广东民间禁忌 (Cantonese Traditional Customs/Taboos)

正月初一日祀神后出行,须向喜神、财神、贵神方位而去,忌向鹤神方位行,避免不利。
 
On the 1st day of Lunar 1st Month, after paying respect to their home Deities, the Cantonese will carry-on with their visiting.
 
Once they step-out from the house, they will have to face/move towards the direction of Deity-of-Happiness, Deity-of-Wealth and Deity-of-Prosperity and not towards the direction of Deity-of-the- Crane, this is to avoid any unlucky issues occurred on that day.
 
正月初三日(俗称赤口),忌外出探亲访友。
 
On the 3rd day of Lunar 1st Month, the Cantonese will avoid going-out, cos this day is believed to be the Day-of-Conflict (once go-out, people will easily get annoyed or being-irritated) .
 
春节元旦祀神时,忌童子口出不吉祥之言。
 
On the night of ushering the Lunar New Year (paying respect to the home Deities), parents/adults will prevent children from saying any unlucky or crude messages.
 
是日忌扫地向门外扫出和泼水出户外。
 
On New Year Day, no sweeping or splashing of water is allowed.
 
清明节,忌妇女扫墓。
 
During Qing Ming Festival, ladies are not allowed to do Tombs-Visiting.
 
七月烧衣节,祭品中忌无设龙眼。
 
During the 7th Month, among all the offerings, Longans must be included.
 
十二月祭灶日,忌妇女祀灶神。
 
While paying respect to Deity of the Kitchen during the Winter Period, ladies are not allowed to get involved.
 
年尾开油镬煮煎堆等食物,是年新丧之家不能举行。
 
If there’s someone in the family pass-on in that year, no cooking of New Year Stuffs/Cookies/ Traditional Food is allowed.
 
嫁娶的禁忌很多 (Taboos on Cantonese Wedding)
 
双方三代有疯疾遗传。
 
If there someone in the family (among 3 Generations) suffered from Mental-illnesses, the Wedding will not be approved by either-side.
 
忌新娘不贞,贻笑亲友。
 
Guys can only marry a Virgin Lady.
 
忌新娘是日来月經,有则改期嫁娶。
 
Wedding day shall avoid the week where the Bride is having “period”. If so, the Wedding will have to postpone to another auspicious day.
 
丧家的禁忌 (Taboos on Cantonese Funeral)
 
孝子居丧时期笑不露齿面不现笑容。
 
During the mourning period, the children of the pass-on shall not joke-around or show any smiling faces to anyone.
 
守丧三年未满忌娶妻。
 
During the 3 years of mourning, no marriages shall be arranged.
 
灵位两旁的纸扎妹娣,孩童不可乱玩。
 
During the Funeral period, no one is to play or making-fun of the paper-dolls that being placed beside the coffin.
死者死后三周(二十一天)俗称回魂时期,家人须躲避,否则会撞着鬼差不利。
 
On the 21st day of the pass-on, all other family members are to avoid staying at home as the folks believed that, on this day, the soul of the pass-on will returned home with the accompany of the Ghostly-Soldiers and if anyone will to see/meet with the Ghostly-Soldiers, the person will get bad-luck.
 
丧家挂上亲友挽联、祭帐,如有跌下,如有跌下,忌再挂上,否则有发生重丧。
 
If any of the Funeral scrolls or couplets dropped after hanging, these items shall not be hung back again.
 
孝子居丧期,忌犯房事。
 
During mourning period, no sexual-actions shall be practised.

生育的禁忌 (Taboos on Giving-birth)
 
怀孕四个月,不要与邻近孩童玩耍,以致患病,被人拜四眼(被人指责)发生流产。
 
On the 4th Month of Pregnancy, the pregnant lady shall not played or joke with any children, this is to avoid people from making curses to the pregnant lady and resulting in miscarriage.
 
孕妇忌吃蟹,有横生逆产之险。
 
Pregnant ladies shall avoid eating crabs as to request for smooth-delivery of the babies.
 
孕妇忌在母家生产,否则于母家不利。
 
Pregnant ladies shall avoid giving-birth at their parents’ place, this is to avoid bringing bad-lucks to the parents or the whole family.
 
孕妇忌夜出或入庙,恐受邪侵。
 
Pregnant ladies shall avoid going out at night or visiting Temples (This refer to all Dialect Clans).
 
产后忌生客入房,致婴孩啼声不止。
 
After giving-birth, try to avoid any strangers from entering the room when the baby is resting, this is to avoid the baby from non-stop crying.

关于行的禁忌 (Taboos on Traveling)
 
忌晨早撞僧尼。
 
While traveling, try not to meet-up with any Monks or Nuns.
 
行通济(桥名)时走回头路。
 
While walking on the streets/bridges, try to avoid turning-back or make any “U”-turn.
 
忌远行出门时忘祭路神。
 
Always remember to pay respect to the Road Deities before setting-off.

Hun Yuan Sect Taoist Names' Sequence (道教混元宗八十字輩列表)

Dear All,

 

Here's a list of the 80 characters (2 sets) for the Taoist Names of different Generations/ Lineage for Taoism HUN YUAN Sect.


Set No 1


混元乾坤祖

Hun, Yuan, Qian, Kun, Zu

 

天地日月星

Tian, Di, Ri, Yue, Xing

 

三教諸經師

San, Jiao, Zhu, Jing, Shi

 

金木水火土

Jin, Mu, Shui, Huo, Tu

渾合本空洞

Hun, He, Ben, Kong, Dong

 

朝謁上玉京

Chao, Xie, Shang, Yu, Jing

 

虛無生一氣

Xu, Wu, Sheng, Yi, Qi

 

良久歸太清

Liang, Jiu, Gui, Tai, Qing  

Set No 2


一永通玄宗

Yi, Yong, Tong, Xuan, Zong

 

道高本常清

Dao, Gao, Ben, Chang, Qing

 

德祥恭敬泰

De, Xiang, Gong, Jing, Tai 

 

義久復圓明

Yi, Jiu, Fu, Yuan, Ming

混元三教主

Hun, Yuan, San, Jiao, Zhu

 

天地君親師

Tian, Di, Jun, Qin, Shi

 

日月星斗真

Ri, Yue, Xing, Dou, Zhen

 

金木水火土 

Jin, Mu, Shui, Huo, Tu 

Thursday 29 March 2007

Min Nan (Hokkien) Traditional Customs (Taboos) (閩南民间禁忌)

Traditional Min Nan (Hokkien) Customs (Taboos)

 

客人在座时扫地,被人认为是逐客,有失礼仪;

 

When there’re guests around, never sweep the floor, this shows that you are trying to chase the guests off.

婚庆筵席上,客人不慎打破碗碟汤匙等餐具最为犯忌,被视为不吉祥的征兆;

 

During dinners (for all Happy Occasions), when someone break any items, this is considered as not prosperity.


与亲友进餐时,筷子不要插在饭上,因祭祀时往往在饭上插香。这是对人的不敬;

 

While having meals (with other people around), never stick (up-right) the chopsticks into the rice-bowl, this considered as disrespect to other people.

招待客人时,最忌讳摆六盘菜,因为依清朝旧例,死囚临刑前才食以六盘菜肴;

 

While serving guests, never prepared 6 dishes (only), cos according to Qing Dynasty Records, 6 dishes are mend for Prisoners who had been sentenced to death (different from the Teochew Customs, for Teochew, never used 3 dishes). 

在婴儿面前不要谈猴,认为谈猴会招致婴儿多病难养;

 

In-front of new-born babies, never used the word “Monkey” in any of the conversation, cos the folks believed that, by saying this word, it will bring “illnesses” to the babies.

也不要夸婴儿肥胖,要说好看好养

 

Never make praises like Very Good Lookingor “So easy to take-care-off” in-front of any new-born babies.
 

Customs for making “Stove”

 

筑灶前,必择一吉日良辰,一般于深夜子时,由泥水匠将灶间的屋顶的瓦片掀开,然后才动工砌造,此称砌"见天灶"

 

Before the folks can start to work on constructing the “Stove”, an auspicious date (according to Lunar Calendar) must be chosen.

 

On that day, usually at around 11pm-1am, the Masters for constructing the “Stove” will have to open a hole on the roof-top directly above the “Stove” area, then only the construction allowed to be commenced.

 

This is to allow the “Stove” to face the Heaven, known as “Jian Tian Zhao (hkk: Ghee Thian Zao)”

 

先砌好灶的底部,再切灶面。

 

The construction will start from making the base of the “Stove” first and then the whole “Stove”.

 

在里面放置五谷种子,再置灯火一个,即在瓦片一小凹碟里,斟满生油和置灯芯五条,再取"乾隆通宝"铜钱二枚,一正一反压于灯芯之上,然后用红砖粘灰浆把小方格封固,再于其上继续砌筑烟囱,直至屋顶为止。

 

While constructing the chimney for the “Stove”, a few stuffs needed to take note:

 

1.     open a small square slot on the chimney wall

2.     inside the slot, 5 types of grains must be put into that

3.     light a lamp near the chimney

4.     inside the slot, placed a small saucer and in the saucer, it must be filled with cooking oil, lamp-bud and 2 ancient coins (1 facing up and 1 facing down)

5.     after everything is ready, seal the small slot up

 

Only after sealing the slot, then the Masters can continue to construct the other parts of the chimney.
  

砌完灶后,当晚必蒸一锅米饭,俗称"炊灶饭",然后将灶饭盛入饭壶中,又备小三牲及五味碗以及酒瓶酒盏,排列灶前,并用红纸书写"灶君司令""东厨司令灶君",贴在排楼式的烟囱座上,主人焚香供奉灶君,祈求保庇,少顷烧金放炮。

 

After the constructing of the whole “Stove” is completed, on that night, the owner of the house will have to cook a pot of rice on the new stove.

 

In Chinese, it’s called “Chui Zhao Fan (hkk: Cui Zao Pheng)”.

 

After the rice is cooked, the owner will have to prepare the other offerings, together with the rice, pay respect to the Kitchen Deity.

 

之后宴请筑灶师傅,以徵来日大发之吉兆。

 

After the paying of respect, the owner will have to give the Construction Masters a treat.

 

Wednesday 28 March 2007

Poster for Guang Ze's Birthday




Dear All,

Here's a poster for all (members/temples/organisations) to download and possible distribute to all others.

This is to promote the Culture of Lord Guang Ze (Ancestor of the Nan An Clan).

Tuesday 27 March 2007

Teochew Traditional Customs (潮州民间禁忌)

潮州民间禁忌 (Teochew Traditional Customs)

 

平时,妇女除年老者外,不能全身穿黑色衣服,更不能穿它做客。除了带孝的妇人,发上不能戴白花、黑花发卡。女人的裤子尤其裤衩不能晾晒在人家常走的路上。

 

For Teochew old grannies, they are not allowed to wear fully-black color clothing.

 

As for those who are not mourning for someone, they are not supposed to put any white-flower or black-flower hair-pins on their head.

 

Ladies’ pants are not allowed to be hung on/along pathways that are frequently-used by people.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

孩子吃饭不能用盘、碟盛饭,这样会使肠肚变浅,长大后气量变小,胸怀狭窄。

While having meals, children are not allowed to use plates for their rice, the Teochews believed that by doing so, the stomachs of these children will turn shallow and when they grow-up, they will become very petty and stingy people.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

不能让孩子吃饭时离开饭桌,否则孩子读书会象吃饭一样精神不集中,魂不守舍。吃饭时,桌上的菜必须是双数,不能奇数。潮人忌吃三个菜,那是死囚伏法前吃的。

 

During meals, children are not supposed to leave the table or dining-area, if not, these children will not be able to concentrate during their studies. 

 

On the dining table, for every meal, the number of dishes prepared must in even number, for the Teochew Customs, 3 dishes (odd) are only mend for Prisoners.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

在结婚的喜席上,客人不能吃鸡肉盘子里的四点金”——鸡头、双翅、尾巴。

 

During Wedding Dinner, guests are not allowed to eat the “Four Treasures” – which are, Chicken Head, a pair of Chicken Wings and the Chicken “Buttock”.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

主人请喝工夫茶,不能不喝,如果不喝,这叫却之不恭。

 

For Teochew Customs, when Owner of the house served you with Chinese Tea (Kung-fu Tea), you will have to drink it, if not, this will show dis-respect to the owner.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

前屋后、村前村后的古树老木如榕、松、柏等称作风水树,有树神,不能咒骂、撒尿,更不能伤笋砍伐。

Trees infront, at the back of houses or villages, are all consider as Deities. No one is to make any comments about the trees, reprimands them, urine on them or hurt them using any objects.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

路上不能拾树上掉下来的水果,捡塘里跳上来的鱼,或捉洞里爬出来的穿山甲,更不能拿它们作赠送亲友的礼物。

 

No one is to pick any fruits dropped from the trees, bring back any fishes that “jumped-up” from ponds or catch any ant-eaters that crawl-out from holes. Needless to say, never give them to anyone as gifts.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

庆、节日也有许多禁忌。如:喜庆节日、送亲朋出远门最忌摔坏杯、盘、锅、碗,这会被看作美好的事物被破坏,很难复原。

During Festivals, no-one is to break any items, if this will to happen, the Teochews believed that all the Good-things will be broken and difficult to “put them back” (all good luck will be affected).

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

再如:正月初仪不能举行婚礼,中元节前后一个月不作夜行,中秋节供品应是斋品,娘家不留已婚的女儿过冬节等。

 

During the 1st Lunar Month, couples are not allowed to marry, one month before and after the 7th Lunar Month – people are not allowed to go-out during night, Offerings for Mid-Autumn shall be all vegetarian stuffs and married-off daughters are not allowed to go-back to their parents’ place for Dong-Zhi Festival (Winter).

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

礼节上的禁忌也颇多。如:给人送喜礼或喜钱要偶数不可奇数,还须贴上一小方块大红纸。

For giving tokens to Wedding or Happy Occasions, the amount must in Even.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

相反,办丧事就得用奇数而不能用偶数。

 

Whereas for Funerals, the amount must be in Odd.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

探亲访友看望病人要在上午,不能在下午,只有送葬出殡才在下午进行的事。

 

While visiting a patient, the visiting time shall be in the morning (before 12noon), cos the Teochews believed that after 12noon, such timings are mend for Funeral.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

平时用语要避开说七日百日,那是办丧事的术语。

 

For daily/normal conversations, try to avoid using sentences like: “7days”, “100days” or anything associate with Funeral.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

人在屋外死后,不能再抬回家里,家里死了人,向亲朋报丧时,只能站在门外,不能进入屋里。

 

Anyone will to pass-on outside his/her home, the corpse is not allowed to be carried into the house.

 

While doing informing on someone’s passing-on, the person who went to do the informing can only stand outside the house or main gate.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

怀孕的妇女不能抱人家的孩子。

 

Pregnant ladies are not allowed to carry other people’s children.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

儿辈不能提长辈的名字,生活中遇到与长辈名字相同或谐音的物、事要绕开,或称别称,儿辈取名更不能取与长辈的名字有相同的字。

 

Younger generations are not allowed to directly say-out any Older generations’ names or titles.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

平时通信中禁忌用红色水写信封字、信内正文。因为只有休书,亡人的报丧信件才用红字书写。

 

While writing letters or any other documents, try to avoid Red-color ink, cos Red-ink can only be used in Divorce-letter or letter-of-Condolence.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

祭拜祖先忌用无带皮的肉,去掉鳞的鱼,否则是对祖先不恭、不孝。

While preparing Offerings for Ancestors, never used meats that are without any skins or fishes without any scales, this shows dis-respect to the Ancestors.

 

Saturday 24 March 2007

Taoism Spiritual Weapons Introduction (道教法器簡介)

user posted image

名稱: 奉旨令牌

特色: 奉旨令牌專管陰陽鬼神,若召神時,即能封神晉升。若召鬼魂時,亦能奉旨於鬼魂投胎轉生。但必須具備官侯資格之道士,方能守持奉旨敕封鬼神。


Name: Feng Zi (Announcement Block, in Hokkien: Hong Ji)

Usage: Used for the controlling of Deities and Spirits. Can be used to appoint tasks to Deities or Spirits. Once this Annoucement Block is in one person's hand, he is authorised with the Celestial Power of summoning Deities and Spirits to work for him/her.

user posted image

名稱: 總召萬靈令牌

特色: 道教三清調召萬靈之牌令,雕刻於五雷令牌之後,為超渡靈魂時,作為召告的令牌。


Name: Zhao Wan Ling (Summoning of ALL Beings)

Usage: Used to summon all forms of Beings (Heavenly, Hell, etc). Used during the Rituals of Savaging the death and so.

Usually come together with the "Five Thunder Summon".

user posted image

特色: 天蓬尺為天蓬元帥掌管令,賜尺度人,守持不怠與決令行,其它亦有二十八宿、南斗圖形、祖師金鼎妙化真人敕令地司太歲殷元帥部領麾下收妖文字。

Name: Tian Peng Chi

Usage: Own by Heavenly General Tian Peng. Used to gauge on a person's good or bad.

user posted image

名稱: 打鬼棒

特色: 道教法器棒上雕刻著打邪滅巫朱元帥、行刑拷鬼孟元帥。主要功能是滅除邪行巫師及拷打鬼魅。


Name: Da Gui Bang (Rod for beating Ghosts)

Usage: Used to get rid of Evil Spirits by Masters. Belongs to Heavenly General Zhu and General Meng
 
user posted image

名稱: 五雷令

特色: 道教三清雷部令,作為號令鬼神的令牌。


Name: Wu Lei Ling (Five Thunder Summoning)

Usage: Belongs to the San Qing Thunder Section. Used to summon different forms of Deities and Spirits.
 

Zheng Yi Sect Taoist Names' Sequence (正一天師道五十字輩列表)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now in Singapore, the oldest Zheng Yi Master's lineage is "Ding". (They are Hokkien Master - Tan Kok Hian and Hainanese Master - The Ong Brothers)

Zheng Yi Sect Taoist Names' Sequence (正一天師道五十字輩列表)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now in Singapore, the oldest Zheng Yi Master's lineage is "Ding". (They are Hokkien Master - Tan Kok Hian and Hainanese Master - The Ong Brothers)

Tuesday 20 March 2007

Chinese Funeral Practises (Notes) (白事問之)

Dear All,
 
I have compile a set of notes on Chinese Funeral (local practises - Hokkien Clan).
 
If you are interested, can do a download from the attachment.
 
In the notes, it covered the following points:
 
1. What you see in a Chinese Funeral
2. What must be done during the Wake
3. What are the issues involved after the Wake
 
Thank you
 
(May all stay Huat and Luck after reading)