Manifestation Anniversary (Birthday) of Kitchen Deity (九天司命灶君聖誕)

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Kitchen Deity aka Lord Zao Jun, the Deity that being appointed to look into issues that are associated with Cooking and Daily Life of a Household.

In the Ancient Era, Paying Respect to Zao Jun was a MUST DO event every year, even Emperors were had to make their Respect to Zao Jun in-order to request for Blessing for the Country and Commoners.

On the 3rd Day of Lunar 8 Month, Taoists & Chinese will prepare the necessary Offerings, such as Wine, Chinese Tea and some Cooked Stuffs to offer to Zao Jun, in-order to repay the Gratitude to him for keeping the Household Blessed.

And on the 24th Day of Lunar 12 Month, Taoists & Chinese will prepare Sweet Stuffs & Wine to offer to Zao Jun before Zao Jun returned to Heavenly Realm to do his Annual Reporting to Jade Emperor of Heaven.

Okay, back to the main Topic.

Lord Zao Jun Manifestation Anniversary falls on the 3rd Day of Lunar 8 Month (in 2008, it falls on 2 Sep, Tuesday).

On this Day, remember to prepare the the Offerings and then placed them on your Stove or Cooking Area to pay respect to Lord Zao Jun.

More info here: http://javewu.multiply.com/photos/album/78

And so, what to prepare?

According to our Chinese Custom & Folks Practice, here are some recommended items to be prepared for the paying respect:

1 Five Oranges (桔子)
2 Longevity Noodles (壽麵)
3 Longevity Peaches (壽桃)
4 Ang Ku Kueh (紅龜粿)
5 Huat Kueh (發糕)
6 Rice Wine (米酒)
7 Chinese Tea (茶)
8 Paper Offerings (紙料)
9 Candles (蠟燭)
10 Flowers or Lotus (鮮花或蓮花)

Once all these stuffs are prepared and ready, placed them on the Stove or Cooking Area.

1st, pay respect to the Heaven & the Main Deities in the House, then proceed to the Kitchen.

Make a Bow in front of the Offerings and then sincerely kneel down and proceed with the following Passage (for those who know how to recite the Bao Gao of Zao Jun):

今逢。
Jin Feng.

九天司命定福灶君。(拜)
Jiu Tian Si Ming Ding Fu Zao Jun (Bow)

千秋聖誕之期。
Qian Qiu Sheng Dan Zhi Qi.

南洋新加坡共和國。 (你的住址) 。
Nan Yang Xin Jia Po Gong He Guo. (Your Address)

信士 (你的名字) 。及闔家同人。
Xin Shi (Your Name). Ji He Jia Tong Ren.

於此。
Yu Ci

虔備薄禮酒儀。
Qian Bei Bo Li Jiu Yi.

敬向。
Jing Xiang.

九天司命定福灶君。(拜)
Jiu Tian Si Ming Ding Fu Zao Jun (Bow)

虔誠請安。慶賀聖誕。
Qian Cheng Qing An. Qing He Sheng Dan.

於此虔祈。
Yu Ci Qian Qi.

九天司命定福灶君。(拜)
Jiu Tian Si Ming Ding Fu Zao Jun (Bow)

定壽定祿定富貴。福賜一門萬事興。
Ding Shou Ding Lu Ding Fu Gui. Fu Ci Yi Men Wan Shi Xing

灶前美餚常不停。君尊賜恩萬民敬。
Zao Qian Mei Yao Chang Bu Ting. Jun Zun Ci En Wan Min Jing

以佑。
Yi You.

信士 (你的名字) 。及闔家同人。
Xin Shi (Your Name). Ji He Jia Tong Ren.

一年平安常在。月月福佑不怠。
Yi Nian Ping An Chang Zai. Yue Yue Fu You Bu Dai.

四季神光普照。萬事遂心安在。
Si Ji Shen Guang Pu Zhao. Wan Shi Sui Xin An Zai.

於此。
Yu Ci.

信士 (你的名字) 。及闔家同人。
Xin Shi (Your Name). Ji He Jia Tong Ren.

敬向。
Jing Xiang.

九天司命定福灶君。(拜)
Jiu Tian Si Ming Ding Fu Zao Jun (Bow)

獻三拜三叩禮。
Xian San Bai Li.

一拜。再拜。三拜。禮成。(起立)
Yi Bai. Zai Bai. San Bai. Li Cheng (Raise)

After rising, make another sincere Bow and then left the spot.

After about 15 minutes, retrieve the Paper-offerings and then burn them off.

And so, the whole Paying Respect to Lord Zao Jun is considered end.