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清明時節雨紛紛。
路上行人欲斷魂。
借問酒家何處有。
牧童搖指杏花村。
Drizzling to be seen everywhere during Qing Ming Festival.
The Cool-weather assists the People who visiting Tombs to honour their Ancestors to have a Good & Enjoying Mood.
With such a Good Mood, I will like to visit a Wine-inn somewhere around.
By asking the Young Cowherd, I got to know the Best Wine-inn is located in Village Xing Hua.
Above is a Poem to describe the scene of Qing Ming Festival in the Ancient Era.
In the Past, after Tomb-visiting, the Family Members or Friends of the Pass-on will tend to have a short gathering and enjoy the Cooling & Drizzling Weather.
Some of the People will find a Tea-house or Wine-inn to have a drink or some of the people will just find a Clean & Green open-space to have a Picnic. The People will have a great feast on the Offerings that they offered to the Ancestors or Pass-on. With a little sip on the Wine or Tea, the Educated People will recite or create Poems accordingly to what they feel, see and hear.
This is the Joyous Mood of Qing Ming Festival.
In Taoism, besides Honouring the Ancestors & Pass-on, this is also a Day to show Filial Piety, Unity & Gratitude to the Fore-fathers & Pioneers.
In the Ancient Era, to do Tomb-visiting, the whole Family must gathered around to do the Preparation of the Offerings, folding of Paper-ingots and then, when time is up, the whole Family will start their Journey to the Tomb. But in the Modern Era now, due to tight-working schedule and/or the Conversion to Non-Chinese-Religions, a lot of the People had neglected the Importance of such Practices and this is one of the main Reasons that in-directly cause the losing of Family Bonding and Close-relationship among Family Members.
Once Filial Piety & Unity of the Family are Gone, this is a Distorting in the Root of the Chinese, this is something that we needed more time to look into and ponder over.
Besides honouring the Ancestors & Pass-on, on Qing Ming Festival, we shall also offered 3 Incenses to the Fore-fathers or Pioneers that had assist us in giving us a Good Land to stay-on and providing us with Good Environment to stay-in.
In Year 2009, our Chinese Qing Ming Festival falls on the 10th Day of Lunar 3 Month (05 Apr 2009 - Rat Hour 子時/Singapore Timing 00:33 Midnight). For Chinese Custom, the Honouring of Ancestors & Pass-on will starts 10 Days before and 10 Days after the Main Day, meaning that, for this Year, the Qing Ming Honouring Period will starts on 26 Mar till 15 Apr.
So what to Prepare?
In here, I will suggest a few items that oneself or the Family Members can prepared for the Honouring.
For Food Offerings:
1) Ang Ku Kueh (紅龜粿) as to request for Long Lifespan for the Family Members
2) Fried Carrot Cake (菜頭粿) as to repuest for Prosperity
3) Fa Gao (發糕) as to request for Good Wealth Blessing
4) Sweet Potato Cake (蕃薯糕) as to represent Gold or Wealth
5) Fried Pumpkin Cake (金瓜糕) as to represent Gold or Wealth
6) Chinese Rice Wine (白米酒)
7) Chinese Tea (中國茶)
8) A set of 5 Oranges (五顆桔子) or Apples (五顆蘋果)
9) Spring Onion aka Qing Cong (青蔥)
10) Chinese Chives aka Jiu Cai (韭菜)
11) Beancurd aka Dou Gan (豆干)
12) Meat/Vegetable Roll aka Run Bing (潤餅/薄餅/春卷)
For Paper & Other Offerings:
13) A few stacks of Shou Jin aka San Bao Jin (壽金/三寶金)
14) A Pair of Red Candles (一對紅燭)
15) A Bundle of Good Quality Incenses (上等香)
16) A few Bundles of Jing Yi aka Daily-necessities for the Pass-on (經衣)
17) A few Bundles of Xi Qian (溪錢) aka Kai Lu Qian (開路錢)
18) A few sets of Paper Clothing (男女紙衣)
19) A few stacks of Zu Jin (足金)
20) A few stacks of Zu Yin (足銀)
For Paying Respect to Earth Deities (祭祀後土地祇):
1) A set of 2 Oranges (桔子兩顆)
2) A set of Jian He & Chinese Tea-leaves (餞盒茶葉)
3) A pair of Red Candles (一對紅燭)
4) Three sticks of Incenses (三枝上等香)
5) A stack of Shou Jin aka San Bao Jin (壽金/三寶金)
6) A stack of Tu Di Jin (一份土地金)
Procedure of the Honouring of Ancestors or Pass-on:
Upon reaching the Cemetery, lay-out the Offerings for the Ancestors or Pass-on.
Then proceed to pay respect to the Earth Deities (後土地祇). While paying respect to the Earth Deities, also report to the Earth Deities that who you and your Family Members going honoured (Ancestors or Pass-on's Name). After reporting, burn-off the San Bao Jin (壽金/三寶金) and then proceed back to the Tomb.
Passge to recite as follow:
三枝清香來稟報。
San Zhi Qing Xiang Lai Bing Bao
後土地祇請聞告。
Hou Tu Di Zhi Qing Wen Gao
今逢清明佳節。
Jin Feng Qing Ming Jia Jie
弟子XXX及闔家。
Di Zhi (your Name) Ji He Jia
特備供品。敬供堂上XXX/XXX/XXX/等。
Te Bei Gong Pin, Jing Gong Tang Shang (Ancestors or Pass-on's Names)
與此呼請XXX/XXX/XXX/等。前來領供。
Yu Ci Hu Qing (Ancestors or Pass-on's Names), Qian Lai Ling Gong
在此。弟子亦敬備薄儀。
Zai Ci, Di Zi Yi Jing Bei Bo Yi
答謝後土地祇之守顧。
Da Xie Hou Tu Di Zhi Shou Gu
以此敬拜。奉上。謝過。(化寶)
Yi Ci Jing Bei Feng Shang Xie Guo (Burn Paper-offering)
Once returned, Light the Candles and then Call-upon the Name of the Ancestors or Pass-on, inform them that Today is Qing Ming Festival and the whole Family is here to pay respect to the Who & Who.
呼請XXX/XXX/等來到。
(Ancestors or Pass-on's Name) Deng Lai Dao
XXX/XXX/等。請聞告。
(Ancestors or Pass-on's Name) Qing Wen Gao
今日是清明佳節。
Jin Ri Shi Qing Ming Jia Jie
XXX全家來掃墓。
(Your Name) Quan Jia Lai Sao Mu
特備糕點飯菜。衣物錢財。敬供XXX/XXX/XXX/等。
Te Bei Gao Dian Fan Cai, Yi Wu Qian Cai, Jing Gong Tang Shang (Ancestors or Pass-on's Names)
請XXX/XXX/等。來享用及領受。
Qing (Ancestors or Pass-on's Names) Lai Xiang Yong Ji Ling Shou
After Three Rounds of Offering Incenses and Wine, proceed with the Burning of Paper-offerings. Once the Paper-offerings are being send-off, the whole Honouring will considered as Completed.
Packed the Food-offerings and then distribute-out after leaving the Cemetery. Remember not to waste any of the Food-offerings as most of them have Blessings from the Ancestors & Pass-on. Wasting such Food-offerings is the same as adding Sins & Debts to the Pass-on.
Before leaving, remember to Clean up the Place. This is to prevent Creatures from coming to stay around the Tomb. Once Creatures gathered around, it will bring Negative Issues to the Family Members.
Shifu, you said the offerings are to be shared and not wasted? But I was told that food offered to the deceased are not supposed to be consumed by humans? Please clear my confusion...
ReplyDeleteWahahaha, why cant we consume such Offerings? They are our Ancestors, they are our Parent, they are our Family Members. Will such Offerings being Cursed? Do ponder over these few qns, you will get my point.
ReplyDeletesorry if my question sounds dumb.. I really clueless la. Coz last time when my grandma does the preparation for the honouring and we do eat the offerings after the ceremony, but now she convert to christianity and my mom doesn't know what are the correct procedures... Anyway last year after the ceremony we were eating the offerings some old uncle walk over and tell us cannot eat... he say those offerings all the other ghosts also 'eat' not only our ancestors, say we will be very 'sway' after eating. Lucky I found your site to clear my doubts.
ReplyDeletethere is a typo error in ur site... it should be 牧童遥指杏花村
ReplyDeleteqing ming falls on lunar calendar 3rd mth 10th day? not 9th day???
ReplyDeleteThank you SDC :P
ReplyDeleteYup, this Year is 10th Day, 5 Apr 2009. You must check the Actual Ancient Calendar, you cant see the New One that can be brought from Bookshop, not very accurate.
ReplyDeleteWahahaha, maybe that Old Uncle mistaken what he had heard since young or maybe his luck is down during the time that he ate the offerings. All this are just misconceptions.
ReplyDeleteFor such Offerings, only under 3 circumstances than we dont consume them, they are:
1) when the Offerings turn Bad
2) when the Offerings' color change to Dark Brown or Black (not due to Oxidation)
3) Offerings used to offer to Tragic Died Pass-on (Accidents/Commit Suicide/Murder). This is why, when we doing Offering for Wanderings at Road-side, usually after the honouring, we placed them on the Road and not retriving back, cos we dont know "who" had "consume" the Offerings.
For Offerings for Ancestors, Family Members or Friends, we MUST consume and not wasting much of them. Cos ALL these are Blessing and also a form of Respect to the Pass-on.
What if it's the Ancestors, Family Members or Friends had Passed-on Tragically, as mentioned in point 2?
ReplyDeleteDo we still consume the Offerings?
Yes, as long as they are our Immediate Family Members, we do.
ReplyDeleteyou're welcome... =D
ReplyDeleteHow close is considered Immediate?
ReplyDeleteFamily Members, Relative.
ReplyDeleteRelative of how far?
ReplyDeleteFamily Members include Life-Partner's side?
4 Generations above us and 4 Generations after us.
ReplyDelete3 Families away from Father side and 3 Families away from Mother side (Aunty/Uncle, Cousin & Nephew).
Once oneself get Married, the 3 Families Rule applied too.
hmmm... everywhere i see now write sunday as qing ming instead of monday...
ReplyDeleteMonday is 11th Day. Which day are you refering?
ReplyDeleteJust to clear the doubts that some of you have.
ReplyDeleteThis Year Qing Ming, the Day & Time falls on (China Calendar & Hour):
清明:公历2009年己丑牛年農曆3月9日晚間(23:33:46/10日子時)
Whereas in Singapore (1 Hour late), so it will be 00:33:46 Midnight (The Lunar Rat Hour), so it shall be 10th Day (5 Apr).
This is why, some People tend to mistaken Qing Ming is on the 9th Day (4 Apr).
oooo okok undertood.
ReplyDeleteHahaha, ok ok :P
ReplyDeleteShifu, how do you calculate the hour for the countries? For example, in China, there are many time zones (bec China is very big)... SO when calculating, what do we follow? It's a bit complicated :p
ReplyDeleteGo according to the GMT Time-zone.
ReplyDeleteFor Spore, Malaysia & Indonesia, we must PLUS 1 Hour to the China, Taiwan or Hong Kong hour, in-order to get the Correct Lunar Timing.
May I ask why plus 1? I thought Singapore, HK and China are all GMT +8 so should be in same timezone?
ReplyDeleteYes, they are in the same Timezone, the timing of Sunrise & Sunset is different.
ReplyDeleteI live in Canada and every year I gather all the necessary food and paper offerings and with respect set up the offerings to my ancestors graves for Ching Ming. I have also took the time to prevent any ghosts from consuming the offerings intended for my ancestors by sprinkling some Chinese rice wine around the grave. I am wondering what other things should I do?
ReplyDeleteHi, just to add in the clarification abit more. By sprinkling Chinese Rice-wine around, you will tend to attract more Wanderings to come near, so this is not a Good Solution.
ReplyDeleteIf you did Pay Respect to the Earth Deity as what I have mentioned in the Article, you wont need to worry about the snatching of the Offerings by the Wanderings, cos, Earth Deity will do the necessary assistances & recording of the Offerings that one descendants had offered.
I have a question, every year during Ching Ming, I place several pieces of joss paper on top of the headstones with a rock to secure it after paying respects and presenting the offerings. Could you please tell me what the symbolism is?
ReplyDeleteThere are 3 symbolisations:
ReplyDelete1) This Tomb still belongs to a Family or the Descendants are still Around
2) The Family Members had come to honour the Pass-on of this Tomb for this Qing Ming Festival
3) To show Filial Piety
Before my family goes to the cemetery for Ching Ming, we always go to pay our respects to my great grand mother and great grand father at our Buddhist temple from which their ancestor tablets are placed. When we go to the cemetery, we usually sometime in the month of May on a day suitable according to the Chinese almanac because of the snow in the cemetery is hard to manuvere. Is this alright if we do our Ching Ming ceremony after the actual period of Ching Ming?
ReplyDeleteHi Shifu,
ReplyDeleteMy grandpa's urm and tablet are installed at the Tse Toh Um (next to Guang Ming San). So its like we can't put the offerings in front of grandpa's urn. The offerings have to be put at the common tables set-up outside the place where all the urns are kept. In this scenario how do I prevent wanderings from consuming whats meant for him?
Thats ok, so do not worry. As long as you have pay respect to them during the Festival Period (regardless where), they wil be able to receive the Offerings.
ReplyDeleteRemember to use 3 Incenses to call-upon them from the Urn position. And then lead the 3 Incenses to the Common Table where you all placed the Offerings, this is to lead the Souls of them to the Common Table as soon as you all settle-down. Upon reaching, immediately place the Incenses in the Centre of All the Offerings.
ReplyDeleteDuring the Honouring Period, the whole family try to stay around the Common Table, if not, use the Incense-paper (with Names of the Ancestors written on them) to surround the Food-offerings.
By doing so, this is to prevent from "much loses".
thank you shifu Jave for the quick reply. As the temple doesn't not allow incense to be brought into the room where the urns are kept, can I 'call' grandpa from the doorway of the urn-room? Or do I go to the window nearest his urn to 'call'?
ReplyDeleteI hope I am not bothering you too much with so many questions.
If this is the Case, then you will have to call-upon the Soul from the Main Door or Door-way.
ReplyDeleteThe urn and the tablet (pai wei) is at different halls so I go to the urn to call right? So I put the offerings at the common table outside the urn-room? Do I need to put any offerings at the tablet (pai wei) hall?
ReplyDeleteFor such cases, we will only Offered the Offerings at the Urn Area. Then for the Tablet Area, we just Offered Incenses will do.
ReplyDeleteGood morning Jave, I have a question about certain offerings to ancestors for Ching Ming. Why are spring onions and Chinese chives offered?
ReplyDeleteSpring Onions to represent Intelligent & Wisdom.
ReplyDeleteChinese Chives to represent Prolonging or Long-term.
By offering these 2 items to the Ancestors, we are requesting Blessing, for the Young Children or the other descendants in the future, Good Knowledge & Intelligent.
Hi Jave, thank you for answering my questions so far. This Sunday, my family and I will be making our yearly visit to the Chin Yin Buddhist Temple in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada to pay respects to my great-grandfather (Jett Mah) and my great-grandmother (King Ying Wong) who are enshrined in ancestor tablets for this year's Ching Ming. My family and I pertain to Chinese Buddhism and I was wondering if you have some sort of prayer to offer to my ancestors. Since this is a Buddhist temple, I have to pray to
ReplyDelete南无地藏菩萨 (Namo Ksitigarbha Bodhisttva) to grant blessings for my ancestors and pray for good luck and health for my family. You can see the temple my family goes to on this website: http://www.chinyintemple.org/
hello Shifu Jave,
ReplyDeletecould you tell me the symbolizm of offering the spring roll?
About those paper to fill in the name of the person receiving right? So I fill in grandpa's name and for date what do I write? the date he pass on? or the date that I go to 'sao mu'? Is that all I need to fill in? Do I need to fill my parent's name or all members of the family as the person/people who are sending the offerings?
Spring Roll is to symbolize Unity & Reunion, this is to bless the Whole Family with Stronger Bonding and Unity and also, hoping to have more Descendants.
ReplyDeleteAs for the Paper, only write the Name of the Pass-on, the Date where you all going to the Tomb-sweeping. As for the Name of Senders, usually we only draw Circles and then dot in the Center of the Circle.
What does the Drawing of Circle and Dotting it means?
ReplyDeleteRepresent there are still Descendants honouring the Ancestors. And with the Drawing of the Circle & Dot, the Tu Di will instruct the Souls to collect their OWN Belongings from the "Collection Centre".
ReplyDeleteWhy not Square and Dot? Does the symbols have representation?
ReplyDeleteReunion and Unity. And also, to represent a Complete Cycle.
ReplyDeleteI see.
ReplyDeleteThanks.
Jave can you quickly teach me how to fill up a lu piao cos I am going on this coming friday Thanks
ReplyDeleteYou can refer to the following link to check on the method of filling in the Lu Piao:
ReplyDeletehttp://juin987.multiply.com/photos/hi-res/38/11?xurl=http%3A%2F%2Fjuin987.multiply.com%2Fphotos%2Falbum%2F38%2FPacking_of_Treasure_Box_for_AncestorsDeceased%2311
Then at the Country Column, write this:
中華南方海外省。南洋新加坡共和國。
At the Name Area, write the Name of the Pass on, follow by the Birth Date (正魂陽命), then Pass-on Date (受生大限) and last, the Age (告終XX歲) when the Pass-on take place.
For the time of Pass-on, we can go without it.
Must we circle the words, draw the curly line and tick the places in red?
ReplyDeleteAnd my gandfather is born in China then If I not sure about his village just write the above is okay rite? Thank You Very Much
No need to write the Hometown, cos when the things that you all sending off is in Spore, so must write the one that i posted for you.
ReplyDeleteYes, follow exactly how the Lu Piao is being drawn....
As for the name part, one sintua taught me this way to write for the feng tiao for males
ReplyDeleteName( Blue)
Name( Blue)
Surname ( Red)
府( Blue)
is this applicable to Lu piao? Thanks
Hmmm, you can try and will know of the consequences.
ReplyDeleteThe using of Red to write the Names or Dates are a form of Official Taoist Practice.
but just having feng tiao will be enough rite?
ReplyDeleteFeng Tiao is only an Official Piece of Notice for Sealing the Box and not an Official License or Document to secure the Sending of the Objects to the individual Pass-on.
ReplyDeleteLu Piao, an Official Taoist Document or Petition that being used with the Authority of a few Deities, including the informing to Cheng Huang & Tu Di.
So if any issues will to happen during the Sending or the Objects didnt reach the Pass-on, Cheng Huang & Tu Di will stand-out to do the investigation and make sure that the Send-objects will reached the Individual Pass-on within a Period.
This Lu Piao serve like a Gurantee-license/Insurance that we are using now.
ooo ok thanks =)
ReplyDeletefor the lu piao, if we only know the name and death anniversary, can we do w/o the birthdate and age when pass on? then how abt 籍贯 example 中国安溪人？wat colour shld we use to fill up all this particulars?
ReplyDeletewhere can i get a lupiao . is hou tu actually tu di gong ,
ReplyDeletehey bro, today went to kimzua shop see lupiao.. realised its damn big. but we only bought "modernised" paper bag for the deceased? so any suggestions? can put it inside the bag instead of sticking it outside?
ReplyDeleteBro, usually the Birthday of the Pass-on will be shown on the Tomb-slab or Ash-urn, at home, it will be included in the Tablet. If you really cant find. Then really have to give up the writing of it le... but best to include it in, cos in One Day, there are too many People (might with the same Name) pass-on, so in-order to avoid the "Parcel" from missing... we have to do extra pre-cautions.. :P
ReplyDeleteFor Dialect Group is not that Important, cos once the DOB & DOD are being written, the Spiritual Departments will be able to track.
Use Red to Fill-in.
Lu Piao can be bought at All Paper-offering Shops. Just tell them Lu Piao or 過路文 Guo Lu Wen, the People will know.
ReplyDeleteHou Tu is not Tu Di, but a form of Overall Addressing Term. When we are at the Tomb, we still need to address the Tu Di as Tu Di and not Hou Tu.
Yup, its quite big, about the Size of 2 A3 paper.
ReplyDeleteFor the Lord Tai Yi pic, actually is not very Important, cos the Wordings on it are wrong. So you all can ignore that part.
Just fill in the Particulars and then Pass the Lu Piao onto any form of Parcels or Boxes.
those parcels or shopping bag are quite small.. abit impossible to paste the lu piao onto them... so can fill up the form, then seal it inside the parcels or shopping bag?
ReplyDeleteUsually we dont seal it up. If you cant paste it on, then you can burn it separately with the Bag or Parcel.
ReplyDeleteUse Red to fill in every information including the address and the way I wrote the name? Thanks Jave sorry for troubling you cause I am just a student
ReplyDeletearrr icic kk thanks.
ReplyDeleteMaster Jave, is the 溪錢 the same as the white pieces of paper that are thrown from the funeral procession going to the cemetary? Is this the white paper to "guide" the souls?
ReplyDeleteYup, that type of Paper Money, we also called it Opening of Path Money, in the Ancient Era, this type of Paper Money is used to represent Coins. While the Souls are being "usher" back, on the way, the Souls will needed to pay for the Custom's Fee, so this type of Coins will be used.
ReplyDeleteDuring Funeral, it is known as the Opening Path Money.
During Honouring of Ancestors or Wanderings, it is use to represent Coins.
Need not say Sorry, its my Task to share :P
ReplyDeleteYup, try to use Red to write the Details... if not, Black also can, but not Blue.
Can we use 满面金/满面银 instead of 足金/足銀. Does these 2 types of joss papers have the same usage?
ReplyDelete满面金/满面银 is the Commoner form of addressing term for 足金/足銀.
ReplyDeleteSome area, this is also address as 馬蹄金/馬蹄銀.
Oh, as the 足金/足銀 pics u had post is different from the 满面金/满面银 I bought.
ReplyDeleteCare to share what the different between 平安金 and 三寶金. I came across at the joss paper shop. It look the same. Tks.
Hahaha, different Areas or Shops will have different design of the Zu Jin aka Man Mian Jin.
ReplyDeletePing An = San Bao = Shou Jin. All the 3 are the Same. In some Shops in Singapore, older people also call it Cai Zi Shou Jin (財子壽).
Hi,I would like to enquire the procedure for exhaumation of my Great Grand Mother tomb due to government aquisition of the land.We have already engaged private contractor to do the necessary.My main concern is the exhaumation will take place in midnite,do i need to pray or prepare anything for our ping ann as we are going to cemetry so late.
ReplyDeleteWow, this will be a Big Event, didnt you all engage Priest to do the Chanting before the Exhaumation? This is very Important.
ReplyDeleteUsually such Exhuamation will be carried out before the Sun-rise.
If you engage the Priest, the Priest will guide you on the Procedures.
Hi,I understand the priest will carry out the necessary but what i concern is i have this type of errie feelings going to cemetry especially at late night.Can advise me anything i must do to before & after going to the cemetry.Thanks..
ReplyDeleteNeed not worry too much for such Event, cos you are there to go a Good Deed for your Ancestors.
ReplyDeleteIf you are still not able to calm down, you can do reporting to your Home Deities & Earth Deity before setting off to the Cemetry.
Inform the Deities that where you all going and what you all are there for. Once after the Reporting, drink a cup of Luke-warm Water and then set-off. Once you all reach the Cemetary, the Earth Deity there will assist in Guarding you all.
Ok.Thanks for your swift reply.Cheers!!
ReplyDeleteWelcome :p
ReplyDeleteAnd onething, after returning home, please prepare some Offerings for the Earth Deity. This is to show the Gratitude to him.
After 3 Days, visit any Temples to request for Blessing from the Deities.
But my house got no earth deity. So can i pray without any alter of earth deity and the joss sticks i put outside my house flower pot? How many joss sticks should i offer? Do i need to prepare the 土地金 as well?
ReplyDeleteJust need to get a Huat Kueh to act as Urn. Place the Incenses onto the Huat Kueh after paying respect.
ReplyDeletePrepare 5 Oranges, 3 cups of Tea & Wine, 3 stacks of San Bao Jin & 3 stacks of Tu Di Jin.
After placing the Incenses, burn off the Paper-offerings will do. The Oranges & drinks can leave it there for a Day.
What do i need to offer to earth deity after i return home from the exhaumation ceremony. Do I need to bath with flower water etc.
ReplyDeleteSorry like to add in, where should i place the offering? Which part of the floor in my house or outside the house?
ReplyDeleteDo it outside the House. Just need to get a Huat Kueh to act as Urn. Place the Incenses onto the Huat Kueh after paying respect.
ReplyDeletePrepare 5 Oranges, 3 cups of Tea & Wine, 3 stacks of San Bao Jin & 3 stacks of Tu Di Jin.
After placing the Incenses, burn off the Paper-offerings will do. The Oranges & drinks can leave it there for a Day.
If you want, you can wash urself with Flower Water before doing the Offering.
thank you very much.
ReplyDeleteMaster, I'm just curious... in the lupiao, why are certain characters circled in red?
ReplyDeleteAnd similar practices: red lines drawn adjacent to certain characters in spiritual notices pasted at temples.
What do those mean? Thanks
This is mend for "Please Take Extra Notice" on the Circle Characters for the Spiritual Realms.
ReplyDeleteI have a close friend who just passed on on Sunday morning. The wake was held the very night (today). The deceased was unmarried, died a ripe age of 80+ and the wake was organised by not-so-close-relatives. I noticed that it was done in Buddhist tradition, no incense offered, only a group of people chanting Buddhist scriptures. I wish to send some paper offerings, but her ashes will be thrown off the sea. There will be no proper settling place to make offering. Please advice.
ReplyDeleteIf they are using the Buddhist Method, then I will advise you not to do any form of Burning unless the pass-on enter into your dream and do requesting.
ReplyDeleteYou're right... since i was at the wake, maybe that's just enough to let her know she's remembered. Thanks again.
ReplyDeleteHi Jave
ReplyDeleteMay I check with you? If a young and single immediate member of our family passed away. Should the family continue to make offering to him? According to some elders, we shouldn't make any offering or even honor him together with our ancestor in a ancestral tabblet as the member is deemed as "BU SHI HAO MING REN". It was said the deceased will not be able to accept the honor.
Please advise what is the taoist stance on this issue?
The saying of they are not Hao Ming Ren is Folks Culture.
ReplyDeleteFor us Taoists, honouring is a Must and this will show our Great Compassionate Love and Gratitude to a person.
So in conclusion, the young member can be honour during Festivals.
Hi Jave
ReplyDeleteCan we conclude that we can add the young member name among into the ancestor tablet! Please advise?
Best to separate it in a new one.
ReplyDeleteI am new to your site. Can I ask if we burn the 溪钱 or not? I was advised to throw it in the air but that will create such a mess for the cleaners...Please advise. Thank you
ReplyDeleteHi Mango,
ReplyDeleteXi Qian actually represent Coins, in chinese term known as Kai Lu Qian, meaning throwing this to symbolise that someone is making offering here, so to lead the wanderings/souls to come to this area to collect the offerigs.
During certain Events, throwing of such paper wont get caught due to littering.