Lunar Year Customs – 9th Day of Lunar New Year (農曆正月習俗之初九天公誕)

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Ninth Day of Lunar New Year, known as Tian Gong Dan or Tian Gong Sheng (天公誕/生) aka the Birthday or Manifestation Day of Yu Huang Da Tian Zun (玉皇大天尊) aka Jade Emperor of Heaven.

Due to the myth/records that on this Day, Jade Emperor of Heaven saved the Hokkien Clan during the Chaotic Period in late part of the Chinese History, the 9th Day of Lunar New Year becomes an important Day for the Hokkien Clan.

Just like what the Elders will said in the past, a Hokkien (regardless where the person is, whom the person married to or what Religions the person choose to believe in, etc) who never pay respect to Heaven aka Jade Emperor of Heaven, wont be consider as a Hokkien, cos, the person does not know the Root of Hokkien People and does not know how to show the gratitude to Heaven who had save us the Hokkien, etc.

And so, to certain number of Hokkien, till today, they still retain the custom of paying respect to Jade Emperor of Heaven, no matter where they are, etc.

So what shall be prepared?

Here are the recommended items to prepare:

1 – A pair of Sugar Cane (with Leaves & Roots 一對連頭帶為甘蔗)
2 – A pair of Huang Gao Qian (to be hung on the Sugar Cane 黃高錢)
3 – A Set of Tian Gong Zuo or Tian Gong Deng (usually come in set of 3 天公座)
4 – An Urn (香爐)
5 – A Pair of Red Candles (some will use Yellow 一對紅/黃燭)
6 – A set of 6 Traditional Cookies or Sweets (六甜)
7 – A set of 6 Vegetarian Items (六素)
8 – A set of 5 Oranges (五顆桔子)
9 – A set of 5 Apples (五顆蘋果)
10 – A set of 5 Chinese Pears (五顆香梨)
11 – A Pineapple (一顆黃梨)
12 – A bunch of Green/Unripe Bananas (Pisang Raja, being addressed as Tian Gong Jiao 天公蕉)
13 – A set of Longevity Noodles (if cant, get 9 small bundles of Mee Sua 壽麵/面線)
14 – A set of Longevity Peaches (壽桃)
15 – A set of 9 Red-buns aka Ang Pao (九個紅包子)
16 – A set of 9 Ang Ku Kueh (九個紅龜粿)
17 – A set of Kueh-Neng-Kho (Chinese Sponge Cake – look like Huat Kueh 傳統蛋糕)
18 – A Big Huat Kueh (大發糕)
19 – A Big Nian Gao (大年糕)
20 – A set/bowl of Ji Hong (Traditional Soft-candies 吉紅)
21 – A set/bowl of Tian Gong Bing (Traditional Cookies for Tian Gong 天公餅)
22 – 3 Cups of Chinese Tea (三杯清茶), 3 Cups of Wine (三杯米酒) & 3 Cups of Plain Water (三杯白開水)
23 – Tian Gong Jin 3-9 sets (天公金3-9份), Shou Jin 3-9 sets (壽金3-9份), Gui Ren Paper 3-9 sets (貴人紙3-9份), Paper-robes for Tian Gong (if any 天公袍)
24 – Prepare 3-9 sets of Shou Jin (壽金3-9份) & some Huang Qian Jia Ma (黃錢甲馬) – these are mend for the other Deities that stay beside Jade Emperor while Jade Emperor is out to do the inspection on the Honouring
25 – For those who are preparing the Meat-stuff offerings, you can prepare:
25.1 A Roast Piglet or a piece of Roast Meat (燒豬/燒肉)
25.2 A Cooked whole Chicken with Head, Feet and the Internal-organs (全煮雞)
25.3 A Fried Fish with all the Fins uncut (全炸魚)
25.4 A set of about 3-5 Crabs (全煮蟹)
25.5 A piece of Dried Cuttlefish (干魷魚)
25.6 A plate of Cooked Prawns (全煮蝦)
25.7 A Cooked Duck or Goose (if any 全煮鴨/鵝)
26 – For Taoists, the Five or Ten Offerings will be needed (道教徒則備五或十供)
27 – A Pair of New Brooms are needed (Red-ribbons are to be tied on the handle of the Brooms 一對新掃把)
28 – The Cleansing Incenses & the Urn are needed (so-called Kum-Men-Yen 甘文煙)
29 – 2 Table-banners (to be placed at the front & rear of the Table 兩套桌圍)
30 – A set of Old Shou Jin (老/舊壽金)
31 – Red-paper (for cutting little Paper-cuttings for the Offerings 紅紙)
32 – A Red-bowl with Shi Liu Ye & Clear Yin-Yang Water (a stick of Pomegranate Leave & Warm-water 石榴葉與一碗清水)

So what to do after the preparation?

Once all the items are being prepared, do not let anyone touches it or allowed any one who is founded not very Clean. Try to leave the items at a high level, beyond the reach of Children.

On the Evening of the 8th Day, the setting-up of the Table/Altar will be carried-out. The Leader of the family will need to choose a Good spot for the Honouring. Usually, the Altar will need to face the Sky, best will be, set the Altar outside the House.

Once the Good spot is being chosen, sprinkle the Yin-Yang Water around the area using the Pomegranate Leave. After sprinkle, place the Table on the spot and then, sprinkle the Table with the Water again.

After sprinkle, take 12 pieces of the Old Shou Jin, 3 pieces in a stack, place it under the Table legs (for all the Four Legs), this is to disconnect the Negative Forces that emitted out from the Earth from the Altar (after the whole Honouring, burn the Papers away), then, hang the Table Banner in the front and at the rear of the Altar.

Once ready, invite the Urn out and place at the front of the Altar. For this Honouring Session, can used a stack of Tian Gong Jin to support the Urn, if not, used a Red-plate to hold the Urn, do not let the Urn get-in-contact directly with the Altar.

Once the Urn is being invited out, light an Incense and place it into the Urn, do not let the Urn sits there without any Incense burning, this shows No Respect.

After the Incense is being lighted, light the Kum-Men-Yen and place it under the Altar, allowed the Fumes to surround the area, this is to do the 2nd round of Cleansing. Do not let it stop before All the Offerings are being placed on the Altar.

Now, set up the 2 Candles. Place them at the side of the Urn, do not light until 2300 Hour or while doing the invitation.

Cut the Red-paper into small round shape. Paste on All the Offerings, expect for the Beverages.

Place the 5 sets of Fruits in front of the Urn, then followed by the 6 bowls Sweets & 6 bowls Vege-items, in the center of the 12 bowls, place the Tian Gong Bing & Ji Hong.

Place the Longevity Noodle & Peaches at the side of the 12 bowls.

In the front of the 12 bowls, place the Ang Ku Kueh, Huat Kueh, Nian Gao, Kueh-Neng-Kho & Ang Pao.

Only then, then you place the Meat-stuffs at the front of the Altar (which is nearer to where you will be kneeling down).

Then, place the 9 cups at the edge of the Altar (leave it empty until 2300 Hour or the invitation).

Once All these are being prepared, take out the Sugar Canes and tied it to the legs of the Altar, try to secure it. Once the Sugar Canes are being tied to the Altar, take out the Tian Gong Zuo and then, place it in front of the Urn, use a Red String to secure the Tian Gong Zuo to the Sugar Cane.

Once the Tian Gong Zuo is ready, bring out the 2 new Brooms. Sprinkle the Yin-Yang Water onto the Brooms and then, hide them under the Altar. These 2 Brooms are used to represent the Protectors & Generals that ward-off Negative & Bad Entities from the surrounding.

After All items are being placed on the Altar, sprinkle the Yin-Yang Water on All the Items. This is the 3rd Round of Cleansing.

Once the sprinkle is done, do not allow anyone to go near or touches the Altar.

Take a rest, have a meal, take a nice shower and change to a set of nice and proper clothing. Wait for 2300 Hour to arrive and then starts the Honouring.

During the Honouring Session

Once the clock strikes 2300 or 2330 Hour (Singapore timing), the Leader can lead the whole family to gather at the Altar.

Let the Eldest of the family to light the Candles, this is to symbolize Respect to the Eldest and also, to allow them to request for Prolonging of the Life-span.

Let the young men in the family to light the Kum-Men-Yen and then place them under the Altar, this is to symbolize Strong and able to cope with Stress and Challenge-in-the-Future for the men.

Let the other men pour the Chinese Tea, Wine and Water into the 9 cups.

For ladies, do hold on to a small plate of Fresh-flowers, do not release the Flowers until the Invitation is done.

Once all these are ready, the Men will stand on the Right side of the Altar (while facing the Altar) and Ladies will stand on the Left side of the Altar (while facing the Altar). Then, the Leader of the family will light the Incenses.

After the Incenses are being light, Leader and all the other members are to kneel down.

Upon kneeling down, the Leader will have to do a simple report of who you are, who are the members involved and what is the event today.

And then recite this paragraph:

今逢。
Jin Feng.

新春元始之季。
Xin Chun Yuan Shi Zhi Ji.

又逢。
You Feng.

玉皇大天尊。玄穹高上帝。(拜)
Yu Huang Da Tian Zun. Xuan Qiong Gao Shang Di (Bow)

萬壽聖誕之期。
Wan Shou 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)

蟻民/信男 (你的名字) 。領闔家同人。
Yi Min/Xin Nan (Your Name). Ling He Jia Tong Ren.

於此。
Yu Ci

虔備薄禮酒儀。
Qian Bei Bo Li Jiu Yi.

敬向。
Jing Xiang.

玉皇大天尊。玄穹高上帝。(拜)
Yu Huang Da Tian Zun. Xuan Qiong Gao Shang Di (Bow)

恭祝新春。慶賀萬壽。及達謝庇佑之恩。
Gong Zhu Xin Chun. Qing He Wan Shou. Ji Da Xie Bi You Zhi En.

於此虔祈。
Yu Ci Qian Qi.

玉皇大天尊。玄穹高上帝。(拜)
Yu Huang Da Tian Zun. Xuan Qiong Gao Shang Di (Bow)

皇恩浩蕩降憐憫。聖仁賜福度萬民。
Huang En Hao Dang Jiang Lian Min. Sheng Ren Ci Fu Du Wan Min.

以佑。
Yi You.

蟻民/信男 (你的名字) 。暨闔家同人。
Yi Min/Xin Nan (Your Name). Ji He Jia Tong Ren.

新春富貴。朝朝大吉。
Xin Chun Fu Gui. Zhao Zhao Da Ji.

四季豐收。萬事如意。
Si Ji Feng Shou. Wan Shi Ru Yi.

於此。
Yu Ci.

蟻民/信男 (你的名字) 。領闔家同人。
Yi Min/Xin Nan (Your Name). Ling He Jia Tong Ren.

敬向。
Jing Xiang.

玉皇大天尊。玄穹高上帝。
Yu Huang Da Tian Zun. Xuan Qiong Gao Shang Di

獻三拜三叩禮。
Xian San Bai Li.

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

After rising, the Leader will place the Incenses into the Urn and the Ladies will offer the Flowers onto the Altar and then, respectfully leave the spot.

After 15 minutes, the Leader will offer the 2nd round of Incenses. The other men offer the 2nd round of Chinese Tea, Wine & Water. Do not let the Kum-Men-Yen stop.

After another 15 minutes, the Leader will offer the 3rd round of Incenses. The other men offer the 3rd round of Chinese Tea, Wine & Water. Do not let the Kum-Men-Yen stop.

After another 15 minutes, do throw a round of Puey to ask for permission for burning off the Paper-offerings. If the answer is Yes, then the Paper-offerings can be removed, if not, the Leader will need to offer another round of Incenses.

Once permission is granted, the Leader will hold onto the center Tian Gong Zuo and the Elders will hold onto the other Tian Gong Zuo. The men will chop the Sugar Canes into half and the top-part will be burn-off and lower half will be kept to be distributed out.

The other members will carry the other Paper-offerings (for Tian Gong & the Generals) and the Ladies will hold on to the Flowers, the 9 cups of Beverages and a mini pail of water.

During the Burning

Place the other Paper-offerings at the bottom, then place the Tian Gong Zuo on top of the other Paper-offerings.

Then place the Sugar-canes at the side of the Tian Gong Zuo.

The Ladies will place the flowers around the Tian Gong Zuo.

Once ready, the Leader can pour all the 9 cups of Beverages around the Paper-offerings and then, the Eldest can light the fire.

Once the fire is being lit, one of the Ladies will need to go round the fire with the pail of Water.

While pouring the Water, the rest of the members can go round the fire once. This is to symbolize blessing from Tian Gong and also, the blessing of brightness.

After the Burning

After the burning, its time for the members to enjoy the offerings, but before the enjoying, the removing of the Altar is needed.

The Urn must be kept 1st, if the Incenses in the Urn are still burning, transfer them into the Main Urn on the Home Altar or the Tian Gong Urn.

The Candles are not allowed to be put off, transfer them to the Home Altar.

Once the Urn is removed, removed the Brooms, the Brooms can be used as normal Brooms after the Red-ribbons are being taken-off.

Then now, its time to distribute the Offerings, for those who are not going to eat it, can bring some home. Do not throw any of these offerings. If no one is going to consume the offerings, can give it to the others or neighbours.

Once all items are being cleared and removed, the Honouring for the Year is consider as completed.