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Prayers to deities and spirits at the grave

Also called: Văn khấn thần linh ngoài mộ, Văn khấn vong linh ngoài mộ, Khấn quan thần linh nghĩa trang, Sơn thần, Thổ phủ nơi mộ

  • Funeral and mourning rites

Culture and belief A record of custom.

Prayer text for Prayers to deities and spirits at the grave6 texts, kept in Vietnamese, with an English summary.

By custom, when visiting the grave, one first prays to the deities governing the grave area, asking permission and protection, then prays before the grave of the deceased relative. The prayer to deities can be used for tảo mộ (grave tending at Thanh minh), repairing the grave, and bốc mộ (exhumation and reburial).

At a glance

When it is held
Whenever visiting the grave: Thanh minh, year-end, death anniversary, when repairing the grave
For whom
Deities and Thổ Địa (Earth God) governing the grave site; then the spirits of deceased relatives at the grave
Where
At the cemetery, before praying at the grave of the deceased relative
Who makes the offering
The tín chủ (the person making the offering) and family members

Each family and each region may do it differently.

The offering tray

Folk practice, Address to the deities

When
Whenever visiting the grave: tảo mộ at Thanh minh, year-end grave visit, death anniversary, when repairing the grave, bốc mộ
OfferingQuantityVegetarian or not
Xôi (steamed sticky rice) and cakes
White xôi (steamed sticky rice) and a whole boiled capon1 trayMeat or fish
Betel leaves and areca nuts
Betel leaves and areca nuts3 areca nuts, 3 betel leavesVegetarian
Tea, rice wine, water
White wine, tea, cigarettesVegetarian
Flowers
Red roses, a fruit tray10 flowers, 1 fruit trayVegetarian
Incense, lamps, candles
Red cup candles2 cups
Votive paper
Votive paper for the deity officials: clothes, hats, boots, swords, horses, command flags5 sets, 5 five-coloured horses
Vàng mã (votive paper)

Steps of the rite

  1. First pray to the deities and Thổ Địa governing the grave site
  2. Then pray to the spirits at the grave of the deceased relative
  3. Wait until two-thirds of the incense stick has burned, then make the farewell offering, burn votive paper, and ask for lộc (blessed offerings)
  4. Return home to make offerings to the household deities and the ancestors

Communities and regions

Sources

  • Bài khấn thần linh ngoài mộ (hoatieu.vn)
  • Văn khấn vong linh ngoài trời (hoatieu.vn)
  • Văn khấn trong lễ tang (vankhan.vn)

Part of the open datasets Types of Vietnamese offering rites and Vietnamese offering procedures, licensed CC BY 4.0.

More ritesDeath anniversaries, Tết, the home, business, the life cycle, village and ethnic rites.