Lễ Thiết linh (Thiết linh rite)

Culture and belief A record of custom.

About this rite: when it is held and for whom

Also called: Thiết linh sàng, Lập linh sàng, Lập bàn thờ tang, Lập bài vị, Phục hồn

By custom, after the coffin has been placed in the house, the family sets up the linh sàng (symbolic bed) and linh tọa (mourning altar) for the newly deceased, then performs the Thiết linh rite; the eldest son or the eldest grandson reads the text before the linh vị. The pagoda calls the setting up of the spirit altar and the inviting of the soul to be seated the lễ phục hồn (rite of restoring the soul).

When
After the mourning altar has been set up and the linh vị (spirit tablet) has been placed
For whom
The newly deceased (before the linh vị); Thành hoàng (village tutelary deity), Táo quân (Kitchen Gods) and ancestors are reverently worshipped first

Prayer text for the Thiết Linh rite

  • Used across Vietnam
  • Folk practice

What this prayer says

Prayer text for the Thiết Linh ceremony, recited by the eldest son or eldest grandson before the spirit tablet of the deceased, paying homage to the Buddhas, Thành hoàng (village tutelary deity), Táo quân (Kitchen Gods) and ancestors, presenting modest offerings and expressing grief. Recited during the whole ceremony, after the mourning altar is set up and the spirit tablet is placed.

The prayer below is kept in Vietnamese, the language it is read aloud in during the rite.

Fill in before the rite

Your name and address appear in the prayer below and are kept on this device only.

Your regional custom

Showing the version used across Vietnam.

3 more blanks

Other texts for Lễ Thiết linh (Thiết linh rite)

Versions by region, by tradition and for each part of the rite.

Offerings and how the rite is done

As commonly practised and recorded by the sources. Each family and each region may do it differently.

Used across Vietnam, Folk practice

When
After the mourning altar has been set up and the linh vị placed; in old funerals it was performed at the same time as the thành phục (putting on mourning clothes)
Where the offerings are set
The linh sàng (symbolic bed) and linh tọa (mourning altar) in the house
Who makes the offering
The eldest son or the eldest grandson

Offerings

Offering
Linh sàng: a small bed, mat, pillow, blanket and curtain, one set of clothes of the deceased
Linh tọa: bài vị (spirit tablet), hồn bạch (soul banner), di ảnh (portrait), lamp, incense, offerings

Steps

  1. Arrange the linh sàng and linh tọa, place the hồn bạch or linh vị
  2. Offer incense and read the prayer text before the linh vị

Used across Vietnam, Buddhist

When
After encoffining (lễ Phục hồn)
Where the offerings are set
The spirit altar

Offerings

OfferingNotes
Linh ảnh (spirit portrait), bài vị (spirit tablet), bát nhang (incense bowl)Required
A bowl of rice with two bowls inverted over one, a pair of chopsticks stuck in it, and one boiled eggby old custom

Steps

  1. Set up the spirit altar
  2. Invite the soul to be seated
  3. Set up the Buddha altar, chant sutras, and invite the spirit

The wording is kept exactly as published by the source. The dotted italic words are blanks for you to fill in.

Sources

  • Văn khấn trong lễ tang (vankhan.vn)
  • Văn khấn Lễ Thiết Linh trong tang lễ (tuvi.vn)
  • Việt Nam phong tục, thiên I chương IX Tang ma (vi.wikisource.org)
  • Nghi thức tang lễ theo truyền thống Phật giáo (phatgiao.org.vn)

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

More prayer textsDeath anniversaries, Tết, the home, business, life-cycle rites and regional rites.