Prayer text for the Thiết Linh rite

Lễ Thiết linh (Thiết linh rite). After the mourning altar has been set up and the linh vị (spirit tablet) has been placed

  • Used across Vietnam
  • Folk practice

Culture and belief A record of custom.

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

Offerings and how the rite is done

Offerings, steps and things to avoid for Lễ Thiết linh (Thiết linh rite)

Other texts for Lễ Thiết linh (Thiết linh rite)

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)

Part of the open dataset Vietnamese offering prayers (văn cúng), licensed CC BY 4.0.

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