Cúng vía Thần Tài (God of Wealth day, 10th of the first lunar month)

Culture and belief A record of custom.

About this rite: when it is held and for whom

Also called: Vía Thần Tài, Ngày vía Thần Tài, Cúng Thần Tài Thổ Địa, Văn khấn ngày vía Thần Tài mùng 10 tháng Giêng

Among traders in particular, the tenth day of the first lunar month is regarded as the day of Thần Tài, the God of Wealth. Offerings are made at the low altar shared with Thổ Địa, the Earth God; the prayer is usually the same one used on the first and fifteenth of the month.

When
The 10th day of the first lunar month
For whom
Thần Tài (God of Wealth), usually worshipped together with Thổ Địa (Earth God) on the same altar

Prayer text to Thần Tài for the 1st, the fifteenth day of the lunar month, and the 10th day

  • Used across Vietnam
  • Folk practice

What this prayer says

Prayer text to Thần Tài (God of Wealth) for the first day of the lunar month, the fifteenth day of the lunar month and the tenth day, recited before the altar of Thần Tài and Thổ Địa (Earth God); the tín chủ (the person making the offering) presents incense, flowers, offerings, votive paper, tea and fruit, asking the deities to witness and to bless the business with smooth trade, increasing wealth, and customers from far and near.

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

Fill in before the rite

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Your regional custom

Showing the version used across Vietnam.

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Other texts for Cúng vía Thần Tài (God of Wealth day, 10th of the first lunar month)

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
The 10th day of the first lunar month
Where the offerings are set
The altar of Thần Tài (God of Wealth) and Thổ Địa (Earth God) (a small shrine placed in a corner of the house)
Who makes the offering
The head of the household, the shop owner

Offerings

Offering
Bộ tam sên (set of three offerings)
Fruit, fresh flowers
Xôi (steamed sticky rice), chè (sweet soup)
Boiled chicken or roast pork
Votive paper, incense, lamps, wine

Steps

  1. Wipe the statue and the altar with water infused with pomelo flowers or mixed with a little white wine
  2. Arrange the offerings, light incense, read the prayer text
  3. When the incense has burned two thirds, give thanks, burn votive paper, and share the offerings

More about Cúng vía Thần Tài (God of Wealth day, 10th of the first lunar month)

Nhật Nguyệt articles on the rite, the custom and how to prepare.

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

Sources

  • Cúng Thần Tài Thổ Địa: mâm cúng và văn khấn (docungtamlinh.com.vn)
  • Văn khấn Rằm tháng Giêng 2024 (hoatieu.vn)
  • Văn khấn cúng ngày vía Thần Tài mùng 10 tháng Giêng (docungtamlinh.com.vn)
  • Văn khấn cúng thần tài (vankhan.vn)

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

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