The ninth day of the Lunar New Year is the most important day of the year for Fujian origin, and some people call it “the small year”. It is also known as the “Chinese New Year”. During the worship of the God of Heaven, people not only thank for the blessings of the past year, but also pray for continued blessings in the new year, so that the family will be safe and prosperous.
In Malaysia, many people of non-Fujian origin live together, so nowadays, many people of non-Fujian origin also pay homage to the God of Heaven on this day to pray for protection.
Things you should know about worshipping the God of Heaven
Worship time.
You can worship from 12:00 am to 7:00 am on the 9th day of the Lunar New Year. Because of the high status of the God of Heaven, so the earlier the worship will seem more sincere!
Place of worship.
If there is a hanging furnace in the main hall of the house, you can set the table under the big public furnace to the direction of the door, indicating to the sky to welcome the arrival of the sky is not respected. On the contrary, if there is no heavenly furnace at home, the table can be set in the direction of the front door or the atrium to the sky.
Worship table.
The top table is mainly for fasting, with flowers, a pair of candles, red turtle kuey teow, hair cakes, and Tian Gong gold. The red turtle cake represents good luck and longevity. The five animals and meat on the lower table are dedicated to the gods of the Heavenly Father’s ministry.
Worship offerings.
Sugarcane (pair)
Sugar cane is the most important offering. A pair of high money (long money) must be hung on the sugar cane, which must have leaves and root beards underneath, taking the meaning of having a head and a tail. Sugarcane has a sweet taste, which is used to pray for sweetness at the beginning and end of the year. In addition, the sugar cane is made in knots, symbolizing the rising of the year.
Tea and wine (at least 3 cups each, up to 12 cups in total)
To worship the God of Heaven, tea and wine must be offered to pay respect to the gods, and wine is indispensable.
Fruits (3 or 5 kinds)
Three fruits that banana (trick), orange (Ji), yellow pear (Wang), pronounced in Fujian dialect “trick Ji Wang”. Five fruits namely banana (trick), yellow pear (wang), tangerine (Gan), orange (Ji), pear (Lai), pronounced in Fujian dialect “trick wang Gan Ji Lai”.
Clear vegetarian six fasts (choose any six of them)
Shiitake mushrooms, peanuts, bean curd, white fruit, fungus, red dates, winter noodles, hairy vegetables, purple cabbage, golden needles, etc., are nowadays simplified versions of the fast, mainly as a tribute to the supreme God of Heaven.
Vegetarian cakes (6 pieces)
Various shapes are used for good intentions, such as peach-shaped for longevity; flower-shaped to bring the meaning of blossoming flowers and wealth.
Candied fruit (1pc)
Preserves are made of dried fruit, red dates and longan skewered and inserted on the shelf. The sweet taste of dried fruit etc. represents happiness and sweetness.
Flowers (12)
The offering of flowers is a reflection of the purity and solemnity of the Heavenly Father. In addition, it is necessary to offer loose flowers in a plate, and white flowers for mourning are not to be used.
Heavenly Gongs Gold (any number)
The gold paper dedicated to the God of Heaven is then folded into different shapes, such as yuan-pao or lotus flower, according to the traditional art of paper folding. It is a precious and precious offering to the gods to express devotion and respect to them and to expect blessings from the God of Heaven in the new year. Among them, high money can be torn and pulled into long strips and hung on the sugar cane next to the top table, or on the whole sheep or pig as an offering for both decorative effects.
Fat cake or rice cake (usually 12 pieces, but can be reduced to 6 pieces)
The main purpose of hair pudding is to make use of the meaning of the word “hair”, hoping for prosperity in the new year, while the sticky texture of rice pudding has the symbolic meaning of reunion and a hundred children.
Three or five kinds of animals (choose three or five of them)
Eggs, duck eggs and a piece of roasted meat; a whole roasted pig or a piece of roasted meat, chicken, duck, fish or squid, crab. Either three or five animals are used to pay homage to the God of Heaven and to comfort the gods around the God of Heaven.
Noodles and red eggs (12 bundles and 12 pieces)
Both noodles and red eggs are birthday gifts, and the ninth day of the first month of the lunar calendar is the day of the God of Heaven’s Christmas, so they are meant to pay homage to the God of Heaven.
Ng Shou (3 or 5 pieces)
Ng Shou is a red food made of sugar, i.e. a set of six-sided Linglong Pagoda, Dragon Pagoda, Phoenix Pagoda and a pair of Rui-lions, while the three beasts are missing a pair of Rui-lions. The beast harmonizes with “longevity”, taking its good meaning of longevity.
The set up and etiquette of the worship of the God of Heaven
1. first row of tables (one and three can be), the table in front of the table after the table around, left and right sides around the red cloth can be, a pair of sugar cane hanging money two rows on the left and right sides.
2. the table in front of the lamp holder (for the middle), the next row of flowers, Buddha’s hand fruit, yellow pear, grapefruit, etc., if not with Wu Shou can also be (see figure).
3. next 3 tea, 5 wine, 5 fruit, 6 fasting, preserves and vegetables swallow.
4. if you use animals to worship the God of Heaven, such as a chicken, a fish and a piece of meat (three animals). Eggs, noodles, hair cakes, etc. If you want five animals, add sea cucumber, prawns or duck, etc. The golden pig is not included. 5.
5. worship the god of heaven etiquette, first pour three points of tea (each cup only three points of tea, not full, wine poured five points). 6.
Then light incense, candles to welcome the gods, three worship three kowtow. Mouth “The people (do not call themselves disciples or believers) sincerely welcome the Jade Emperor’s Christmas Thousand Years. (Gods at home. (All the landlords should light incense and candles).
7. Throw the chalice to ask the gods (Jade Emperor Gods) whether they have come or not. If the gods have descended, watch the small incense burned down 3, 4 inches, pour three points of tea, three points of wine, after lighting the incense, three worship three kowtow on it.
8. wait for the second time to light the incense burned 3 or 4 inches, then pour tea three points, wine three points, and then light another small incense, three worship three kowtow.
9. After that, you can pray to the gods such as: “the people pray for the safety of the family, business prosperity, wealth and so on (good words can be said).”
After praying to contribute gold paper (worship three times), then throw the chalice, if there is a chalice can be turned into a treasure, the mouth recites “pray to the Jade Emperor God to receive”.
10. Finish sending the gods. (If it is raining that day, you can wait until it stops raining or early in the morning, and other worship products can be put away.)
Special reminders and taboos for worshipping the God of Heaven
Special reminders.
1）Before worshipping the God of Heaven, you must fast and bathe
2) The elders of the family should offer incense first and then offer incense in the order of the elders and children respectively.
