Worshiping the God of Wealth: Meaning, rituals, and preparation

The ceremony of offering to the God of Wealth is an important traditional ritual of the Vietnamese people, held on the 10th day of the lunar New Year. This is an occasion for people to show respect and pray for the God of Wealth to bestow prosperity, luck, and success in business.

The God of Wealth, also known as Zhao Gongming, is a deity worshipped in Vietnamese folk religion. It is believed that the God of Wealth controls money, wealth, and can bring prosperity and fortune to those who worship him.

The God of Wealth ceremony is held on the 10th day of the first lunar month, which is the deity’s birthday. On this day, people will prepare offerings and pray to the God of Wealth for a new year filled with wealth, luck, and success in business.

Ritual of the God of Wealth Ceremony

The God of Wealth ceremony is usually performed on the morning of the 10th day of the first lunar month. People will prepare an offering tray with the following items:

• Incense, candles, fresh flowers, betel leaves and areca nuts
• Votive paper (gold and silver paper, clothes, hats)
• A tray of five fruits
• Roasted pig or boiled chicken
• Wine, tea
• Cakes, candies, and dried fruits After arranging the offerings, the householder will light incense and pray to the God of Wealth. The prayer usually includes words of respect, gratitude, and a request for the God of Wealth to bless the family with a new year filled with wealth, luck, and peace.

How to Prepare for the God of Wealth Ceremony

To prepare for the God of Wealth ceremony, the householder should note the following:

• Choose the date and time of the ceremony: The best time to hold the God of Wealth ceremony is on the morning of the 10th day of the first lunar month.
• Prepare the offerings: The offerings for the God of Wealth should be prepared carefully and respectfully, showing the householder’s sincerity.
• Clean the altar: Before the ceremony, the householder should clean the God of Wealth altar, dust the altar, and change the water in the flower vase.
• Pray sincerely: When praying to the God of Wealth, the householder should be sincere and express gratitude. Do not pray for too many things, but focus on the most important ones.

Notes on the God of Wealth Ceremony

• Do not hold the God of Wealth ceremony in the evening.
• Do not pray to the God of Wealth for unlawful or unethical things.
• After the ceremony, the householder should burn the votive paper and paper money.
• Do not keep the offerings to the God of Wealth for too long. After the ceremony, the householder should share the offerings with others to pray for luck and wealth.

The God of Wealth ceremony is a beautiful traditional cultural practice of the Vietnamese people. By sincerely worshipping and praying to the God of Wealth, people hope to receive his blessings, bringing a new year filled with wealth, luck, and success.

Essential Offerings for the God of Wealth Ceremony:

• Incense, candles, fresh flowers, betel leaves and areca nuts: These are basic offerings that cannot be missed in any Vietnamese ceremony. Incense symbolizes the connection between humans and deities, candles symbolize enlightenment, fresh flowers symbolize freshness, and betel leaves and areca nuts symbolize unity.
• Votive paper (gold and silver paper, clothes, hats): Votive paper is used to burn as an offering, symbolizing money and items that the householder wants to send to the God of Wealth.
• A tray of five fruits: The tray of five fruits usually consists of five different types of fruits, symbolizing the five elements (metal, wood, water, fire, earth) and representing a wish for abundance and prosperity.
• Roasted pig or boiled chicken: Roasted pig or boiled chicken is a traditional dish often used to worship the God of Wealth, symbolizing abundance and prosperity.
• Wine, tea: Wine and tea are drinks often used to worship deities, symbolizing respect and a request for blessings.
• Cakes, candies, and dried fruits: Cakes, candies, and dried fruits are sweet treats symbolizing luck, happiness, and success. In addition to the above offerings, the householder can prepare other offerings depending on the family’s conditions and beliefs, such as:
• Grilled snakehead fish
• Chung cake, Tet cake
• Red sticky rice
• Sticky rice with coconut milk
• Other fresh fruits (such as apples, pears, grapes) When arranging the offerings, the householder should pay attention to making them visually appealing and respectful, showing sincerity to the God of Wealth.

How to Arrange the God of Wealth Offering Tray:

1. Arrange on the God of Wealth altar:

• Place the statues of the God of Wealth and the God of the Land in the center of the altar.
• Place the incense burner in front of the statues of the God of Wealth and the God of the Land.
• Place two candles on either side of the incense burner.
• Place a vase of fresh flowers on the left side of the altar (from the perspective of the viewer).
• Place a plate of betel leaves and areca nuts on the right side of the altar (from the perspective of the viewer).

2. Arrange on the offering tray:

• Place the offering tray in front of the altar, parallel to the altar.
• Place the roasted pig or boiled chicken in the center of the offering tray.
• Place the tray of five fruits on the left side of the roasted pig or boiled chicken (from the perspective of the viewer).
• Place a plate of cakes, candies, and dried fruits on the right side of the roasted pig or boiled chicken (from the perspective of the viewer).
• Place a bottle of wine and a teapot on either side of the offering tray.
• Place the votive paper behind the offering tray.

Notes:

• When arranging the offering tray, the householder should pay attention to making it visually appealing and respectful, showing sincerity to the God of Wealth.
• Use fresh flowers with bright colors, symbolizing luck and wealth.
• Choose fresh, ripe fruits, symbolizing abundance and prosperity.
• Keep the candles lit throughout the ceremony to show respect and pray for the God of Wealth’s blessings.

Arrange the altar of the God of Wealth to attract fortune

Some images for reference on how to set up the altar of the God of Wealth for shop owners to refer to

Source: Internet

Source: Internet

Source: Internet

Source: Internet