A traditional altar of Vietnamese people (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) - Worshipping ancestors, anancient Vietnamese tradition, is a ritual practice paying tribute to deceasedfamily members and reminding people of their roots.
Worshipping ancestors reflects the influence ofpatriarchy and Confucianism on Vietnamese culture. Since Confucianism wasintroduced to Vietnam during the Chinese domination, filial piety, the most fundamental of Confucian values, has beenvery much appreciated in Vietnamese families.
Accordingly, children are obliged torespect their parents in life and to remember them after they die. The practiceof ancestor worship is thus an expression of “filial piety” toward deceasedparents, relatives and ancestors.
People even had to worship five generations ofancestors in accordance with the Hong Duc legal code, which was adopted by theLe Dynasty during the 15th century.
Most Vietnamese families today have an ancestral altarplaced in a prominent place of the house. It is set with ancestral tablets andpictures, together with an incense burner bowl in the centre as a symbol of thestars. Inside the bowl usually stands a circular incense stick that representsthe universe. Two candles are placed on the sides of the altar to embody thesun (left) and the moon (right).
On special occasions like ancestors’ death anniversariesor the Lunar New Year, special rites are performed to communicate with thedead. The rites consist of making offerings of fruits, foods and wine; lightingthe candles; and burning incense before praying in front of the altar.
Tet, or Lunar New Year, is the most important festivalof the year for Vietnamese people and a time for family reunions. It is anopportunity for descendants to invite the souls of their ancestors to join thefamily’s Tet celebration.
On these days, every home has a tray filled with fivetypes of fruits placed on the ancestral altar. The fruits may include a bunchof bananas, pomelo, persimmon, pear and tangerine in different colours torepresent the desire for “phu” (prosperity), “quy” (notability), “tho”(longevity), “khang” (health) and “ninh” (peace).
The altar may also be decorated with a branch of peachblossoms in warm pink to drive away evil spirits and bad luck.
The ancestral altar occupies a prominent place inevery Vietnamese home, no matter whether the family is rich or poor. It is amanifestation of the country’s culture that shows its respect for both the pastand the future.-VNA
VNA
