What kind of offerings do you need to prepare?
Voting is a traditional religious or folk custom, usually a ritual performed to thank gods or ancestors for their blessings. Whether it is a temple, Taoist temple or family sacrifice, preparing appropriate offerings is an integral part of the votive ceremony. Below is a detailed guide on votive offerings to help you better complete this sacred ritual.
1. Basic classification of votive offerings
Votive offerings usually fall into the following categories:
| Offering type | Specific content | Remark |
|---|---|---|
| Food | Fruits, pastries, rice, candies, etc. | Fruits should be fresh and whole. Avoid using fruits with unlucky homophones such as pears and plums. |
| Incense candles | Incense, candles, paper money, etc. | The number of incense candles is usually an odd number, such as 3 or 9 |
| Drinks | Wine, tea, water, etc. | Drinks must be clean and no leftover wine or tea can be used |
| Flowers | Flowers, flower baskets, etc. | Flowers should be mainly white or yellow, avoid flowers with thorns |
| Other categories | Clothing, accessories, scriptures, etc. | Choose according to personal wishes or divine preferences |
2. Specific preparations for votive offerings
1.fruit: Choose fresh, whole fruits, such as apples (safe), oranges (auspicious), bananas (lucky), etc. The quantity is usually 3 or 5, placed on a clean plate.
2.pastry: Traditional pastries such as moon cakes, rice cakes, hair cakes, etc., symbolize reunion and advancement. Pastries need to be fresh, and expired or spoiled food cannot be used.
3.Incense candle: Incense candles are a medium for communicating with gods. Smokeless incense and red candles are usually chosen. You must be respectful when lighting incense candles and do not blow them out.
4.paper money: Paper money is the "currency" used to worship gods. There are many types, such as gold ingots, silver paper, etc. When burning paper money, you must be in a designated place and pay attention to fire safety.
5.drinks: The wine needs to be clean, usually white wine or rice wine. For tea, choose clear tea, which symbolizes purity. Water can also be used as an offering to represent purity.
6.flowers: Flowers symbolize beauty and purity, usually lilies, chrysanthemums, etc. are chosen. Flowers need to be fresh, no withered flowers can be used.
3. Placement and Ceremony of Votive Offerings
1.Placement order: The offerings need to be placed in a certain order, usually with incense and candles in the front, fruits and pastries in the middle, and drinks in the back. Flowers can be placed on both sides.
2.Quantity placed: The number of offerings is usually an odd number, such as 3, 5, 7, etc., symbolizing good luck. Avoid using even numbers, especially 4, as its homophony is unlucky.
3.Ceremony process: The votive ceremony usually includes steps such as offering incense, kneeling down, reciting prayers, and burning paper money. The specific process can be adjusted according to local customs or temple regulations.
4. Differences in votive offerings of different religions
| religious type | Common offerings | Things to note |
|---|---|---|
| Buddhism | Fruits, flowers, water, vegetarian food | Do not serve meat or fish, and avoid using five pungent ingredients such as onions and garlic. |
| Taoism | Wine, meat, fruit, incense candles | You can serve meat and fish, but it must be clean and fresh |
| folk beliefs | Pastries, candies, paper money, clothing | Flexible adjustment according to local customs |
5. Taboos on votive offerings
1.Do not use unclean things: The offerings must be clean and fresh, and no leftovers or spoiled food can be used.
2.Items with unlucky homophones cannot be used.: Such as pear (leave), plum (leave), bell (end), etc., to avoid bringing unlucky meanings.
3.Do not place it randomly: Offerings must be placed in a clean and tidy place and cannot be left randomly.
4.Don't be disrespectful: You need to be grateful and respectful when repaying a wish, and don’t do it perfunctorily.
6. Conclusion
Voting is a ritual of expressing gratitude and respect, and preparing appropriate offerings is an important part of this ritual. I hope that through the introduction of this article, you can better understand the preparation and precautions for votive offerings, and successfully complete the votive ceremony. No matter what religion you believe in, being sincere is the most important thing.
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