Tomb-sweeping is an annual tradition, especially during Tet in Vietnam. What is tomb-sweeping and what is its significance? What preparations are needed for tomb-sweeping? Join us as we explore these questions.
1 Significance of Tomb-Sweeping (Chap Ma)
What is Tomb-Sweeping?
Also known as Chap Ma, it involves clearing weeds and cleaning tombstones. It also includes repairs, maintenance, and tending to the greenery around the gravesite. Offerings of flowers, gifts, and incense are made to invite the deceased to join the family for Tet celebrations.
Significance of Tomb-Sweeping
Tomb-sweeping is a time for families to gather and express their thoughts and emotions to the deceased from the past year. It is a way to show respect and gratitude to ancestors, reminding descendants of the importance of family lineage. This tradition truly showcases the beautiful cultural values of the Vietnamese people.
2 End-of-Year Tomb-Sweeping Day
In Southern Vietnam, families start tomb-sweeping as early as the 10th of the twelfth lunar month, continuing until the 25th (with unclaimed graves tended to by locals afterward).
Reference: 30th Tet Holiday in 2024
End-of-Year Tomb-Sweeping Day
3 Preparing Offerings and Rituals for Tomb-Sweeping
Preparing Offerings and Rituals for Tomb-Sweeping
It is crucial to prepare the right and sufficient offerings for the ritual.
Some essential offerings include: Lamps, , , clean water, paper money, betel and areca nuts, and . Families can choose between vegetarian or meat-based offerings based on their traditions. For vegetarian offerings, include cakes, rice, salt, honey, and sweet rice cakes. For meat offerings, add pig’s trotters, boiled or braised pork.
Tomb-Sweeping with Sincerity
What truly matters is the sincerity of the descendants’ hearts toward their ancestors. All cleaning, maintenance, and rituals should be done with genuine respect and gratitude for the deceased.
On this day, it is important to prepare the properly at home and at the gravesite to worship the ancestors.
4 Incantation for Tomb-Sweeping According to Vietnamese Traditions
Incantation for End-of-Year Tomb-Sweeping
Nam mo A Di Da Phat! (3 times)
– I bow to the Nine Heavens, the Ten Directions of the Buddha, and the Ten Directions of the Buddha. I respectfully bow to the Earth Store Bodhisattva.
– I respectfully bow to the Golden Year Governing Thai Tuế Chí Đức Tôn God, the Golden Year Military, and the Tào Judge.
– I respectfully bow to the City God, the Great Kings who govern this cemetery.
– I respectfully bow to the local gods and the Earth God.
– I respectfully bow to the Five Directions, the Five Soils, the Dragon Vein Gods, the Chu Tước, the Hậu Huyền Vũ, the Left Thanh Long, the Right Bạch Hổ, and the list of the Great Gods who govern this cemetery.
I respectfully bow to the spiritual fragrance of:…………………..
Today is the… twelfth month, the old year is about to pass, and the new year is about to begin.
The main believer (we) is:…………..
We live at:…………..
We prepare products, incense, flowers, tea, fruits, gold, and silver horses, and offer them to the gods, inviting the spirits of our ancestors:…………… whose tomb is located at………… to come home and celebrate the new year, so that our grandchildren can serve in the spring, repay our gratitude, and show our respect. Please accept our offerings, gods, and agree.
The separation of yin and yang
Eight waters and one incense stick
Sincerely worship
Please witness and protect.
Nam mo A Di Da Phat! (3 times)
(According to the Ancient Vietnamese Incantation – Vietnam Cultural Information Publishing House)
Reference: and notes when worshiping
5 Ritual to Thank the Grave at the End of the Year (Chap Ma)
Ritual 1
Ritual 1
(Thank the grave to ask the Earth God for permission to bring the deceased home for Tet)
Worship:
– The Golden Year Governing Thai Tuế Chí Đức Tôn God, the Golden Year Military, and the Tào Judge.
– The City God, the Great Kings.
– The local gods and the Earth God.
– The Five Directions, the Five Soils, the Dragon Vein Gods, the Tiền Chu tước, the Hậu Huyền vũ, the Tả Thanh Long, the Hữu Bạch Hổ, and the list of the Great Gods who govern this land.
We are (wife and husband’s names)……………………………………………………
Address…………………………………………………………………………………
We prepare incense, flowers, alcohol, tea, and ritual offerings to present to the gods and invite the spirits of:………………………………
(Name of the deceased, e.g., grandfather, grandmother, father, mother, etc.): Age………………………….
Passed away on…………………………………………………………..
The tomb is located at……………………………………………….
Today, on the occasion of (for example, the end of the year, or Thanh Minh, or visiting the grave), I respectfully bow to the Earth God of this land, the City God of this place, where good people gather, where virtue and nobility reside, where good deeds are rewarded, and where the gods and the dragon vein gods are highly respected. Twenty-four directions and twenty-four mountains surround this region.
Choosing to bury the tomb here, forever at peace, with eternal blessings and eternal family grace, we have a few words to pray: Thank you for guarding the tomb, for keeping the remains intact, for protecting the descendants in the mortal world, for their health and good fortune. The separation of yin and yang, eight waters and one incense stick, express our sincerity, please witness and protect.
Respectfully announced!
(Chant 3 times and burn gold and silver paper).
Ritual 2
Ritual 2
Nam mo a di da Phat!
Nam mo a di da Phat!
Nam mo a di da Phat!
– I bow to the Nine Heavens, the Ten Directions of the Buddha, and the Ten Directions of the Buddha.
– I respectfully bow to the Earth Store Bodhisattva.
– I respectfully bow to the Golden Year Governing Thai Tuế Chí Đức Tôn God, the Golden Year Military, and the Tào Judge.
– I respectfully bow to the City God, the Great Kings who govern this cemetery.
– I respectfully bow to the local gods and the Earth God.
– I respectfully bow to the Five Directions, the Five Soils, the Dragon Vein Gods, the Tiền Chu tước, the Hậu Huyền Vũ, the Tả Thanh Long, the Hữu Bạch Hổ, and the list of the Great Gods who govern this cemetery.
– I respectfully bow to the spiritual fragrance of:………………………………………………………
Today is the… …….twelfth month, the old year is about to pass, and the new year is about to begin.
The main believer (we) is:………………………………………………………………
We live at:………………………………………………………………………………….
We prepare incense, flowers, tea, fruits, gold, and silver horses as offerings to invite the spirits of our ancestors:…………… whose death anniversary is……. with the tomb located at………… to come home and celebrate the new year, so that our grandchildren can serve in the spring, repay our gratitude, and show our respect. Please accept our offerings, gods, and agree.
The separation of yin and yang
Eight waters and one incense stick
Sincerely worship
Please witness
Protect and support
Nam mo a di da Phat!
Nam mo a di da Phat!
Nam mo a di da Phat!.
6 Related Questions
What is the best time for tomb-sweeping during Tet?
The timing of tomb-sweeping is usually decided by the family, often choosing a weekend when all family members can gather. However, the ritual should be performed after the Kitchen God Ceremony (23rd of the twelfth lunar month) and before the afternoon of the 30th of the twelfth lunar month (29th if it is a leap month).
What is the proper way to perform tomb-sweeping during Tet?
Those who go tomb-sweeping should prepare offerings, which can be vegetarian or meat-based. For vegetarian offerings, include cakes, rice, salt, honey, and sweet rice cakes. After cleaning and maintaining the gravesite, offer incense and invite the spirits of the ancestors to join the Tet celebrations.
While waiting for the incense to burn out, family members can start cleaning and maintaining the gravesite. When more than two-thirds of the incense has burned, it is time for the ritual of thanks, during which the family head will burn gold and silver paper.
Proper Tomb-Sweeping During Tet
What should be avoided during tomb-sweeping?
Tomb-sweeping is not about abundance but about sincerity and respect for the ancestors. Some things to avoid during tomb-sweeping include:
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Laughing and joking
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Stepping on or trampling graves
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Calling each other’s names
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Vandalizing graves
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Cursing or using profanity
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Taking photographs
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Cleaning only the front of the grave, neglecting the other sides
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Women on their period or pregnant women are advised not to visit graves…
Maintain Respect and Avoid Joking During Tomb-Sweeping
Reference: during
