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The Optimal Placement of the Kitchen God Altar to Invite Prosperity and Abundance

Do you know where to place your ancestor's altar according to Feng Shui principles to bring wealth and prosperity to your family? Check out our insightful article below!

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11 July, 2024

Worshiping the Kitchen God is one of the traditional customs of the Vietnamese people. Have you ever wondered what the proper way to set up an altar for the Kitchen God is? Join us to find out more in the following article.

1The Significance of the Kitchen God Altar

Worshiping the Kitchen God is one of the beautiful traditions of the Vietnamese. According to legend, the Kitchen God is the god who governs all activities in the house, deciding all the luck, blessings, and misfortunes, warding off the intrusion of evil spirits, and bringing peace to the family.

In Vietnamese families, the Kitchen God altar is usually placed in the kitchen, facing a good direction. This practice symbolizes the wish for protection, peace, and abundance for the whole family.

The Significance of the Kitchen God Altar

2How to Set Up the Kitchen God Altar

What the Kitchen God Altar Includes

According to the tradition of worshiping the Kitchen God, the altar usually includes the following items: A shelf (made of stone or wood), a tablet for the Kitchen God, , , , .

Dimensions of the Kitchen God Altar

The dimensions of the Kitchen God altar are divided into 3 types:

Depth 480mm (Hỷ sự) and width 480mm (Hỷ sự) for wall-mounted altars
Depth 480mm (Hỷ sự) and width 680mm (Hưng vượng) for wall-mounted altars
Depth 480mm (Hỷ sự) and width 880mm (Tiến bảo) for wall-mounted altars

The Best Direction to Place the Kitchen God Altar

The Kitchen God altar and the stove should follow the principle of “Tọa hung hướng cát”, which means placing the stove in an inauspicious direction and facing a good direction. This will help ward off bad luck and misfortunes from the house.

It is important to note that you should never place the Kitchen God altar in the direction of the water element to avoid clashes. The best direction to choose is the South. In addition, you can also place the altar in the following directions:

Northeast: Placing the altar in this direction will smoothen your career and bring rapid progress in your profession and social status.
West: The Kitchen God altar in this direction will enhance family happiness, prosperity, and good health.
Northwest: This direction promotes family harmony, abundance, and longevity.

Unfavorable Directions for the Kitchen God Altar

North: Placing the Kitchen God altar in the North is considered very unlucky, as it can bring harm to your children and shorten their lifespan. Therefore, this direction should be avoided.
Southeast: This direction can lead to financial losses, bad luck, and continuous troubles.

How to Set Up the Kitchen God Altar

3The Location of the Kitchen God Altar

You can place the Kitchen God altar in the center of the kitchen cabinet. Generally, the Kitchen God altar should be placed in a high and dignified position in the kitchen. Avoid placing it too low or too high, as it may cause inconvenience when offering incense and worshiping.

The Location of the Kitchen God Altar

4Common Mistakes in Setting Up the Kitchen God Altar

Common Mistakes to Avoid

When setting up the Kitchen God altar, many people often make harmful mistakes. Take note of the following to avoid these errors:

Placing the altar in the wrong direction: Placing the altar in the wrong direction, especially in the North, which is associated with the water element, can lead to health issues, financial losses, and bad luck for the family.
Setting up the altar near the toilet: This can cause a loss of dignity for the family.
Facing the altar directly towards the entrance: This can result in the loss of wealth and the disruption of the family’s peace.
Placing the altar on top of a cabinet or used wooden furniture: This is not considered respectful.

5How to Worship the Kitchen God According to Feng Shui

Worshiping the Kitchen God According to Feng Shui

On regular days, we only need to clean the altar area and offer flowers and fruits on the 1st and 15th of every lunar month to worship the Kitchen God. Especially on the 23rd of the Twelfth Lunar Month, we must perform a ceremony to send the Kitchen God to heaven, which is a beautiful tradition of our people.

On this day, the Kitchen God returns to heaven to report on the family’s activities over the past year and pray for good fortune and peace for the family in the coming year. You should prepare offerings such as , , boiled , savory dishes, , , ,…

6Pictures of Beautiful and Modern Kitchen God Altars

Kitchen God Altar Combined with the Ancestral Altar

Beautiful Altar Design (Source: Noithattamphat)

Elegant Altar Design

Modern Altar Design

Beautiful and Elegant Altar Design

Wall-Mounted Kitchen God Altar

Wall-Mounted Kitchen God Altar in an Apartment

Wall-Mounted Kitchen God Altar Design

Wall-Mounted Kitchen God Altar – A Dignified Design

Kitchen God Altar on Top of the Kitchen Cabinet

Beautiful Kitchen God Altar on Top of the Cabinet

Elegant Kitchen God Altar on Top of the Cabinet

We have just introduced to you the proper way to set up the Kitchen God altar according to Feng Shui, bringing fortune and prosperity to your family. Hopefully, you have gained valuable knowledge about Feng Shui.

Frequently asked questions

The Kitchen God altar should be placed in the West or Northwest direction of the kitchen to invite prosperity and abundance, according to Feng Shui principles. This placement is believed to attract positive energy and bring good fortune to the household.

The Kitchen God is considered the guardian of the hearth and home in Vietnamese culture. He is believed to watch over the family and ensure their well-being, especially during the lunar new year celebrations. It is said that the Kitchen God returns to heaven during this time to report on the family’s behavior to the Jade Emperor, who then decides their fortune for the coming year.

Offerings made at the Kitchen God altar typically include items such as fresh flowers, fruits, incense, and traditional Vietnamese dishes. Sweet treats and desserts are also often offered, as it is believed that the Kitchen God has a sweet tooth. Additionally, a small glass of alcohol, such as rice wine, is usually included as a respectful gesture.

To ensure the Kitchen God reports favorably to the Jade Emperor, it is important to create a welcoming and respectful atmosphere at the altar. Keep the area clean and well-maintained, and regularly offer fresh flowers, fruits, and incense. It is also believed that reciting prayers or poems in honor of the Kitchen God can help to sway his opinion in your favor.

Yes, the 23rd day of the twelfth lunar month is considered the Kitchen God’s birthday, and it is traditional to offer extra elaborate and respectful offerings on this day. Additionally, during the lunar new year celebrations, it is important to pay respect to the Kitchen God and ensure that the altar is well-stocked with offerings to welcome him back into your home for the coming year.