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The Significance of Letters and Couplets in Worship Culture

Have you ever wondered about the significance of ancestral tablets and couplets in the worship culture? If so, we have the answers for you!

Administrator

13 July, 2024

Scrolls are decorative pieces, especially in wooden houses, adding an air of mystery and beauty. However, the meaning of the words on these scrolls is often understood only by their owners. Today, let’s explore their significance further.

1What is a Scroll?

A scroll is a horizontal plaque, resembling a painting or calligraphy, written in Chinese characters and typically hung above an altar.

Its layout usually features a central panel with calligraphy, resembling an ancient Chinese scroll often seen in period dramas.

What is a Scroll?

On either side of the scroll are a pen and a sword, symbolizing knowledge and strength. The scroll is further adorned with intricate dragon and phoenix motifs, exuding elegance, mystery, and power.

2What are Hoanh Phi and Cau Doi?

Hoanh Phi and Cau Doi are two rectangular wooden plaques symmetrically placed on either side of an altar. Hoanh Phi usually features simple patterns, with the focus being on the calligraphy and the implied meaning.

What is Hoanh Phi?

Hoanh Phi conveys a positive message, reflecting the ancestors’ teachings or philosophies on morality, ethics, and interpersonal relationships.

Whether worshipping deities, ancestors, or both, Hoanh Phi and Cau Doi are carefully chosen to convey a meaningful message that aligns with the revered entity.

3The Significance of Scrolls and their Inscriptions

Historically, scrolls and Hoanh Phi served as room dividers, providing privacy and separating spaces.

Additionally, scrolls were presented as gifts during important ceremonies, such as longevity celebrations, ancestor worship, or housewarmings. The intricate dragon and phoenix motifs made them cherished gifts for both the giver and receiver.

The Significance of Scrolls and their Inscriptions

Today, scrolls and Hoanh Phi are predominantly used in altars, with their elegant and traditional aesthetics, along with the pen and sword imagery, symbolizing strength and power. They are believed to ward off negative energies and purify the worship space.

The inscriptions on the scrolls are of utmost importance and are carefully chosen. Common phrases include: “Phúc Lộc Thọ” (Blessing, Prosperity, Longevity), “Phụng Gia Tiên” (Honoring Ancestors), “Đức Lưu Quang” (Everlasting Virtue), “Phúc Mãn Đường” (Abundance of Blessings), “Thiện Tối Lạc” (Greatest Joy in Doing Good), “Phúc Lai Thành” (Blessings for the Clan), and “Ngũ Phúc Lâm Môn” (Five Blessings at the Doorstep: Wealth, Honor, Longevity, Health, and Peace).

4How to Properly Hang Scrolls, Hoanh Phi, and Cau Doi on an Altar

Scrolls and Hoanh Phi are typically hung in worship rooms, such as ancestral halls, clan houses, or traditional wooden altars.

The scroll should be hung above the altar, with the center of the scroll aligned with the incense burner. The bottom of the scroll should be about 80-100 cm from the altar’s surface, and the scroll should be tilted downwards by 20-30 degrees for better visibility.

Hoanh Phi and Cau Doi should be placed symmetrically on either side of the altar, lower than the scroll, and flush against the columns or walls.

We hope this guide has provided you with a deeper understanding of scrolls, Hoanh Phi, and Cau Doi, and how to incorporate them into your home decor.

Frequently asked questions

Letters and couplets are significant in worship culture as they are believed to carry divine power and blessings. They are often used as a means to connect with the divine, seek guidance, and bring good fortune.

Letters and couplets are often displayed or written on altars, walls, or amulets. People may also carry them as talismans or wear them as jewelry. During prayers or rituals, believers might recite or sing the letters and couplets, believing that doing so will bring them closer to the divine and enhance their spiritual practice.

Letters refer to individual alphabetic characters, while couplets are pairs of lines of poetry that rhyme and have a similar meter. Couplets are often formed by combining two meaningful letters together.

In worship culture, letters and couplets are believed to possess inherent power due to their association with divine entities or energies. Each letter or couplet is thought to resonate with a specific frequency or vibration that can influence the spiritual realm and bring about positive changes in the physical world.

When selecting letters or couplets for worship, it is essential to consider the intention behind the practice. Different letters and couplets are associated with different divine qualities or aspects, so choosing the ones that align with your specific intentions or goals can enhance the effectiveness of your spiritual practice.