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Concept
Spirit tablet
Summary
A spirit tablet, memorial tablet, or ancestral tablet, is a placard used to designate the seat of a deity or past ancestor as well as to enclose it. The name of the deity or past ancestor is usually inscribed onto the tablet. With origins in traditional Chinese culture, the spirit tablet is a common sight in many East Asian countries where any form of ancestor veneration is practiced. Spirit tablets are traditional ritual objects commonly seen in temples, shrines, and household altars throughout Mainland China and Taiwan.
A spirit tablet is often used for deities or ancestors (either generally or specifically: e.g. for a specific relative or for one's entire family tree). Shrines are generally found in and around households (for household gods and ancestors), in temples for specific deities, or in ancestral shrines for the clan's founders and specific ancestors. In each place, there are specific locations for individual spirit tablets for ancestors or one or another particular deity. A spirit tablet acts as an effigy of a specific deity or ancestor. When used, incense sticks or joss sticks are usually burned before the tablet in some kind of brazier or incense holder. Sometimes fruit, tea, pastries, or other offertory items are placed near the tablet to offer food to that particular spirit or divinity.
In Chinese folk religion a household will have one or more tablets for specific deities and family ancestors:
One near the front door, and at or around eye level, dedicated to the Jade Emperor. Generally, but not always, this tablet will be above the tablet dedicated to Tudigong. This tablet reads .
Some houses will have a tablet at or near the gate which reads "this tablet is dedicated to the Door Gods".
One outside the house at the front door on the ground, dedicated to Tudigong, an Earth Deity. This tablet usually reads (less commonly ).
One in the kitchen, dedicated to Zao Jun, the kitchen god, which reads .
One which is dedicated to the Landlord god, Dizhu Shen (similar to Tudigong but not the same).
Official source
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