Visiting Quan Thanh Temple for religious rituals is a tradition, yet not everyone knows the precise invocation script. If you're unfamiliar with it, refer to the following article to ensure your visit to Quan Thanh Temple is done correctly.
Quan Thanh Temple holds great sanctity, drawing many seeking blessings. Especially during the first days of the new year, the temple becomes even more bustling. If you're preparing to visit Quan Thanh Temple, don't forget to prepare the complete and detailed invocation script provided below.
Invocation Rites at the Temple
1. Exploring Quan Thanh Temple
Quan Thanh Temple, also known as Tran Vu Quan, was built during the Ly Dynasty in 1010, dedicated to Huyen Thien Tran Vu. Located by West Lake, Quan Thanh Temple, along with Tran Quoc Pagoda and Kim Lien Pagoda, creates a harmonious architectural landscape, enriching the cultural and religious heritage of Hanoi and the northern region of Vietnam. A visit to Quan Thanh Temple offers an experience of traditional beliefs and a glimpse into the cultural space of Hanoi.
To cater to tourists, Quan Thanh Temple is open year-round, typically crowded on the first day of the new year, the first and fifteenth day of each lunar month, where people come to offer incense, show reverence, and seek blessings for themselves and their families.
2. Invocation Rituals at Quan Thanh Temple
Sample Offering Texts at Quan Thanh Temple are part of Offering Texts for Temples and Shrines, which you can refer to:
* Invocation to Thanh Hoang Deity
Namo Amitabha Buddha! (3 times)
– I bow to the nine realms, ten directions Buddhas, Buddhas in ten directions.
– I respectfully bow to Hoang Thien Goddess, Earth Deity.
– I humbly pay homage to Kim Nien Duong, the venerable guardian of longevity.
– I reverently pay respects to Ban Canh Thanh Hoang, the Great King.
As the descendant of …………………………………………………… Age ………………………….
Residing at…………………………………………………………………………………………………….
Today is the…… day of…… month,…… year (lunar calendar)
Reciting the invocation to Thanh Hoang Village at the village communal house
Reciting the invocation to Thanh Hoang Village at the village communal house
As I come to ……………………………………………………….. (Communal House or Temple or Shrine) with sincere reverence: The Great King, who received the decree from the Heavenly Palace to govern in Vietnam as Ban Canh Thanh Hoang, bestowing blessings and protection upon the people. Today, I humbly offer silver incense, floral offerings, and prayers...
We beseech the venerable Ban Canh Thanh Hoang, the Great King, to bear witness, to have compassion, to protect and nurture our abundant health, all goodness, wealth, peace, prosperity, fulfilling wishes, aligning with our aspirations. With sincere devotion, before your honorable presence, we bow, seeking your benevolent guidance. May our supplication be granted!
Namo Amitabha Buddha! (3 times)
* Invocation for Community Harmony
Namo Amitabha Buddha! (3 times, 3 bows)
- I bow to the nine realms, ten directions Buddhas, Buddhas in ten directions
- I bow to the venerable King, the Jade Emperor
- I bow to the Triple Goddesses
- I pay homage to the Four Palaces of Community Harmony, the Four Palaces of Myriad Spirits
- I pay homage to the Four Palaces of Earthly Command
- I pay homage to Lady Thu Menh
- I pay homage to the Four Palaces of Divine Kingship
- I pay homage to the Four Palaces of Sacred Maidens
- I pay homage to the Four Palaces of Sacred Youths
- I pay homage to the community of Lords, Officials, eighteen mountain gates, twelve ocean gates.
- I pay homage to the Chau Gia officer.
Our offering today consists of: ………
With equal rights and responsibilities, regardless of gender
Residing at: …………….
Today is the ….. day of ….. month, ….. year .….
We, the faithful, gather here …… With heartfelt reverence, we implore the Lord's guidance and protection for our family's abundant health, prosperity, and longevity, seeking wealth, fortune, peace, and prosperity, success in all endeavors, and encountering many blessings.
Namo Amitabha Buddha! (3 times, 3 bows)
* Invocation Ritual for the Triple Goddesses
Namo Amitabha Buddha! (3 times, 3 bows)
- I respectfully honor the Divine Astrologer, the revered golden decree, the Jade Emperor in his celestial palace.
- I pay homage to Hoang Thien Goddess, Earth Deity.
- I humbly reverence the Nine Celestial Fairies, six palace princesses.
- I respectfully pay homage to the Divine Celestial Maiden Quynh Hoa, Lieu Hanh Horse Princess, bestowed with the title of Victory and Harmony, appointed as the Fairy Mother of Fragrant Offerings.
- I respectfully honor the Second Peak, the lofty mountain dynasty, Princess Le Mai Dai Vuong of Muong Son.
- I pay homage to the Fourth Earthly Command, the Holy Mother, the four palace ladies, the five grand officials, ten mansions of officials, twelve Fairy Maidens, twelve Saintly Youths, the Five Tiger Generals, the Great General White Snake.
Our offering today consists of: ...............
Residing at: ................
Today is the ....... day of ...... month ...... year ......
We come here to the Palace (Palace, Temple) ........., clasping our hands in reverence, bowing our heads in worship, with sincere hearts and devoted minds, offering our prayers, humbly beseeching your compassionate guidance and protection for our collective health, prosperity, and peace, wishing for wealth, fortune, peace, and prosperity, success in all endeavors, and encountering many blessings.
We offer our heartfelt prayers, bowing in reverence, seeking your benevolent guidance and protection.
Namo Amitabha Buddha! (3 times, 3 bows)
3. Preparing Offerings for Quan Thanh Temple
Depending on one's heart and circumstances, the offerings may vary in size, but sincerity is essential:
- Vegetarian offerings to the Buddha, Bodhisattvas, and Deities including incense, tea, fruits, and floral offerings ...
- Meat offerings to the community including sausages, pâté, pork, chicken ... cooked thoroughly.
- Offerings of living creatures to the Community Palace including duck eggs, salt, rice, raw meat ...
- Sumptuous feast offerings including chili peppers, eels, crabs, lemons ...
- Ancestor altar offerings including comb, mirror, fruits, incense ...
4. Ritual Procedures for Offerings at Quan Thanh Temple
Similar to the rituals at West Lake Temple, the procedures at Quan Thanh Temple also require adherence to the following steps:
- Step 1: Offer prayers to the Earth Deity guardian of the Temple to seek permission for conducting the ritual inside the Temple.
- Step 2: Place the offerings on the altar in sequence, starting with the main altar, then progressing outward, and finally placing offerings on the ancestral altar.
- Step 3: Light incense in sequence, from inside to outside.
- Step 4: Recite the invocation at Quan Thanh Temple and present it to the committee before lighting incense.
- Step 5: Perform the gilding process, ensuring the invocation and presentation are done beforehand.
Preparing the prayer for temple visitation is essential when visiting temples, so when visiting Quan Thanh Temple, you need to prepare offerings as well as a suitable prayer. Near Quan Thanh Temple is West Lake Temple, which is also a sacred place, so when you visit Quan Thanh Temple, you can also visit West Lake Temple and prepare a prayer for West Lake Temple to seek fortune and luck when visiting.