Reburial / Tomb-Building Rite

Namo Amitābha Buddha! (3 times) I respectfully bow to Heaven and Earth, the nine directions of the sky, the ten directions of all Buddhas, the Buddhas of the ten directions. I respectfully bow to August Heaven and Sovereign Earth and all the venerable deities. I respectfully bow to the Five-Direction, Five-Earth Long Mạch, the Mountain Deity, the Earth Deity, and the spirit-deities overseeing this region. I respectfully bow to the local Tutelary Deity: the Heavenly Spirit Vọng Hào, the Grand Empress Dowager of the family ............, the sacred Great King; The spirits of the forebears departed within and around the area .................., hamlet ............., commune ............, district ..............., province ............... ; Today is the .......... day of the ....... month, year ........, an auspicious day and month. The faithful (we) ................... and our family, originally from the hamlet of .............., commune ............, district .............., province ........... With sincere heart we prepare incense, flowers, and offerings laid before the altar. We ask the holy deities and the spirits to permit the faithful (us) ............. and our family to begin (or to build a grave for) ................ to express the gratitude of the descendants to the ancestors of the ............. family — also as the resting place of the spirit ......... born in the year ....., who passed on the .... day of the ..... month, year ......., and the soul ................ buried at ................... A modest offering with sincere heart is presented to the Reigning Grand Duke of the year (Thái Tuế) of supreme virtue, the Tutelary Spirits — the Heavenly Spirit Vọng Hào, the Grand Empress Dowager of the family.........., the sacred Great King, and all the Great Kings — to the Earth Deity of this place, the Kitchen God of Blessing, the Earth Lords and the Long Mạch venerable deities, and all the spirit-deities overseeing this region. To the spirits passing unseen around this place, the souls of warriors fallen for the country, the wronged souls of those who died early without refuge — we humbly ask them to descend before the altar, bear witness, and partake together. First we report to August Heaven; second we ask Sovereign Earth to bear witness to this rite. On this auspicious day, month, and year, the descendants respectfully report to the spirit ............. of the family ……; the descendants on the mortal side, of one heart and mind, the whole family stands together to rebuild the grave ....................., that the grave may be at peace and beautiful, the worlds of yin and yang in joyful harmony. We humbly present full offerings, asking that the grave be peaceful; when finished we shall give thanks to the Earth Deity that has long overseen the grave at this place. We respectfully report fully — that the descendants undertake the rebuilding of the ancestor's grave; brothers, uncles, and elder cousins all gather under one roof, filial and harmonious on both sides — this rite respectfully reports to the elders of the family ......, the descendants of the family named ......, leading the rebuilding of .............. We also ask shelter for the faithful ....................... and our family, together with all those participating in the construction ....................., that each be in peace; that all be of one heart, exhausting devotion and effort to build a durable and beautiful work, harmonious with the landscape; that the project succeed and be created as wished; that from this day on, our path of fortune flow smoothly, gathering from East to West, dwelling auspiciously, becoming the resting place of the soul (or ancestors of the family) .............. — manifesting in sacred power to shelter the descendants of the family .............., bringing forth Blessing, Office, and Wealth, all things going smoothly, every prayer answered, every wish granted. A thousand bows to Heaven and Earth, to the Reigning Grand Duke of the year of supreme virtue, the Tutelary Spirits... — come together to receive this offering, shelter the faithful and family, that the project succeed and be created as wished; that from this day on, our path of fortune flow smoothly, gathering from East to West, all things auspicious.