House-Warming Prayer (Nhập Trạch)
The day of moving into a new home — house-warming
Meaning
The nhập trạch rite is an important ceremony when moving into a new home. By folk belief, every house is overseen by deities; the new occupants must perform the rite to introduce themselves and ask permission to reside. Performing nhập trạch on the right day and in the right manner brings luck to the family.
Offering preparation
A full offering tray: boiled chicken or pig's head, sticky rice, fruit, incense, candles, wine, betel and areca, votive paper. Bring into the house first: the kitchen fire (or turn on the gas stove), rice, salt, and water. Pregnant women and small children should not participate in the nhập trạch rite.
Content
Namo Amitābha Buddha! (3 times)
We respectfully bow to August Heaven and Sovereign Earth and all the venerable deities.
We respectfully bow to the deities overseeing: ..........................................
We respectfully bow to the Earth Deity of this place.
We respectfully bow to the Kitchen Gods and the Five-Direction Long Mạch Deities.
We respectfully bow to the spirits of the lineage on both paternal and maternal sides.
The faithful (we) are: ..........................................
From: ..........................................
Today is the .......... day of the .......... month, year .......... (lunar) — an auspicious day and month.
The faithful has built a home at: ..........................................
We now sincerely present offerings of incense and flowers, respectfully reporting to the venerable deities and humbly asking permission for nhập trạch — to take residence in this new home.
We respectfully ask the deities to bless:
Our family with peace and good health.
The house with strength and freedom from misfortune.
Our livelihood with prosperity and abundant wealth.
Our children with progress in study and our family with harmony.
We offer modest gifts with sincere hearts; we respectfully present them and ask to be sheltered and supported.
Namo Amitābha Buddha! (3 times)