Do we need to pray to our parents or grandparents or ancestors at home/ or just need to pray to them during lunar new year, their death aniversary, Qing Ming or 7th month???

Given that Qing Ming season is in the air and according to the chinese tradition, it is the season for us to visit our ancestors’ tombs, we would like to share our answer for some common concerns related to Qing Ming from our clients with those that may find this interested.

Question :

Do we need to pray to our parents or grandparents or ancestors at home/ or just need to pray to them during lunar new year, their death aniversary, Qing Ming or 7th month???

Answer :

These seems with much confusion as modern society as taken over a mileage over our chinese culture.

Firstly, we pray to ancestors with returned merits to them are actually helping them to increase their merits and in return good for us and our family, yin salvation yang prosperity.

Secondly, if we pray for and to our parents with returned merits, be it they are alive or passed away will actually helps in our offspring deeds, or giving birth to better children.

Any spirits in the underworld need merits as well as offerings, but merits is the first priority, and offering as second. Therefore, do prayings and offerings to the ancestors as often is better and necessary.

Thirdly, Qing Ming 清明 is addressed as a commemorate season as to “Clear” the unwanted and “Brighten” the journey ahead, and everything starts to grow 万物生长 which belongs to the 24 Seasonal Qi, which Chinese uses this day to mark the season for clearing n cleaning tombs for their ancestors to brighten the family prosperity. It shouldn’t be mixed up and considered as another “Ghost Month” in April every year, beside the 7th lunar month.

Praying to ancestors tablet 祖先灵位 is a long term serving issues, and require some knowledge. This is totally a 2 different subjects beside praying at home and the yearly tomb visit issue for you to visit and clean up the tomb 扫墓祭祖.

Chinese families display their offerings to worship their deceased loved ones at one temple in Singapore