Spirit tablet

Spirit tablet
Spirit tablets for ancestors in Hong Kong
Chinese name
Chinese神主牌
Literal meaningspirit master sign
Alternative Chinese name
Chinese神位
Literal meaningspirit seat
Second alternative Chinese name
Chinese神牌
Literal meaningspirit sign
Korean name
Hangul1. 위패
2. 신위
Hanja1. 位牌
2. 神位
Japanese name
Kanji位牌

A spirit tablet,[1] is a sign used to honor an ancestor or a deity. The name of the deity or past ancestor is usually inscribed onto the tablet. They originated in China and are common across the East Asian cultural sphere. Spirit tablets are commonly seen in temples, shrines, and household altars throughout China and Taiwan.[2]

References

  1. ↑ Li, Xiaoxiang; Fu, Chunjiang; Goh, Geraldine (2004). Origins of Chinese people and customs (Revised ed.). Singapore: Asiapac Books. p. 130. ISBN 978-981-229-384-8. ancestral tablet[permanent dead link]
  2. ↑ "Ancestors and Deities: Chinese Spirit Tablets". Museum of Anthropology. University of Missouri. Archived from the original on 13 October 2016. Retrieved 19 September 2011.