Do you know how many rituals need to be performed before, during, and after building a house?

How Many Rituals Should You Perform Before, During, and After Building a House?

Each ritual carries its own meaning.
They play a vital role in bringing peace, smooth progress, and prosperity to your new home.

In this article, Thinh Phat will share the key rituals you should never skip when building your house. Follow along to make sure you don’t miss anything!

Essential House-Building Rituals Every Homeowner Should Know

Once you’ve obtained your building permit, you should choose an auspicious date to perform the necessary rituals. These ceremonies should never be neglected—otherwise, the construction process may encounter disruptions or even delays.

Each ritual reflects the homeowner’s sincere respect toward the local deities and land spirits. So, what rituals should you perform? Let’s explore below.

1. Groundbreaking Ceremony (Dong Tho)

Once an auspicious date aligned with your birth year is chosen, the homeowner proceeds with the groundbreaking ceremony. This ritual seeks permission from the land spirits to begin construction. It has long been an indispensable tradition in house-building.

In the past, offerings included tam sinh (three types of meat). Today, the ritual has been simplified: a tray with boiled chicken, sticky rice, and flowers is sufficient. The homeowner should dress properly, light incense, and respectfully pray. Afterward, they will symbolically dig the first few shovels of earth to present to the land spirits, before handing over the site to the workers.

Important Notes:

• If your age falls under Kim Lau or Hoang Oc (unfavorable years), it is best not to build a house.
• If unavoidable, consider “borrowing” someone else’s age and stay at least 50 meters away during the ceremony.
• After the ritual, the homeowner may resume supervising the construction as usual.

2. How to Perform the Groundbreaking Ceremony

• Dress respectfully and maintain a solemn attitude.
• Light incense, bow in all four directions, then return to the altar to pray.
• When the incense is nearly burnt out, burn the joss paper and scatter rice and salt.
• Keep the three jars of rice, salt, and water; place them in the kitchen later during the housewarming ritual to honor the Kitchen God (Tao Quan).

3. Roof-Raising Ceremony (Thuong Luong)

The roof-raising ceremony is usually held when the structural frame is complete. It is an important ritual that seeks protection and smooth progress for the building.

An auspicious date should be chosen based on the homeowner’s birth year and fortune. The ridge beam is typically adorned with cycad leaves, red fabric, and a bagua cloth to ward off negative energies. Offerings include: boiled chicken, sticky rice, rice, salt, white wine, flowers, and joss paper. After the ritual, the main ridge beam is installed with a red cloth bearing the auspicious date to protect the house and invite good fortune.

4. Gate-Building Ritual

The gate is considered the face of the house, affecting both feng shui and security. When building a gate, be sure to use a Luban ruler to select auspicious dimensions.

Homeowners should note:

• The gate should not align directly with the main living area.
• It is best to position it to the side or near an auxiliary building.
• Avoid having a broken or crooked gate, as this may invite financial loss and instability.

5. Housewarming Ceremony (Nhap Trach)

Nhap Trach literally means “moving into the house.” This ritual marks the completion of construction and the official move-in.

Its significance includes:

• Offering gratitude to the deities for their protection.
• Affirming the homeowner’s rightful spiritual ownership.
• Praying for a smooth, peaceful, and prosperous life in the new home.

6. Housewarming Celebration (Tan Gia)

After moving in, many homeowners hold a housewarming celebration. The purposes include:

• Thanking the deities and honoring ancestors.
• Inviting friends and neighbors to celebrate together.
• Affirming ownership and beginning a new chapter of comfortable living.

Additional Notes for Performing House-Building Rituals

• Always select auspicious dates and times based on age and feng shui.
• Avoid performing rituals in the evening to prevent interference from negative energies.
• Pregnant women should not participate in these ceremonies.
• During the Nhap Trach ceremony, people born in the Year of the Tiger should avoid being present to prevent inviting unwanted energy into the home.

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Conclusion

The rituals above are essential for every homeowner to know and observe when building a house. Understanding and performing them properly will help ensure that your project proceeds smoothly, aligns with feng shui principles, and attracts good fortune.

Thinh Phat wishes you peace, prosperity, and happiness in your new home!

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