Spirit tablet

Spirit tablet
Spirit tablets for ancestors in Hong Kong
Chinese name
Chinese神主牌
Literal meaningspirit master sign
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu Pinyinshénzhǔpái
Yue: Cantonese
Yale Romanizationsàhn jyú pàaih
Jyutpingsan4 zyu2 paai4
Southern Min
Hokkien POJsîn-chú-pâi
Alternative Chinese name
Chinese神位
Literal meaningspirit seat
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu Pinyinshénwèi
Yue: Cantonese
Yale Romanizationsàhn waih
Jyutpingsan4 wai6
Southern Min
Hokkien POJsîn-ūi
Second alternative Chinese name
Chinese神牌
Literal meaningspirit sign
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu Pinyinshénpái
Yue: Cantonese
Yale Romanizationsàhn pàaih
Jyutpingsan4 paai4
Southern Min
Hokkien POJsîn-pâi
Vietnamese name
Vietnamese alphabetbài vị
Chữ Hán牌位
Korean name
Hangul1. 위패
2. 신위
Hanja1. 位牌
2. 神位
Transcriptions
Revised Romanization1. wipae
2.shinwi
Japanese name
Kanji位牌
Transcriptions
Revised Hepburnihai

A spirit tablet, memorial tablet, or ancestral tablet[1] is a placard that people used to designate the seat of a deity or past ancestor as well as to enclose it. The name of the deity or the past ancestor is usually inscribed onto the tablet. With origins in traditional Chinese culture, the spirit tablet is a common sight in many East Asian countries, where forms of ancestor veneration are practiced. Spirit tablets are traditional ritual objects commonly seen in temples, shrines, and household altars throughout Mainland China and Taiwan.[2]

  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. Retrieved September 19, 2011.