Table of Contents
Analysis and reasons for the "Four Corners Worship" ritual for moving into a new house in Hong Kong
1. Introduction
existHongkong, moving into a new house is regarded as one of the greatest happy events in life. However, apart from practical matters such as decoration and furniture purchase, many families still follow traditional customs, whetherBuying a new building,Rental Units, or move inshopMany Hong Kong people will choose to"Worship the Four Corners"The ceremony is to pray for peace and prosperity in the new home and to ward off evil spirits and misfortunes. This custom combinesTaoism,Feng ShuiandFolk beliefsIt not only shows respect for the unknown space, but also reflects the importance Chinese society places on "living and working in peace and contentment". This article will explore in depth the meaning, steps, items required for "Worshiping the Four Corners", and how modern people can flexibly adapt this tradition. Worshiping the Four Corners is not only a religious or Feng Shui ritual, but also a folk tradition deeply rooted in Hong Kong culture, carrying people's expectations for a new life and awe of the unknown.
This article will analyze the origin, process, symbolic meaning and function of Four Corners Worship in Hong Kong society from multiple perspectives, and explore the reasons why this custom persists in the modern urban environment. By combining historical, cultural, psychological and sociological perspectives, this paper attempts to reveal the deep value and contemporary significance behind this tradition.
What does "worshiping the four corners" mean? Origin of traditional customs
"Worshiping the Four Corners" is also known as "offering sacrifices to the four corners" or "worshiping the land". It is a common housewarming ceremony in Chinese society, especially in Cantonese-speaking areas such as Hong Kong and Guangdong. The core idea is derived from the concept of "space purification" in Feng Shui. It is believed that newly built or vacant houses may accumulate negative energy, evil spirits, and even residual magnetic fields of previous residents. Sacrificial ceremonies are needed to appease the gods of the four directions, drive away unclean things (such as "evil spirits" or "bad luck"), and pray for good health.God's Blessing,blessPeace at home,Family health,Successful career. The so-called "four corners" do not only refer to the four corners of the living room, but symbolize the four directions of the entire residential space, which are usually associated with the "sky gate", "earth gate", "human gate" and "ghost gate" in feng shui. These directions are believed to be the intersection of the spiritual world and the human world, and may gather wandering souls or negative energy, so the space needs to be purified through worship.
The ritual of worshipping the four corners usually includes steps such as preparing offerings, reciting blessings, burning incense and worshiping. The specific practices vary depending on the family, region or religious beliefs. Although the ceremony seems simple, it contains profound cultural connotations, integrating elements of Taoism, Buddhism, Feng Shui and folk beliefs.
The Historical and Cultural Origins of Four Corners Worship
Originated from traditional Chinese culture
The custom of worshipping the four corners can be traced back to ancient Chinese folk beliefs and feng shui. In traditional Chinese culture, space and direction have always been given important symbolic meanings. The Book of Changes mentions the connection between the "four directions" and the cosmic order, while Taoism and folk beliefs believe that houses, as human habitats, are closely connected with nature and the spiritual world. New homes, especially those that have been newly built or uninhabited for a long time, are believed to be likely to gather "yin energy" or "wandering souls" and need to be purified through rituals.
In ancient times, similar housewarming ceremonies might include worshiping the god of land, the god of the kitchen, or the god of the house to show respect for the environment of the new home. As time went by, these rituals were gradually simplified, forming a form of worship centered on the "four corners". This practice is particularly popular in southern China, especially in Guangdong and Hong Kong, and is closely related to the local Cantonese culture and Feng Shui traditions.
The basis of belief: the land god and the five directions and five soils
The ancients believed that the land was protected by the "Five Earth Dragon Gods of the Five Directions", corresponding to the five directions of east, south, west, north and center. The "four corners" symbolize the four corners of the house and represent the integrity of the space. Offering sacrifices to the four corners is to report the intention to move into the house to the gods of the land, praying for peace in the home and avoiding angering the forces of nature. This tradition extends to the living space, forming a purification ritual before entering the house, which embodies the wisdom of harmonious coexistence between people and the environment.
As an international city that integrates Chinese and Western cultures, Hong Kong's folk traditions are deeply influenced by Guangdong culture. Since the 19th century, a large number of Guangdong immigrants have come to Hong Kong, bringing with them Cantonese, Feng Shui beliefs and folk customs. It is in this context that worshipping the four corners has become the core part of Hong Kong's initiation ceremony.
The ritual process and details of worshipping the four corners
Choose an auspicious date
Traditionally, worshiping the four corners must be done on an auspicious day in the lunar calendar, avoiding inauspicious times such as the "Three Evil Days" and "Moon-breaking Days". Modern people can refer to the almanac to choose days that are "suitable for offering sacrifices" and "suitable for moving into the new house", and try to do it in the morning when the Yang energy is strong. You can consult a Feng Shui master or refer to the Tongsheng (Lunar Almanac) to choose an auspicious day that matches the owner's zodiac sign and numerology. Auspicious times are usually chosen in the morning or at noon, and night is avoided to avoid excessive yin energy.
Prepare offerings and tools
Before moving in, the homeowner will thoroughly clean the house, especially the corners and doors and windows, symbolizing the removal of old air and the welcoming of new air. Some families use pomelo leaf water or mugwort incense to further purify the space. The following are some common items for worshipping the four corners, which can be adjusted according to actual conditions:
| category | thing |
|---|---|
| Incense and candle offerings | Incense and candles: Offerings are the core of worshipping the four corners. Commonly used items include: Three incense sticks (representing heaven, earth, and man) or nine incense sticks (symbolizing longevity), five-colored paper (including earth cloth, five-direction and five-earth dragon cloth), gold and silver ingots Gold and silver paper and ingots: After burning, it is given to gods or dead souls to pray for their protection. |
| offerings | Fruits, peanuts in shells:Five kinds of fruits (such as apples, oranges, bananas, etc.), apple (symbolizes peace), symbolizes the five blessings. Sweets or cakes: Candies (sweetness) such as steamed cakes and red dates, which represent a sweet life and a prosperous future. Three animals：Chicken, pork, and fish symbolize ample food and clothing (mostly simplified to cooked food in modern times). Wine and tea：White wine or rice wine, used to worship gods, symbolizes sincerity. Other Items: Such as rice, salt, and five-colored beans (to ward off evil spirits), symbolizing wealth and purification. |
| tool | Brazier (for burning clothes and paper), broom (to symbolize sweeping away bad air), salt and rice (for sprinkling) |
Notice: Some families will add "fat pork", which is said to attract cockroaches and ants away; some families also use "yellow beans" instead of five-colored beans, which means "vigorous vitality".
Analysis of the complete steps of worshipping the four corners
Place the offerings: Divide the offerings into five parts and place them in the four corners and the center of the house (if the space is small, you can concentrate them in the center).
Five-color beans sprinkled with rice: First mix the shelled peanuts and rice, start from the deepest corner of the house, sprinkle while chanting: "Sprinkle the salt and rice cleanly to ward off evil and avoid danger", gradually retreat towards the door, symbolizing the removal of negative energy, implying "taking root" and stabilizing the family fortune.
Light incense and worship: Light 21 incense sticks (3 in each corner and 9 in the center), hold the incense and bow to the four directions, and silently recite: "Worship the five directions and five earth dragon gods, and bless the home with peace and prosperity."
Fill in the four cornersInside the "four-cornered robe" is a yellow "big baijie" on which the address of the new home and the names of all the people in the house are filled in, in order from oldest to youngest, to notify the gods that they are about to move in.
Burning paper: Start reporting to the gods from the center point facing the main door, give your name, and inform the gods that you will be moving into this unit, hoping that they will bless your home with peace and success. Start in a clockwise direction from a corner of the house (usually the northeast corner, as it is considered the "ghost door") and worship the four corners in turn. Place an offering in each corner, light incense and candles, and silently recite blessings such as "bless the new home with peace." Place 5 pairs of red candles and incense sticks evenly in the center and four corners of the room. When the incense is half burned, put the clothes paper and gold and silver ingots into the fire basin and burn them.
House Purification Ceremony: Some families will perform the "door and window opening" ceremony after worshipping the four corners to allow sunlight and air to enter the house and further dispel the negative energy. In addition, some people will beat gongs or set off firecrackers to symbolize joy and ward off evil spirits.
Scattering colored beans: Sprinkle the five-colored beans to the four corners of the house, which means "taking root" and stabilizing the family fortune.
Sharing of food offerings: The food after the worship needs to be shared by the family and should not be wasted, in order to bring in good luck.
After completing the four corners, return to the center of the house and make a final offering to the land god or household god, praying for stability and harmony for the entire home.
Lights on for three days: Keep the house brightly lit for three days after the ceremony to fill the space with Yang energy.
Precautions and taboos
Although worshipping the four corners is simple, there are many details that need to be paid attention to in order to avoid violating taboos:
- Avoid doing it at night: The night is considered to be more yin, and worship may attract unwanted spirits.
- The offerings cannot be discarded at will.: The offerings should be properly handled after worship, such as sharing or donating, and not thrown directly into the trash can.
- A pious attitude: When worshipping, one should stay focused and avoid laughing or being disrespectful to show respect to the gods.
- Pregnant women should avoid participating: Traditionally, it is believed that pregnant women have a weaker aura and should avoid rituals related to the spirit world.
- Avoid leaving your home empty overnight: It is not advisable to leave the new home vacant for too long before moving in, so as to avoid the accumulation of negative energy.
- "Wind and Water" small ceremony : Triple Luck Method
❶ Opening the furnace: The first time you open the furnace to boil water, it symbolizes that your family fortune will be prosperous.
❷ Treasure in the rice jar: Put a red envelope containing 168 yuan into the rice jar (a homonym for "all the way to prosperity"), and make sure the rice jar is 80% full, so you can have enough food and clothing.
❸ Scattering coins to welcome good fortune: Throw coins when crossing the threshold, chant "gold and silver fill the house", and keep them for 3 days before putting them away, which means that the house is full of gold and silver. - Clothing and speaking : Suitable: Decent clothing (long-sleeved tops/knee-length skirts and pants)
☑ Don’t wear: plain clothes/linen fabrics/damaged clothes
※ Keep smiling throughout the process, and say "prosperity of the family", "wealth and prosperity", "safe travel", "everything goes well", etc. - Order of moving objects : First item to move: Bring your safe/passbook/heirloom home
✦ Bed placement: choose an auspicious time to position the bed, and sweep the bed three times before laying out new bedding
✦ Purify old things: Use a red string to tie a new broom and gently sweep the furniture, chanting "sweep away the old and welcome the new" to sweep away bad luck. - When moving into a new home, you can check the auspicious time to place the bed, and then move your valuables into the house by hand. Do not move in empty-handed. As for the furniture in your old home, you can use the newly bought broom to lightly sweep the furniture before moving into the new home, which means sweeping away bad luck.
- Instructions for worshipping the gods:
‼ Prohibited behaviors: blowing out incense sticks/stepping over offerings/inserting incense sticks with one hand
✓ The correct way: Put your hands together and pray, and wait for the incense to burn out naturally.
✓ Emergency treatment: Cover with a clean cup lid and extinguish - Pregnant women should avoid attending : There is no requirement for the whole family to be present at the Four Corners Housewarming Ceremony. If there is a pregnant woman in the family, it is not appropriate to worship the Four Corners as it will affect the fetus.
- Tips to add points: On the first night of moving in, keep the house brightly lit and place fresh pineapples at the entrance (for prosperity).
