GIVING GRATITUDE TO TAI SUI

 

At the beginning of the year, I went with my mum and aunt to the Tua Pek Kong Temple in Ipoh Old Town to ask for blessings from Lord Tai Sui @ Lord of the Year and Ages (太歲星君).   Every year there will be one Tai Sui presiding based on the Sixty Cycles, therefore there are total of 60 Tai Suis. People respect him highly, and are afraid to offend him because it would cause harm and bad luck to come to them. At the end of the year, those who have gone to seek blessings and protection from Tai Sui need to return to the temple to give thanks to him.  The last day to give thanks is on winter solstice day or Dong Ji which falls on the 21st of December this year.
I went with my aunt on Sunday to carry out this thanksgiving ritual.  There were many others who had taken the opportunity to go during the weekend to give gratitude and we had to wait in line.

There will be experts at the temple who will help guide you during the Giving Gratitude Ceremony.  They will conduct the ceremony and those giving thanks only need to kneel and pray.  After that, a laisee or red packet will be given to the master or mistress of ceremony as a token of appreciation.

Oh I forgot to mention that one must bring some offerings as well to give gratitude to Lord Tai Sui.  So what to bring?

1. Fruits
2. 1 set of incense-paper (1000 normal Gold-paper 千金一份, 1 pack of Gui Ren-paper 貴人紙一套) and an Official Thanks-Giving Spiritual Petition for Lord Tai Sui (謝太歲疏文). (can be bought at the temple).
3. A Bottle of Oil (一罐清油).
4. Prosperity cake (Fatt Koe)

Remember not to make any requests while giving Gratitude to Lord Tai Sui. It is not appropriate to ask for something while giving thanks.  Requests can be made at the beginning of the lunar new year. As long as pays respects and gives gratitude with a sincere heart, then one will receive blessings from the deity.


To learn more about Lord Tai Sui, click this LINK.