gia đường
Definition
- Noun:
- Family altar: An altar or shrine within a home dedicated to the worship of ancestors and family spirits, a central feature in traditional Vietnamese spiritual life.
- Ancestral altar: A sacred domestic space for making offerings, prayers, and maintaining a connection with deceased family members.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- Trên gia đường luôn có hương hoa tươi. (There are always fresh incense and flowers on the family altar.)
- Cả gia đình tụ tập trước gia đường vào ngày giỗ. (The whole family gathers before the ancestral altar on the death anniversary.)
Advanced Usage
- The term "gia đường" is considered somewhat literary or archaic in modern Vietnamese. In everyday speech, "bàn thờ gia tiên" or simply "bàn thờ" is more commonly used to refer to the same object.
Variants and Related Words
Bàn thờ gia tiên (n): Ancestral altar. The most common contemporary term.
- Bàn thờ gia tiên đặt ở nơi trang trọng nhất trong nhà. (The ancestral altar is placed in the most solemn spot in the house.)
Bàn thờ (n): Altar, shrine. A more general term.
- Tổ tiên (n): Ancestors. The spirits honored at the .
Synonyms
- Family shrine
- Domestic altar
- Ancestral shrine
Cultural Note
- The gia đường is not merely decorative; it is a vital locus of family piety, ritual, and memory. It typically holds ancestral tablets (), photographs, incense burners, and offerings. Important family events are often announced before it.