Definition

1. Noun:
   • Cult-portion of heritage entail; Ancestral worship property: A portion of a family's property or assets (traditionally land or fields) that is set aside and preserved specifically to generate income for funding the worship of ancestors, including rituals, offerings, and the maintenance of ancestral altars and graves. This property is considered inalienable and is passed down through generations for this sacred purpose.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Gia đình ông ấy vẫn còn giữ mảnh ruộng hương hỏa từ đời cụ kỵ. (His family still keeps the cult-portion field from his great-great-grandfather's time.)
  • Theo truyền thống, phần hương hỏa không được phép bán hay chia. (Traditionally, the ancestral worship property is not allowed to be sold or divided.)
  • Lợi tức từ phần hương hỏa được dùng để lo việc cúng giỗ. (The proceeds from the cult-portion are used to cover death anniversary worship expenses.)

Advanced Usage

• "Ruộng hương hỏa": Cult-portion field; Ancestral worship field. This is the most common specific form of , referring to a rice field designated for this purpose.
  • Mảnh ruộng hương hỏa ấy đã nuôi sống việc thờ cúng tổ tiên suốt trăm năm. (That cult-portion field has sustained the ancestral worship for a hundred years.)

Variants and Related Words

• Hương hoả (alternative spelling): This is a common alternate spelling with the same meaning.
• Khẩu phần hương hỏa (less common): Literally "cult-portion share," referring to the specific allocated share of the heritage.

Synonyms

• Phần trực bạch / Phần trực bạch điền: A more classical/formal term with a similar meaning, referring to property reserved for ancestral rites.
• Tài sản thờ cúng: General term for "worship assets/property."

Notes on Meaning

• Cultural/Historical Concept: is deeply rooted in Vietnamese Confucian family culture and the practice of ancestor veneration. It represents the material foundation for fulfilling the filial duty of worship across generations.
• Legal Concept (Historically): In traditional law and customs, was a legally recognized form of entail, ensuring the continuity of the family cult. It was exempt from ordinary division during inheritance.
• Modern Context: While the legal institution has faded, the term is still used to refer to family assets preserved for ancestral worship purposes, or metaphorically to describe the continuity of family traditions.

1. Cult-portion of heritage entail
   • Ruộng hương hỏa
     Cult-portion field (whose proceeds were to cover the worshipping expenses)