linh vị
Definition
- Noun:
- Spirit tablet / Ancestral tablet: A wooden plaque or tablet inscribed with the posthumous name and titles of a deceased person, used in Vietnamese ancestor worship and placed on the family altar to represent and honor the spirit of the deceased.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- Gia đình đặt linh vị của cụ trên bàn thờ. (The family placed the ancestral tablet of the elder on the altar.)
- Linh vị được chạm khắc tên và ngày mất. (The spirit tablet is carved with the name and date of death.)
Advanced Usage
- The linh vị is a central object in the Vietnamese ritual of thờ cúng tổ tiên (ancestor worship). It is typically installed during or after the funeral rites and remains on the altar in perpetuity.
Variants and Related Words
- Bài vị (n): A more general term for a ritual tablet, which can be synonymous with linh vị.
- Bàn thờ (n): Altar, where the linh vị is placed.
- Thần chủ (n): Another term for a main ancestral tablet in a lineage.
Synonyms
- Ancestral tablet
- Spirit tablet
- Memorial tablet
Cultural Notes
- The linh vị is not merely a memorial object but is believed to house the spirit of the ancestor, serving as a focal point for communication and offerings from the living descendants. Its creation and placement are important rites within the Vietnamese funeral and ongoing ancestral veneration practices.