thiết vị

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A memorial tablet / a spirit tablet: A wooden or stone plaque inscribed with the posthumous name or title of a deceased person, placed on an altar for worship and remembrance in Vietnamese ancestor veneration practices.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Trên bàn thờ có đặt một thiết vị của cụ cố. (On the altar, a memorial tablet of the great-grandparent is placed.)
  • Thiết vị được chạm khắc tên hiệu người đã khuất. (The spirit tablet is carved with the posthumous name of the deceased.)

Advanced Usage

• The term "thiết vị" is specifically used in the context of traditional Vietnamese ancestor worship and religious rituals. It denotes a formal, inscribed object for ceremonial use, distinguishing it from simpler photographs or temporary offerings.

Variants and Related Words

• Bài vị (n): Another, more common term for a spirit tablet or memorial tablet. It is largely synonymous with "thiết vị".
  • Bài vị thường được làm bằng gỗ. (The spirit tablet is usually made of wood.)

Synonyms

• Memorial tablet: A plaque in memory of a person.
• Spirit tablet: A tablet used in ancestral worship.
• Ancestral tablet: A tablet dedicated to ancestors.

Related Cultural Context

• Lập thiết vị: To erect or establish a memorial tablet. This is a ritual act performed to formally invite the spirit of the deceased to reside at the family altar.
  • Gia đình tổ chức lễ để lập thiết vị cho ông nội. (The family held a ceremony to erect a memorial tablet for their grandfather.)