Ritual of Paying Respect to Xuan Tian Shang Di

玄天上帝之祀典

一：迎神 Inviting Deities

1上香 - Offer Incenses

2 鳴鐘九響，擂鼓三通〈暮鼓、晨鐘〉 - Sound the Bells and Drums

3 奉茶〈三十六鐘、七十二鼓〉 - Offer Tea (at the same time, sound 36 sounds of Bell and 72 sounds of Drum)

4 奉果 - offer Fruits

5 迎神〈眾生向外〉 - Invite the Deities in (devotees are to face out from the premises)

6 請誥〈淨壇，請神〉 - Cleanse the Altar or premises by chanting the "Cleansing Mantra" and chant the Invitation Mantras to ursher the Deities in

二：祝壽大典 Starting of the Paying Respect Ceremony

1 典禮開始 - Start the Ceremony by all Devotees getting start

2 鳴炮 - Light the crackers

3 鳴鐘九響 - sound the Bell 9 times

4 擂鼓三通 - beat the Drum 3 times

5 主祭生就位 - Main Ceremony Master to stand in place (infront of the Altar)

6 陪祭生就位，與祭生就位 - Secondary Masters/Devotees to stand in place (at the back of the Main Ceremony Master)

7 分香 - Ceremony Assistant to distribute the Incenses to all people standing infront of the Altar (with respect)

8 上香 - Ceremony Master will lead the others to offer their Incenses

9 獻花 - Offer Flowers

10 獻茗 - Offer Tea/Wine

11 獻果 - Offer Fruits

12 獻財帛 - Offer Joss-papers

13 誦祝壽讚 - Read out the Ceremony Speech (as follow in blue)

祝壽讚：寶鼎篆名香，瑞靄氤氳，虔誠奉獻眾天尊，
端為玄天上帝祝聖壽，萬壽無疆，
端為玄天上帝祝聖壽，地久天長，皈命德配乾坤無疆大天尊

14 向玄天大天尊，玄穹高上帝行三跪十二叩禮 - Make Kowtow

15 恭讀祝文〈全體俯伏〉 - Read out the Wishing Message to the Main Deity

16 行祝壽禮〈誦宣疏讚〉 - Chant the necessary Mantras to the Main Deity (as follow in blue)

宣疏讚：玉皇大天尊，玉皇大天尊，蒼穹聖主玉皇大天尊
三官大天尊，三官大天尊，三元三品三官大帝尊
玄天上帝尊，玄天上帝尊，玄天上帝真武大天尊
救苦大天尊，救苦大天尊，十方一切救苦大天尊
普化大天尊，普化大天尊，九天雷祖普化大天尊

17 焚呈祝文〈鐘鼓齊鳴〉 - Send off (burnt) the Wishing Message to the Main Deity

18 行三跪九叩禮 - Make Kowtow

19 恭化財帛〈眾生向外望燎，誦祝壽偈〉 - Offer the Joss-paper (Devotees are to face out and chant the Celebrating Mantras as follow in blue)

祝壽偈：壽祝光輝照大千，香煙渺渺達諸天，壽桃供奉諸天尊，壽星壽海萬萬年

20 回向殿上行三跪九叩禮〈向眾天尊〉 - Face back to the Altar and make Kowtow

21 送神〈眾生向外〉 - Send off the Deities

22 誦送神神咒，行三跪十二叩禮〈鐘鼓齊鳴鳴炮奉送大天尊〉 - Chant the Send Off Mantras and Make Kowtows (Bell and Drum must be sound)

23 復位 - Stand back to place

24 禮成〈主祭、陪祭、與祭撤班〉 - Pay respect and leave the Altar

25 鳴炮 - Light the crackers

三：安神 Settle the Deities Down

1 誦安神神咒〈禮生行三跪九叩禮〉 - Chant the Settling Mantras to settle the Deities down after the Ceremony

2 撤班，完滿 - Ceremony end