新屋入伙前必須做的一件事就是「拜四角」: Paying respect to the 4 Corners of a new apartment (new house)
Usually this ritual is done on the day when the owners got the key to the new apartments (before any renovation being done). But some people will only performed this ritual before they moved into the new unit (Either way is accepted, as long the owners feel happy after the praying session).
一些曾有人住過的舊屋或者是村屋,角位較為潮濕陰暗,而在祭祀時, 焚香燒衣有助驅走蛇蟲鼠蟻,消毒環境,或是趕走不潔的東西。
This ritual not only to show our Mortals' respect to the "un-seenable energies" around us, but also somehow to get rid of dirty insects in a new vacant apartments.
「拜四角」的祭品: Offerings needed for the ritual
生果一個、花生一堆、糖果五粒及連皮毛的肥豬肉一小件。注意,這些祭品要在大廳的四角及中央,所以合共要五份,而在大廳中央,要特別加放燒酒三杯。
One fruit (any choices), One handful of peanuts, Five sweets and One piece of pork (with skin attached).
Owner will need to prepare Five shares (4 Corners and 1 Central)
The Central share will need 3 more cups of wine (the 4 Corners no need)
After paying the respect, burn off some joss-papers (this to symbolise "Wang")
「拜四角」的儀式: The Ritual
首先點起二十一支小香, 面向正門,之後由左手邊起,繞著全屋用香薰一次,包括廁所及廚房,心中默默禱告,如家宅安康,夫妻和氣等 。
Light up 21 sticks of incense.
After lighting the incense, face the Main Door.
Starting from your left-hand side, go round the vacant unit with the lighted incense, allowed the smoke from the incense to fill the whole unit (Kitchen, washrooms, storeroom are needed too). As you go round the unit, sliently request for the necessary blessings from the "un-seenable energies".
將薰過屋的香燭,分別放在五方東南西北四個角落分別插三支香,大廳中央則插上九支,合共廿一支香,蠟燭方面,則每處放一對,合共五對,在單位中央焚燒衣紙,化完衣紙後,各種祭品不再取回。
After going one round, place 3 sticks of incense accordingly to the 4 directions (starting from East, South, West and end at North).
After North, take the remaining 9 sticks of incenses, place them at the Central area of the unit.
As for candles, each direction will need a pair of RED candles.
After placing the incenses, the owner of the unit can start to burn off the joss-papers.
PS: Do not keep away the offerings, just leave them at the corners till next visit.
用一支新買的掃把,打掃一下現場,掃除的方向是由大廳每個角位開始掃,將垃圾掃到大廳中央,再掃出大門口,此舉象徵把不潔的東西掃去。
After burning off the joss-paper, the owner will need to get a new broom, sweep from the 4 corners to the central position and then from the central position, sweep the dust out to the main entrance (this symbolised getting rid of all dirty issues).