Offering Prayers to Tian-Gong

Tian-Gong a.k.a Jade Emperor has his birthday on the 9th lunar day of the Chinese New Year. It is believed that earnestly and sincerely offering prayers to Tian-Gong on his birthday brings an increase in wealth, smoothness at work, improvement in studies, promotions, good business, good health, peace and auspice for the year ahead.

When these wishes and prayers come true, one should "repay" by offering thanks with special prayers on the 25th lunar day of the 12th lunar month.

To pray to Tian-Gong, the following items must be prepared:-

1. Tian-Gong-Jin
2. Shou-Jin
3. Da-Shou-Jin
4. Xiao-tian-jin
5. Shen-Ma
6. Joss-sticks, 3 Dragon Joss-sticks and 3 1-Foot Joss-sticks
7. Candles, 2 Dragon Candles
8. Dragon Gown Set

Other items include an altar table, fa-gao, sweets, biscuits, groundnuts, lotus seeds, hong-guo, noodles, hong-bao, lettuce, mandarin oranges, apples, pineapple, bananas, tangerines, golden fungus, black fungus, mushroom, vermicelli, beancurd, beancurd-sticks and red dates.

Knowing when to pray (at what time) is important too as well as the how to pray...