The legend of the Kitchen Gods, also known as the story of the Táo Quân, is a touching tale about marital love and explains the traditional Vietnamese custom of honoring the Kitchen Gods on the 23rd day of the last lunar month. What does this annual ritual mean? Let’s explore the following article.
1. The Legend of the Kitchen Gods
The Kitchen Gods in Vietnamese folk beliefs originate from three deities in Chinese Taoism: Thổ Công, Thổ Địa, and Thổ Kỳ. However, they have been localized into the story of “two men and one woman” – the Earth God, the House God, and the Cooking God. Nonetheless, people commonly refer to them collectively as the Kitchen Gods or Ông Táo.
The Vietnamese tale recounts that Thị Nhi was married to Trọng Cao. Although they shared a deep love, they were unable to have children. Over time, Trọng Cao started to pick fights and mistreat Nhi.
One day, due to a minor issue, Cao escalated the situation, hitting Thị Nhi and driving her away. Nhi left home, wandering to another land where she met Phạm Lang. They fell in love and became husband and wife. After some time, once he calmed down, Trọng Cao regretted his actions but found that his wife had gone far away. Tormented by his longing, he set out to find her.
Days turned into months as he searched everywhere. Running out of rice and money, Cao had to beg along the way. Eventually, he fortuitously found himself begging at Nhi’s house while Phạm Lang was away. Nhi recognized her former husband immediately and invited him in, cooking a meal for him. Just then, Phạm Lang returned home. Fearing her husband would misunderstand, Nhi hid Cao under a pile of straw in the garden.
The Kitchen Gods in Vietnamese folk beliefs originate from three deities of Chinese Taoism.
Unfortunately, that night, Phạm Lang lit a fire to burn the straw pile for ash to fertilize the fields. Seeing the fire, Nhi rushed in to rescue Cao. Seeing her jump into the flames, Phạm Lang also jumped in to save her. All three perished in the fire.
Seeing their deep love and loyalty, the Heavenly God took pity on them and granted them the title of Kitchen Gods, also known as Định phúc Táo Quân. He assigned the new husband, Thổ Công, to oversee kitchen affairs, the former husband, Thổ Địa, to manage household matters, and the wife, Thổ Kỳ, to oversee market activities. Not only do the Kitchen Gods determine the fortune and misfortune of the household, but they also prevent demonic disturbances, ensuring peace for everyone in the home.
Every year, on the 23rd day of the last lunar month, the Kitchen Gods ascend to Heaven to report all the good and bad deeds of people over the past year so that the Heavenly Court may fairly reward or punish everyone.
2. Significance of the Kitchen Gods Ritual
Preparing offerings for the Kitchen Gods.
Vietnamese people believe that the three Kitchen Gods (or the Kitchen Kings) determine the fortune and blessings for families, which are based on the moral actions of the household members. With the desire for the Kitchen Gods to “bless” their family with good fortune, families hold a solemn ceremony to send off the Kitchen Gods each year during Tet.
Additionally, Vietnamese people believe that the Kitchen Gods ascend to Heaven to report to the Jade Emperor about the events that occurred on Earth over the past year. Thus, they prepare lavish offerings during the ritual, hoping to convey only the best news to the Jade Emperor while minimizing the reports of misfortune or negative events, a practice that may stem from ancient cultural habits.
3. Offerings for the Kitchen Gods
The offerings for the Kitchen Gods include: three hats for the Kitchen Gods or three sets (two for the male Gods and one for the female Goddess). The hats for the male Kitchen Gods have two wings, while the hat for the female Kitchen Goddess does not.
These hats are adorned with small round mirrors and colorful tinsel. To simplify, some people may choose to offer just one symbolic hat for the Kitchen God (with two wings) along with a paper robe and a pair of paper shoes.
The colors of the hats, robes, and shoes change annually according to the five elements. (For example: In the year of Metal, yellow is used. In the year of Wood, white is used. In the year of Water, blue is used. In the year of Fire, red is used. In the year of Earth, black is used.)
These “golden paper” items (hats, robes, shoes, and some paper gold) will be burned after the Kitchen Gods ritual on the 23rd day of the last lunar month along with the old altars. A new altar will then be established for the Kitchen Gods.
The ritual for the Kitchen Gods should be prepared and conducted with sincerity and respect from the family. Beyond expressing gratitude to the deities Thổ Công, Thổ Địa, and Thổ Kỳ for their support over the past year, the ritual is also a beautiful aspect of Vietnamese traditional culture that guides people towards goodness.
4. Custom of Releasing Carp on the 23rd Day of the Last Lunar Month
The legend states: “Every year, the Kitchen Gods are sent by Heaven to observe and record the good and evil deeds of humanity. Then, on the 23rd day of the lunar month, they ride carp that transform into dragons to ascend to Heaven and report all the good and bad deeds of people over the past year, so that the Heavenly Court can fairly reward or punish all of humanity.”
Thus, during the Kitchen Gods’ Tet celebration, Vietnamese people perform the ritual of releasing carp. They typically prepare a pair or three live carp, placing them in a basin of water along with other offerings. After the ceremony, the carp are released into rivers, ponds, or lakes, symbolizing “liberation” to send the Kitchen Gods back to Heaven.
Releasing carp during the Kitchen Gods’ Tet celebration is a beautiful cultural tradition of the Vietnamese.
Moreover, in the Vietnamese mindset, “the carp overcoming the Vũ Môn” or “the carp transforming into a dragon” symbolizes ascension, representing the spirit of overcoming hardships, persistence, and the pursuit of knowledge to achieve success, embodying noble character or aiming for positive outcomes. Releasing carp during the Kitchen Gods’ Tet celebration is not only a cultural beauty but also reflects the precious compassion of the Vietnamese people.
When is the Kitchen Gods’ Tet in 2024?
This year, the Kitchen Gods’ Tet will fall on Friday, February 2, 2024. Since it falls on a weekend, families will find it easier to prepare thoroughly and completely. If busy at that time, families can choose different days and times to honor the Kitchen Gods based on their circumstances.
Families can completely honor the Kitchen Gods one or two days before the 23rd day of the last lunar month. However, they should not conduct the ceremony later than 11 PM on the 23rd day. Each year, there is only one day when the Jade Emperor listens to the Kitchen Gods’ reports; thus, they need to ascend to the Heavenly Court on time to present their reports. If any Kitchen God ascends too early, they must wait until the court session, and those who ascend late will not be able to participate. Therefore, families should not conduct the ceremony after the 23rd.
