According to popular belief, during the ceremony to honor the Kitchen Gods, carps are indispensable. This fish transforms into a dragon, taking the Kitchen Gods to heaven and bringing success and prosperity to the household. So why is it only carps that are released and not another animal?
In the traditional culture of the Vietnamese people, on the 23rd day of the last month of the lunar calendar, every family prepares an offering to send the Kitchen Gods back to heaven. They believe that the Kitchen Gods ride carps to the sky to report on what they have accomplished and what remains to be done in the past year to the Jade Emperor. Then, on New Year’s Eve, the Kitchen Gods return to the earthly world to continue overseeing the family hearth.
Families release carps on the 23rd day of the last month based on the legend of the carp overcoming the imperial exam and becoming a dragon.
In response to the many inquiries about why everyone chooses to release carps for the Kitchen Gods, and whether they can be replaced by another animal, we consulted several cultural researchers.
Explaining the reason and significance of releasing carps, Mr. Nguyen Cung Ha, Deputy Head of the Department of Parapsychology at the Institute for Research and Application of Human Potential, and Deputy Director of the Center for Research and Application of Eastern Culture, stated: “Families release carps on the 23rd day of the last month based on the legend of the carp overcoming the imperial exam and becoming a dragon. Among all aquatic species, only the carp can ascend to heaven and transform into a dragon.
Legend has it that the carp must pass three tests to become a dragon. Each test brings the carp closer to heaven, overcoming high waterfalls. The first test requires the carp to leap over a high and dangerous waterfall. Once it succeeds, its tail changes, gaining more power. The second test involves facing stronger storms and waves, but the carp still prevails. At this point, half of the carp has transformed into a dragon. After passing the third test, the entire carp becomes a dragon.”
In further discussions, Mr. Nguyen Hao Hung, a former researcher at the Southeast Asia Research Institute and former Deputy Editor-in-Chief of the Southeast Asian Studies Journal, emphasized that carps cannot be replaced by any other animal during the Kitchen Gods’ ceremony: “The carp is the only means of transportation for the Kitchen Gods to return to heaven. Therefore, it cannot be substituted with another animal. Moreover, the carp has become a cultural symbol: the carp transforms into a dragon (symbolizing achievement), and the carp overcoming the imperial exam (honoring academic success), reflects the compassion of the Vietnamese people (through the act of releasing) which is difficult to replace.”
Additionally, the carp represents growth and immense reproductive capacity. This symbolizes the fertility beliefs of the ancient Vietnamese, wishing for abundance and growth.
According to Professor Dr. Ngo Duc Thinh (Director of the Center for Research and Preservation of Vietnamese Belief Culture), the Kitchen Gods’ festival is a unique Tet celebration, but it actually marks the beginning of the Lunar New Year.
According to beliefs, the Kitchen Gods reside in every family’s kitchen, thus they are fully aware of the family’s good and bad deeds, harmony, or discord.
Professor Duc Thinh believes that the educational significance of this day is for everyone to reflect on how they live so that when the Kitchen Gods return to heaven, they will speak well of that family. Consequently, the local deities will bless the household.
Furthermore, according to the book “Vietnamese Customs,” the Vietnamese believe that the three Kitchen Gods determine the family’s fortune. This fortune derives from the righteous actions of the household members. The altar is usually placed near the kitchen, with an inscription written in Chinese characters. Every year, on the 23rd day of the last month, it is the time for the Kitchen Gods to ascend to heaven, sometimes referred to as “Tet of the Kitchen Gods.” The offering includes carps because the Vietnamese believe these fish transform into dragons, escorting the Kitchen Gods to heaven.
Therefore, according to folk belief, the carps must be released before noon (12 PM on the 23rd day of the last month) to reach the celestial palace in time. Many families often choose rivers, streams, or lakes near their homes to release the fish. However, how to properly release the fish with respect to its meaning is also a concern for many people.
Mr. Nguyen Hao Hung stated that carps cannot be replaced by any other animal during the Kitchen Gods’ ceremony.
Regarding this issue, feng shui expert Mai Van Sinh noted: “In recent years, the release of carps has been reported by many media outlets, with some people throwing fish or even plastic bags into the water, which not only pollutes the environment but also misinterprets the sacred traditional customs.”
According to Mr. Mai Van Sinh, when releasing carps during the Kitchen Gods’ ceremony, people should do so gently and slowly into rivers or lakes, giving the fish a chance to live. This also reflects a respectful and sacred action, bringing good fortune to oneself and the family.
How to Choose the Best Carps for the Kitchen Gods Ceremony
In fact, the offering is a matter of personal belief; the number is not mandatory and depends on each family’s beliefs. Some believe the offering of carps is merely symbolic; one fish is sufficient, and if live carps are unavailable, a plate of sticky rice shaped like a carp or using paper carps is also acceptable. Some families prefer to offer a pair for balance and symmetry.
However, if you wish to adhere “correctly” to the legend of the Kitchen Gods, buying three carps is most appropriate. Most families that maintain the tradition of releasing carps on the 23rd day of the last month purchase three fish, one for each of the three Kitchen Gods.
Should You Choose Live Carps or Paper Carps?
If you choose to offer paper carps, then do not use live carps, and vice versa. The live carps chosen for the Kitchen Gods should typically be red carps.
After purchasing them, they should be placed in a clean bowl of water, adding a small piece of moss if the fish are bought a long time before the offering. When the time for the offering arrives, the bowl of carps is placed next to the offering tray.
How to Select Healthy and Beautiful Carps?
The carps offered to the Kitchen Gods do not need to be large; they should simply be healthy and free of scratches or missing scales. To test the fish’s health, you can gently touch the surface of the water in the bowl; if the fish swim quickly and vigorously, they are healthy.
If you want to be more thorough, you can gently lift the fish’s gills to check; if the gills are bright red, that indicates a healthy fish. If the gills are dark red, the fish is weak and may only survive for a short time.
When going to release the fish, you should choose clean ponds or lakes, spacious and not too polluted.
Notes for Releasing Carps and Burning Offerings on the Kitchen Gods’ Day
When releasing carps, you should choose clean ponds or lakes, spacious and not too polluted. When releasing, do not stand too high and dump the fish or throw the entire bag into the water, as this could cause the fish to die and pollute the surrounding environment.
The correct way to release fish is to select a spot by the water’s edge, gently tilting the bowl or bag to let the fish swim freely into the water.
Also, on the Kitchen Gods’ festival, many fire incidents have occurred due to people burning paper offerings during the ceremony. Numerous individuals have unfortunately slipped and fallen into rivers or lakes while releasing carps, resulting in fatalities.
According to cultural researcher Tran Lam Bien, the ceremony must be approached with sincerity and understanding. From a festival that embodies the beautiful traditions of the nation, many people misunderstand or abuse it, leading to excessive displays. Some people even go “hunting” for rare gold or red carps, believing that the larger and more expensive the offerings, the more the deities will bless them. With this mindset, as the 23rd day of the last month approaches, prices for items related to the Kitchen Gods’ offerings skyrocket.
Professor Tran Lam Bien advises that the offering should primarily be made with sincerity. If a family is near a suitable place to release fish, then they should perform the release. Otherwise, it’s better to offer symbolically, avoiding imitation or competition with others to prevent misfortune.
