God of Wealth & Earth Deity Shrine Prayer (Than Tai Tho Dia): Layout & A4 Print

IPersonalize Your Scroll, Select Ritual Date and Read Prayer

1. Select Solar Date (Auto-converts to Lunar Date, Sexagenary Cycle & Auspicious Hours)

Pick the actual solar date on which your household performs the rite

Ceremony Date (Solar Calendar)

Quick presets for Year-End and Lunar New Year 2027

Select an Auspicious Hour to insert into the prayer (optional)

2. Officiant and Household Details (Live Scroll Personalization)

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Liturgical pronoun

Full name of chief officiant (Petitioner)

Solar birth year Enter solar birth year to auto-calculate Sexagenary stem-branch and lunar age

Shop, company or office name

Household or ceremony address

Co-attending household members (optional)

3. Choose Prayer Variant, Enter Altar Mode or Print A4 Scroll

The grand annual spring invocation performed on the morning of the 10th day of the First Lunar Month at shops, enterprises, studios, and households maintaining a God of Wealth shrine.

HALL OF MYRIAD PATHS · TRADITIONAL RITUAL SCROLL

God of Wealth and Earth Deity Shrine Prayer: Festival, Monthly and Daily Scrolls

1. God of Wealth Festival Day Prayer (10th Day of the First Lunar Month)

Nam mo A Di Da Phat! (Three recitations, accompanied by three respectful bows)

Humbly bowing before the Nine Directions of Heaven, the Buddhas of the Ten Directions, and all Buddhas throughout the cosmos. Humbly bowing before Imperial Heaven, Sovereign Earth, and all Venerable Deities.

Humbly bowing before the Sovereign of the Eastern Kitchen and Arbiter of Destiny (Dong Tru Tu Menh Tao Phu Than Quan), the Local Tutelary Guardian Deity, and the Righteous Local Spirits of this district.

Humbly bowing before the Venerable God of Wealth (Than Tai tien vi), the Righteous Earth Deity of Blessing and Virtue (Tho Dia phuc duc chinh than), the Venerable Deities of the Five Directions, Five Soils, and Dragon Veins, and the Former and Latter Land-Lord Wealth Deities governing this place.

Today is ……………………, marking the annual Spring Festival Day of the God of Wealth.

………… ………………………………, maintaining this shrine ………….

Honoring this auspicious spring festival of the God of Wealth, ………… have reverently cleansed the shrine with fragrant herbal water, replenished pure water and fresh blossoms, arranged lamps, tea, five-element fruits, and ceremonial offerings, and lit heartfelt incense before the sacred seat.

………… reverently invite the Venerable God of Wealth, the Righteous Household Earth Deity, the Kitchen Sovereign, and the Dragon Vein Wealth Deities of the Five Directions to descend before this shrine, witness our sincerity, and accept these offerings.

Humbly ………… pray that the Venerable Deities bless our household and colleagues with sound health, clear judgment, peaceful premises, and smooth, honorable enterprise: may nearby clients value our trustworthiness, may distant partners respect our integrity, may commerce flow steadily, and may wholesome prosperity endure across all four seasons.

With modest offerings yet steadfast devotion, ………… vow to uphold honesty and fairness as the foundation of our livelihood, bowing deeply before the shrine and praying for your enduring protection.

Nam mo A Di Da Phat! (Three recitations, concluding with three grateful bows)

IICeremonial Offerings and Preparation Checklist

Offerings at the God of Wealth and Earth Deity shrine follow two clear tiers: daily and monthly observances call only for freshly poured pure water, fresh flowers, tea, and clean seasonal fruit; the annual 10th-day Festival of the God of Wealth optionally adds the classical Tam Sen trio, grilled snakehead fish, or vegetarian sweet rice according to regional custom.

IIIInteractive 3D Altar, Layout Diagram and Ritual Protocol

Drag to rotate 360° · Click numbered pins 1 to 8 or cards below to inspect each offering

Rendering crimson-and-gold 3D ritual altar…

Essential orientation rule when standing outside and looking directly into the floor shrine: on the LEFT is the God of Wealth statue (Than Tai), and on the RIGHT is the Earth Deity statue (Tho Dia); the fresh flower vase stands on the viewer's right (Dong Binh), the five-fruit plate rests on the viewer's left (Tay Qua), five water cups form a cross in front, and the petal-filled Bright-Hall Water Bowl sits outermost.

1

God of Wealth Statue (Than Tai) on the LEFT Looking Into the ShrineViewed from outside looking into the alcove, the God of Wealth sits on the petitioner's left hand (corresponding to the West Metal seat from inside the shrine looking out, governing gold, silver, and commerce).

2

Earth Deity Statue (Tho Dia) on the RIGHT Looking Into the ShrineViewed from outside looking into the alcove, the smiling Earth Deity sits on the petitioner's right hand (corresponding to the honored East Dragon seat from inside looking out, guarding the land and foundation).

3

Three Full Jars of Rice, Salt & Pure Water Before the Spirit TabletThe inscribed Spirit Tablet rests centered against the back wall; directly in front of it stand three covered jars of clean rice, salt, and water symbolizing unfailing sustenance.

4

Central Incense BowlAnchored squarely at the center of the shrine in front of the three jars, with an unobstructed line of sight toward the entrance.

5

Fresh Flower Vase on the Viewer's Right (Dong Binh)Positioned along the right flank of the shrine as you face it, holding an odd number of fresh blooms in clean water.

6

Five-Fruit Plate on the Viewer's Left (Tay Qua)Positioned along the left flank of the shrine balancing the flower vase; always use real, fresh fruit rather than plastic replicas.

7

Five Water Cups in Cross Formation & Tam Sen Offering TrayFive clean cups arranged in a cross represent the Five Directions and Five Elements; festival trays of Tam Sen, roast pork, or sweet rice sit neatly in front.

8

Outermost Bright-Hall Water Bowl (Minh Duong Tu Thuy)A shallow porcelain or stone bowl filled with clean water and fresh flower petals placed outermost on the floor threshold to gather auspicious Qi.

Real-world reference photographs of traditional altars and offering trays

Open-license documentary photographs via Wikimedia Commons (click any photo for source file)

Authentic God of Wealth and Earth Deity floor shrine. Looking into the floor shrine: the God of Wealth sits on the left and the Earth Deity on the right, with a central incense bowl, five water cups in a row, yellow chrysanthemums on the right and pomelo with five garlic cloves on the left. — **Authentic God of Wealth and Earth Deity floor shrine.** Looking into the floor shrine: the God of Wealth sits on the left and the Earth Deity on the right, with a central incense bowl, five water cups in a row, yellow chrysanthemums on the right and pomelo with five garlic cloves on the left.
Photograph: Phuong Huy · License: CC BY-SA 4.0 · Source: Wikimedia Commons

Grand Business Opening and God of Wealth feast table. Ceremonial business-opening table arranged with whole roast pork, five molded red gac sticky-rice plates, sweet glutinous rice balls in ginger syrup, boiled chicken and fresh flowers. — **Grand Business Opening and God of Wealth feast table.** Ceremonial business-opening table arranged with whole roast pork, five molded red gac sticky-rice plates, sweet glutinous rice balls in ginger syrup, boiled chicken and fresh flowers.
Photograph: Hongtrakemsua7 · License: CC BY-SA 4.0 · Source: Wikimedia Commons

Step-by-step ceremonial sequence before the altar

For the 2027 Year of Dinh Mui, the God of Wealth Festival (10th day of the First Lunar Month) falls on Monday, February 15, 2027 (Day of At Suu, Month of Nham Dan). All six Auspicious Hours on that day are Dan (03:00 to 05:00), Mao (05:00 to 07:00), Ti (09:00 to 11:00), Than (15:00 to 17:00), Tuat (19:00 to 21:00), and Hoi (21:00 to 23:00), with the three morning windows Dan, Mao, and Ti favored most.

Step 1
Cleanse the shrine and statues with warm pomelo-leaf or five-herb water
On the afternoon of the 9th lunar day or early morning before the rite, wipe the alcove and statues gently with a dedicated new cloth steeped in warm pomelo-leaf infusion, dry them respectfully, and seat Than Tai on the left and Tho Dia on the right looking in.
Step 2
Replenish the three sustenance jars and the Bright-Hall Water Bowl
Ensure the Rice, Salt, and Water jars before the rear tablet are clean and full; rinse the five cross-shaped water cups, pour fresh water, and float fresh petals in the outermost Minh Duong Tu Thuy bowl.
Step 3
Arrange East Vase flowers, West Fruit and festival delicacies
Set the fresh flower vase on your right and the five-fruit plate on your left; on the 10th-day Festival, place the Tam Sen tray, grilled fish, or vegetarian sticky rice and sweet soup on a clean mat in front.
Step 4
Open the main entrance to welcome morning Qi and light incense
Open the shop or living-room entrance so fresh air and natural light enter the Bright Hall, switch on the warm shrine lamp, and ignite 3 or 5 sticks of natural incense during an Auspicious Hour.
Step 5
Bow respectfully and recite the personalized scroll
Dressed neatly, hold the incense at brow height, bow three times, place the sticks upright in the central bowl, and read your personalized business or household scroll clearly.
Step 6
Offer warm tea, give thanks and share blessings within the team
Once the incense has burned past two-thirds, bow three times in thanksgiving and lower the offerings. Share the blessed fruit and cakes within your family or workplace team so auspicious goodwill remains gathered indoors.

IVWhy the Shrine Sits on the Floor and Exact Left-Right Placement Rules

Unlike Buddhist and Ancestral altars, which are always elevated high above eye level, the Vietnamese God of Wealth and Earth Deity shrine rests directly upon the ground floor near the main entrance. Every element of this compact alcove follows precise Five-Element and Bright-Hall Feng Shui geometry.

In Vietnamese folk cosmology, Tho Dia (the Earth Deity) governs the soil, foundation, boundaries, and domestic safety of a specific plot, while Than Tai (the God of Wealth) presides over livelihood, fair exchange, and material sustenance. Because both deities channel terrestrial vitality (Dia khi), their wooden alcove is seated directly on the floor, backed firmly against a solid load-bearing wall (never against glass windows, open stairs, or restrooms) and angled where it can observe the bright open threshold near the main door (Minh Duong).

The single most common mistake in shops and offices is reversing the two statues. To eliminate confusion between inside-out and outside-in perspectives, keep both coordinate systems crystal clear: when you stand outside facing into the shrine, the God of Wealth (Than Tai) MUST sit on the LEFT, and the Earth Deity (Tho Dia) MUST sit on the RIGHT. Why? Because from the classical seat-of-honor perspective inside the shrine looking outward, the shrine's own left side is East (the Azure Dragon seat), where the local Earth Deity presides as host of the land alongside the East Flower Vase (Dong Binh); meanwhile, the shrine's own right side is West (the White Tiger seat governed by the Metal element, associated with gold, silver, and treasure), where the God of Wealth presides alongside the West Five-Fruit Plate (Tay Qua). Simply remember from the viewer's perspective looking in: Left Than Tai, Right Tho Dia; Right Flower Vase, Left Fruit Plate.

According to the tradition

Every vessel inside and before the alcove completes a balanced Five-Element microcosm. Against the rear wall stands the crimson-and-gold Spirit Tablet inscribed with invocations to summon auspicious treasure. Directly in front of the tablet sit three covered jars of Rice, Salt, and Full Water, representing an inexhaustible granary. At the center stands the Incense Bowl radiating sincere Fire energy. In front of the bowl, five water cups arranged in a Cross mirror the Five Directions (East, West, South, North, and Center) and Five Elements. Outermost on the floor threshold rests the Minh Duong Tu Thuy bowl of clean water floating fresh petals, symbolizing a tranquil pond that gathers incoming Qi gently rather than letting it rush away.

According to the historical record

In East Asian commercial lore, the 10th day of the First Lunar Month marks the annual day on which the God of Wealth ascended back to Heaven after aiding earthly communities, prompting merchants and households to hold a major spring thanksgiving rite (Via Than Tai). Across Southern Vietnam from the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries onward, the courtly robed figure of Than Tai merged affectionately with the jovial, bare-bellied, fan-holding figure of Ong Dia, embodying agrarian warmth and pioneer hospitality. In the Dinh Mui Year 2027, the 10th day of the First Lunar Month falls on Monday, February 15, 2027 (Day of At Suu, Month of Nham Dan), featuring six Auspicious Hours: Dan (03:00 to 05:00), Mao (05:00 to 07:00), Ti (09:00 to 11:00), Than (15:00 to 17:00), Tuat (19:00 to 21:00), and Hoi (21:00 to 23:00), with morning rites ideally performed in Dan, Mao, or Ti.

VNine Liturgical Titles and Shrine Symbols Explained

Understanding the titles recited in the scroll and the symbolic vessels arranged before the alcove turns mechanical routine into mindful, ethical practice.

Reference guide to nine essential titles and ceremonial emblems of the God of Wealth and Earth Deity shrine.
Title or Ritual Vessel	Classical Meaning and Practical Application
Venerable God of Wealth (Than Tai tien vi)	Honorific salutation before the seat of the Deity of Wealth, patron of honest commerce, diligent craftsmanship, and fair circulation of value.
Righteous Earth Deity (Tho Dia phuc duc chinh than)	Guardian spirit of the local soil and building foundation; classical wisdom holds that stable peace on the land (Phuc Duc) is the prerequisite for lasting prosperity.
Former & Latter Land-Lord Wealth Spirits (Tien hau Dia chu Tai than)	Honors the spiritual custodians of the property across successive eras, acknowledging the history of the site where one's enterprise operates.
Five Directions & Dragon Vein Deities (Ngu phuong Long mach)	Invokes the subtle telluric currents (Dragon Veins) and directional guardians that harmonize the spatial energy of a home or storefront.
Tam Sen Trio (Three-Realm Offering)	Three boiled items symbolizing life across three realms: Earth (boiled pork belly), Sky (boiled duck or chicken egg), and Water (boiled shrimp or crab).
Five Water Cups in Cross Formation	Four outer cups represent the four cardinal directions while the central cup represents Earth harmonizing the four seasons; rinse and refill daily.
East Vase, West Fruit (Dong Binh Tay Qua)	Orienting from inside the shrine looking out: the fresh flower vase stands on the viewer's right (East), and the five-fruit plate rests on the viewer's left (West).
Bright-Hall Water Bowl (Minh Duong Tu Thuy)	A shallow vessel of pure water crowned with fresh petals at the outer edge of the shrine, symbolizing calm water retaining auspicious Qi.
Trustworthiness & Ethical Heart (Chu Tin, Chu Tam)	The moral core of Vietnamese mercantile ethics: spiritual blessing endures only where weights are honest, promises are kept, and clients are served fairly.

VIRegional Customs Across Vietnam and Five Mistakes to Avoid

From bustling Southern market towns to Northern craft streets and contemporary technology offices, devotion at the Than Tai and Tho Dia shrine adapts local delicacies while preserving neatness and sincerity.

Southern Vietnam: Whole Grilled Snakehead Fish, Tam Sen & Fresh Garlic

The heartland of Ong Dia and Than Tai devotion. On the 10th morning of the First Month, Southern shopkeepers traditionally offer whole flame-grilled snakehead fish (ca loc nuong trui) recalling Mekong pioneer days, alongside the Tam Sen trio, steamed prosperity cakes, hot milk coffee, and five fresh garlic bulbs.

Northern Vietnam: Pomelo-Leaf Cleansing, Red Gac Rice & Chrysanthemums

Northern merchants cleanse the shrine thoroughly with warm pomelo-leaf water on the 9th afternoon, then present golden chrysanthemums, five spring fruits, clear rice wine, red gac sticky rice, or roast pork on the 10th morning.

Central Vietnam: Neat Moderation with Sweet Bananas & Steamed Sponge Cakes

Central Vietnamese storefronts favor tidy, understated arrangements featuring large yellow chrysanthemums, ripe bananas, five-petaled steamed egg cakes (banh thuan), and three rounds of fragrant tea.

Modern Offices, Studios & Vegetarian Enterprises

Contemporary offices and vegetarian entrepreneurs omit meat offerings altogether, presenting fresh seasonal fruit, mung-bean sticky rice, sweet ginger dumplings, pure water, and a single low-smoke agarwood stick.

A common misunderstanding

Five practical mistakes frequently seen at God of Wealth shrines: First, reversing the two statues by placing Tho Dia on the left and Than Tai on the right when looking in; verify your shrine against our diagram in Section III. Second, believing one must borrow money or queue frantically to buy gold on the 10th day or else lose fortune; buying a small gold ring began merely as a folk habit of New Year thrift, never a religious requirement. Third, tucking the floor shrine beneath dark stairs, beside trash bins, or facing a toilet door. Fourth, stringing harsh blinking neon lights around the alcove or leaving dusty plastic flowers year-round. Fifth, giving away all blessed offerings to outsiders rather than sharing them within the household or company team first.

?Quick Questions

Looking from outside into the shrine, which side holds the God of Wealth and which side holds the Earth Deity?

Standing outside and looking directly into the shrine, the God of Wealth (Than Tai) sits on the LEFT, and the Earth Deity (Tho Dia) sits on the RIGHT. Centered at the back is the Spirit Tablet, in front of the tablet stand the three full jars of Rice, Salt, and Water, at the center sits the incense bowl, on your right stands the flower vase (Dong Binh), and on your left rests the fruit plate (Tay Qua).

Do non-commercial households need a God of Wealth floor shrine, and may we offer purely vegetarian gifts?

Households not engaged in commerce do not need a separate floor shrine; honoring the Household Deities (Tho Cong) and Ancestors on the main elevated altar is already complete. Where a Than Tai shrine is maintained, purely vegetarian offerings of fresh water, flowers, five fruits, and sweet sticky rice are completely respectful and auspicious.

When is God of Wealth Day in 2027 (Dinh Mui Year), and which hours are most auspicious?

The 10th day of the First Lunar Month in the Dinh Mui Year falls on Monday, February 15, 2027 (Day of At Suu, Month of Nham Dan). The six Auspicious Hours of the day are Dan (03:00 to 05:00), Mao (05:00 to 07:00), Ti (09:00 to 11:00), Than (15:00 to 17:00), Tuat (19:00 to 21:00), and Hoi (21:00 to 23:00), with the three morning windows Dan, Mao, and Ti favored most for opening the rite.

Should the three jars of Rice, Salt, and Water be replaced daily or monthly?

No. While the five front water cups and the outermost petal water bowl (Minh Duong Tu Thuy) should be rinsed and refilled regularly with clean water, the three covered jars of Rice, Salt, and Water in front of the Spirit Tablet represent accumulated reserves and remain undisturbed throughout the year until year-end cleansing.

Is buying gold mandatory on the 10th day of the First Lunar Month?

Not at all. Purchasing a small piece of gold on the 10th day grew out of a folk custom of setting aside early-year savings among merchants; no classical text requires it. Keeping a clean, serene shrine, greeting clients warmly, and practicing fair, trustworthy business are the true foundations of lasting prosperity.

On busy work mornings, is pouring fresh water and lighting one stick of incense with the short scroll sufficient?

Yes, completely. Daily practice values consistency and cleanliness over length: opening the front door, pouring fresh water, switching on the warm lamp, lighting one natural low-smoke incense stick, and reciting Variant 3 in one quiet minute fulfills traditional etiquette.

God of Wealth and Earth Deity Shrine Prayer: Festival, Monthly and Daily Scrolls

IPersonalize Your Scroll, Select Ritual Date and Read Prayer

1. Select Solar Date (Auto-converts to Lunar Date, Sexagenary Cycle & Auspicious Hours)

2. Officiant and Household Details (Live Scroll Personalization)

3. Choose Prayer Variant, Enter Altar Mode or Print A4 Scroll

God of Wealth and Earth Deity Shrine Prayer: Festival, Monthly and Daily Scrolls

IICeremonial Offerings and Preparation Checklist

Permanent Shrine Vessels & Essential Pure Offerings

Special Offerings for the 10th-Day God of Wealth Festival

IIIInteractive 3D Altar, Layout Diagram and Ritual Protocol

Real-world reference photographs of traditional altars and offering trays

Step-by-step ceremonial sequence before the altar

IVWhy the Shrine Sits on the Floor and Exact Left-Right Placement Rules

VNine Liturgical Titles and Shrine Symbols Explained

VIRegional Customs Across Vietnam and Five Mistakes to Avoid

?Quick Questions

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