2013年4月21日 星期日

謝土 / Earth-Thanking Ritual


五月的開幕在即,
老林居的大家選擇在4/21這天進行謝土的儀式。

Before the openning of Rolling Inn which is settled in May,
The staffs held the Earth-Thanking Ritual on 21st. April,

4/21老林居謝土 /
The Earth-thanking ritual of Rolling Inn on 21st. April.


謝土,是台灣人在建物落成時,
所舉行祭送土地神煞的儀式。

The Earth-thanking ritual is, a ritual,
which Taiwanese show our gratitude to the Gods of the Earth
and send the demons off,
when the constructions were completed.


根據台灣大百科全書指出:
「漢人的世界觀中,土地本身存在著恆常不變的秩序(即陰陽五行)
及掌理土地的神靈(以「龍神」為代表)
和煞神(以「白虎」為代表)。
人類進行各種建築工事,
將會破壞土地的正常秩序及侵擾土地的神煞,
因此建物完成後,必須舉行謝土儀式,
向土地神靈表達懺悔、感恩及祈求之意,
希望土地神靈重新歸位,土地秩序得以恢復如前,
並且送走各種具有破壞力量的煞神,同時招來各項福祇。」
---資料來源:台灣大百科全書
(http://taiwanpedia.culture.tw/web/content?ID=4386)

According to the Encyclopedia of Taiwan,
"In the eyes of the Han Chinese, the earth itself
embodies a constant and unchanging order
(the principles of yin and yang and the five elements [陰陽五行]),
and manages the Gods of the Earth (represented by the Dragon Gods [龍神])
and the demons of the Earth (represented by the “White Tiger [白虎]).

When humans construct buildings and the like,
the natural order of the earth will be disrupted,
and the Gods and demons of the Earth will be invaded and harassed.
For this reason, the Earth-thanking rituals
must be conducted following the completion of constructions

to express repentance and gratitude to the Gods and demons of the Earth; 
and to pray for the return of the Gods to their original positions
to restore the order of the Earth,
as well as the eviction of the destructive demons

so that other benefits of happiness and well-being can be enjoyed. "
---from Encyclopedia of Taiwan
(http://taiwanpedia.culture.tw/en/content?ID=4386)


謝土儀式隱含著人們對土地鬼神的敬畏及感謝,
時至今日,仍然有許多人遵從著這樣的民間習俗。

The ritual implies our respect, appreciation and fear,
to the earth, the gods and demons.
Nowadays, people still follow this kind of custom.

阿嬤領軍!!! /
Grandma led!!!


在4/21這一天, 我們懷抱著對土地的感謝,
準備了雞、魚、豬肉及許多菜餚和餅乾飲料等,
進行了謝土的儀式還有拜地基主,
希望來來往往的神明能夠保佑我們,
一切都能順利的進行。

On 21st April, with our deepest appreciation,
we prepare chicken, fish, pork and many other dishes for the rituals
and for Groundwork God,
hopefully the gods can bless us,
and everything can go well.
 
滿桌!!/The table is full!
拜地基主的桌子小小的,但心意滿滿。 /
The table for Groundwork God maybe small,
but filled with our appreciation.

祭拜完後會焚燒金紙,
燒完之後會在爐子周圍用水繞一圈,
一邊用台語說"繞錢繞圓圓,子孫賺大錢"
除了有圓滿的意思,
以實際面來說,也能防止餘燼復燃。

Then we burned the god money,
after it's done we watered a circle around the burner,
and said "water a circle like money,
the descendants make more money" in Taiwanese".
Besides the meaning of consummate,
in practical terms, it also helps to prevent the embers from burning again.

「繞錢繞圓圓,子孫賺大錢。」 /
“Water a circle like money, the descendants make more money.”


在宗教信仰多元化的現在,
也許大家不一定還保持著這種傳統民間信仰,
但時時保持著對土地的敬畏與感謝,
不要忘記我們從而得到的所有恩惠,
才能讓這片土地永續經營下去。

Due to the rich diversity of religion today,
we may all have different religions.
But always keep the respect and appreciation in mind,
do not forget what we've gotten from the earth,
that's what keeps the sustainable development of the Earth.