Temple blessing jewelry

Basic Etiquette for Visiting Chinese Buddhist Temples A simple guide to incense offering, blessing, and common practices

1. Basic Temple Etiquette Dress: Wear clean, modest clothes. Avoid sleeveless tops, short skirts, shorts, slippers, or heavy makeup. Entrance: Use the side doors (the main gate is usually for monastics). Step over the threshold without stepping on it. Walking: Walk clockwise around the main hall. Do not walk backward, cut across others, or stand in front of worshippers. Behavior: Speak quietly, no loud laughter. Do not point at Buddha statues or take photos without permission. Donation: You may offer money to the merit box as you wish.

2. Incense Offering Procedure Requesting Incense We say “request incense” rather than “buy incense”.

3 sticks are traditional: representing Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha. Many temples provide free incense; large or expensive incense is not required.

Lighting Incense

Hold incense with your left hand (considered cleaner in tradition).

After lighting, do not blow out the flame — fan it gently or shake it out.

Hold incense at eyebrow level, palms together respectfully.

Placing Incense

First stick: middle — for Buddha

Second stick: right — for Dharma

Third stick: left — for Sangha

Place them straight, about one finger apart.

Paying Respect

Step back, stand quietly with palms together.

Bow or worship inside the hall afterward.

3. Bowing & Worshipping

Kneel on the cushion, palms together.

Raise hands above head → near mouth (for wishes) → over heart → palms up, then bow. When finished, step back before turning away.

4. Blessing (Empowerment)

Terms: Buddha images are “consecrated”; personal items receive “blessing/empowerment”.

How:

Prepare clean items (amulets, jewelry, etc.).

Go to the temple’s prayer area or service counter.

Make a voluntary donation.

Monks will chant scriptures and bless the items.

Keep blessed items respectfully.

5. Important Taboos

Do not burn huge amounts of incense.

No smoking, eating, or lying down in the hall.

Do not step on thresholds or kneeling cushions.

Do not disrespect Buddha images, monks, or rituals.

Simple Reminder 3 sticks, left hand, no blowing, middle → right → left, clockwise, sincere respect.

Chinese Traditional Auspicious Symbols

Auspicious Beasts

Dragon: Authority, good fortune, power

Phoenix: Good luck, nobility, harmony

Qilin: Peace, blessings, benevolence

Koi Fish: Good luck, abundance, surplus year after year

Bat: Blessings arrive (homophony for good fortune)

Deer: Prosperity, wealth, longevity

Patterns

Auspicious Clouds: Good luck, peace, promotion

Ruyi Pattern: May everything go smoothly

Endless Knot: Eternity, continuous blessings

Meander Pattern: Everlasting good fortune

Swastika Pattern: Ten thousand blessings, long life

Plants & Flowers

Peony: Wealth, prosperity, nobility

Lotus: Purity, peace, good fortune

Plum Blossom: Resilience, five blessings

Bamboo: Peace, steady growth and success

Chrysanthemum: Longevity, elegance

Pomegranate: Fertility, many children and blessings

Characters & Symbols

Fu (Blessing): Happiness, good luck

Double Xi (Double Happiness): Joy for weddings and celebrations

Shou (Longevity): Health and long life

Lu (Prosperity): Wealth, success

Chinese Knot: Reunion, good luck, connection

Artifacts & Culture

Jade Pendant: Peace, noble character

Ruyi: Fulfillment, good fortune

Ancient Copper Coin: Wealth

Fan: Wisdom, grace

Lantern: Brightness, celebration

Color Symbols

Chinese Red: Joy, good luck, protection

Blue and White: Elegance, oriental aesthetics

Glazed Yellow: Nobility, prosperity

The first country we choose is Malaysia. If there is a need in Europe and America, we can cooperate through our partners in Malaysia.