Ancestor Worship at San Qing Gong Temple, Singapore

Ancestor worship in Chinese tradition is a deeply rooted practice aimed at honoring ancestors, seeking their guidance, and ensuring their continued spiritual well-being in the afterlife. It reflects cultural values of filial piety, respect for elders, and the importance of familial connections across generations.

In Chinese tradition, bereaved family members of a deceased will set up a home altar for the purpose of ancestor worship after the funeral. The altar normally includes a photograph of the deceased, an inscription of its name on a memorial tablet, and an urn for offerings. Daily or twice-daily offerings are made to ensure the deceased has a good start in the afterlife. Necessities such as the deceased's favorite food and drink are placed on the altar.

After 49 days, the altar is usually taken down, which marks the period during which the deceased is believed to undergo judgment in the netherworld. Following this, the deceased is worshipped alongside all other ancestors of the family by adding their name among the patrilineal ancestors. An ancestral tablet, a piece of wood inscribed with the deceased's name, is then prepared. This tablet is kept either in a small shrine at home or in the clan's ancestral temple.

Incense is lit daily before the tablet, and offerings of food and prostrations are presented twice a month.

In Chinese tradition, family members often engage Taoist priests to conduct a Salvation of Ancestors Rite, also known as Gongteck Prayers Ceremony, on the deceased’s death anniversary. Central to this ceremony is ancestor worship, reflecting the enduring filial piety of descendants towards their ancestors even after their deaths.

During the ceremony, various activities are conducted, including the preparation of ritualistic food offerings, the burning of incense and joss paper (papier-mâché items representing material goods such as clothes and gold), and the honoring of visiting spirits of the ancestors. Elaborate meals are served, with empty seats symbolically reserved for the ancestors, signifying their ongoing presence within the family's traditions.