Ancestral Prayer Guide
How to Connect with Your Ancestors and Help Ensure They Receive Your Offerings
Jump to a prayer method
Choose the prayer method that fits your situation
This page is designed as a visual step-by-step guide. Readers can quickly identify whether they are praying at an ancestor’s resting place, praying remotely with incense and paper offerings, or following a method that does not use incense or paper offerings.
Prayer Guide for Those Visiting Ancestors at the Columbarium or Gravesite
1. Prepare the following offering items
2. Once the offering items are laid out, follow these prayer steps in order
Light 4 sticks of incense. Face your ancestor’s tablet and convey your prayers and wishes.
Perform 7 bows, then put the incense sticks into the urn.
Then perform 7 full prostrations (kow-tow).
3. Burn the paper offerings
Once the incense stick has finished burning, proceed to burn the paper offerings for your ancestors.
Prayer Guide for Those Unable to Visit Ancestors at the Columbarium or Gravesite; Or Who Prefer to Pray Remotely
1. Prepare the offerings facing the direction of your ancestor’s gravesite
2. Follow these prayer steps in order
Light 4 sticks of incense and face the direction of your ancestor’s gravesite.
Recite silently 3 times:
Then convey your prayers to your ancestors.
Once done, perform 7 bows, then put the incense sticks into an urn.
Then perform 7 full prostrations (kow-tow).
3. Burn the paper offerings
Once the incense stick has finished burning, proceed to burn the paper offerings for your ancestors.
4. Close the prayer
Once done with the entire procedure, place your palms together 🙏 and recite silently 3 times:
Ancestor Prayer Guide If Your Faith Does Not Practise Incense or Paper Offerings
1. Prepare the following offerings
2. Position yourself correctly
If you are at the gravesite
Face your ancestor’s tablet.
If you are praying remotely
Face the direction of your ancestor’s gravesite and follow the steps below in order.
Light the candle if you have one.
Raise your arms above your head, palms facing forward.
Recite silently 3 times:
Once done reciting the above, clench your fists 9 times like you’re grabbing something.
Then place your left hand on your chest, right hand on the back of the left hand, thumbs touching one another. In this position, start praying to your ancestors in your own fashion.
End your prayer by reciting silently 3 times: