The Kitchen God In Ancient Vietnamese Tradition Is Still Alive

A. Sutherland - AncientPages.com - Ancient belief in a 'Kitchen God' is widespread in East Asia and China. The Vietnamese people have their own version of this beautiful story. 

Long, long ago, when Earth and Sky met in the Valley of Whispers, in the dense, green forest, there lived a woodcutter Trọng Cao and his wife, Thị Nhi. They were very poor and the man was often unable to earn enough to buy their food. Frustration and worry drove the man to drink, and sometimes, he poured out all manner of abuse on his wife.

One day, it was too much for her and she fled their cottage and never came back.

For days and weeks, the poor woman wandered in the forest and finally met a hunter’s home, who was an honest man. He gave her food and permitted her to rest in his home. She kept house for him then, and after some time they were married. They lived together in great happiness, and it seemed that the woman had forgotten her previous marriage.

Trong Cai, consumed by remorse, decided that he would find his wife and make amends with their life together, no matter how long it took.

One day, when Tet (Vietnamese New Year) was approaching and the hunter was out in the forest, a beggar, clad in rags, knocked at the door of the cottage and asked for some food.

The compassionate woman prepared a meal for the man and while he was eating, she suddenly recognized him as her former husband, Trọng Cao.

The beggar was still eating when the woman heard the steps of her returning husband. She became panic-stricken and quickly hid the beggar under a haycock near the house.

Unaware of Trong Cao's presence, the man set fire to the hay in order to use ashes as fertilizer.

When the beggar found himself ablaze, his first impulse was to cry out; then, fearing that the hunter might kill the woman on discovering him there, he remained silent.

As tongues of flame consumed the haycock, the poor woman was torn with grief. She realized that her former husband was meeting death for her sake, but she could neither save Trọng Cao from the fire nor tell her husband.

Having no choice, she threw herself into the fire in order to die with him.

The hunter could not understand why his wife killed herself. He tried to pull her back but failed. Filled with sorrow, he rushed into the fire to save her but he met the same fate. The Jade Emperor in the heavens knew the sad story.

He was so moved by their devotion and deep love that he decided to help them to live together forever. He changed them into the three hearthstones around the cooking fire, where they became the Kitchen Gods (Tao Quan).

Since that time the Kitchen Gods have been responsible for taking care of all household affairs.

On the 23rd day of the 12th lunar month, each year, the night before the New Year, families perform a ritual, where incense sticks are burned, inviting the spirits of their ancestors to join them in celebration. This is also a time to bid farewell to the family's Kitchen Gods, who then return to heaven to report on the family's doings in the past year to the Jade Emperor.

The gods are seen off by the owner of the house and ride on a carp to the heavens. The carp, thought to sprout wings to fly the gods to heaven, is released to a river, pond, or lake after the ceremony. The paper carp is believed to accomplish the mission as well.

The household gods are believed to be absent for seven days, ending on the last day of the year. Then, they return on the Eve of the first day of the Lunar year.

This beautiful belief is still alive among the Vietnamese people. The family worships them in the kitchen daily or monthly.

For many of us, the kitchen is a very important place, which helps family members to be together, as well as keeps the warmth, happiness, and harmony in the family.

The same meaning has this place for the Vietnamese people.

Written by – A. Sutherland AncientPages.com Staff Writer

Updated on Apr 17, 2024

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