Housewarming Rite: A Complete Guide to Ritual Steps, Items, Time & 3 Taboos

The "Bai Sei Gok" (Four Corners Worship) ritual is a must-do when moving into a new home. Whether renting or buying, this ritual should be performed first to pray for blessings from the five directional deities and household gods, ensuring peace and harmony in the home, and smooth, damage-free renovations. Regardless of religious belief, the smoke from incense in the house can also remove all negative energy, bad luck, and cleanse any impure atmosphere.

Which four corners are referred to?

If you are performing the "Bai Sei Gok" ritual for your home yourself and are unsure of the directions within the house, the four corners do not necessarily refer to the exact four cardinal directions. As long as you are sincere, it will be effective. You can identify the four key corners of your residence and start the ritual clockwise from the corner near the main door or kitchen.

 

Besides choosing an auspicious day, do I also need to choose an auspicious time for "Bai Sei Gok"?

Besides choosing an auspicious day for "Bai Sei Gok", it is best to also choose an auspicious time. Auspicious days and times chosen using Qimen Dunjia can have a luck-boosting effect, or you can consult with a relevant master.

"Bai Sei Gok" offerings and supplies checklist

Below is the most basic and simple checklist of offerings and supplies for "Bai Sei Gok". As different regions and religious schools have different requirements, the following are basic necessities for reference.

• Three-color fruits (3 different colored fruits, e.g., apples, oranges, pears, bananas) 
• Shelled peanuts, 1 pile of candies
• 3 cups of liquor
• 1 set of "Bai Sei Gok" dedicated Joss paper (includes 1 large and 4 small gold and silver joss paper)
• 3 large incense sticks, 12 small incense sticks, and 5 pairs of red candles (thick slices of carrots are used to hold the incense)
  

Placement of "Bai Sei Gok" offerings and supplies

 

1. Three-color fruit placement:
   - Place 1 fruit in each of the four corners
   - For the center position (Five Yellow position), the fruit portion is larger, you can prepare 2 of each type of fruit
2. Shelled peanuts, candy placement:
   - Place a small pile of peanuts and candies in each of the four corners
   - Similarly, place a larger portion in the center position
3. 3 cups of liquor placement: Center position
4. "Bai Sei Gok" dedicated Joss paper placement:
   - Place 1 small gold and silver joss paper in each of the four corners
   - Place the large gold and silver joss paper, Guanyin Talisman, and Earth God paper in the center position
5. Large incense sticks, small incense sticks, and red candles placement:
   - Prepare 3 small incense sticks and 1 pair of red candles for each of the four corners
   - Prepare 3 large incense sticks, 9 small incense sticks, and 1 pair of red candles for the center position (joss paper is usually included in the package)
   

"Bai Sei Gok" steps

 

First, place the offerings on paper plates on the ground at the four corners and the center point, with joss paper placed next to them, ready for use.

Start the worship from the center position facing the main door. Light the red candles, use the flame of the red candles to light 3 large incense sticks, then light 9 small incense sticks, and insert all of them into the carrots.

Hold the joss paper, circle it three times clockwise over the incense smoke, and then put down the joss paper for later use.

Join your palms together, start the prayer, report your name and your family members' names, state that you will be moving into this unit, and express your hope for your family's health, safety when going out and coming in, and that everything goes smoothly......

Then, clockwise, worship at the four corners, following the same procedure as above.

After completion, collect the joss paper from the four corners and burn it together with the joss paper from the center.

Once all the incense and candles have burned out, the "Bai Sei Gok" ritual is complete.

 

Does the whole family need to participate in the "Bai Sei Gok" ritual?

The "Bai Sei Gok" ritual is mainly performed by the homeowner, and not the entire family needs to participate. However, if the chosen auspicious day clashes with the homeowner's zodiac sign, another family member can perform it on their behalf. But generally, for peace of mind, family members living in the house will also offer incense, praying for a peaceful and prosperous life.

Should "Bai Sei Gok" be performed before or after renovation?

 

Generally, when you get the keys to your new home and can enter, you should find an auspicious day and time to perform "Bai Sei Gok" as soon as possible, before starting any construction, renovation, or moving. You don't have to move in immediately after.

After "Bai Sei Gok", it is best to choose another auspicious day and time to move. Note that you don't need to complete the move within this auspicious time; you just need to start moving within this time (one "shichen" is 2 hours). If you cannot move all your furniture or personal belongings at once, you can first move one set of clothes and a bowl and chopsticks for each family member into the house during the auspicious day and time, then boil water in a pot, symbolizing never-ending food and clothing, and prosperity for the whole family.

 

3 important points for "Bai Sei Gok"

 

On the day of "Bai Sei Gok", it is not advisable to wear linen clothes or revealing attire, as a sign of sincerity. There are no specific requirements for colors.

All offerings can be collected and eaten, as they can bring blessings and ward off evil. All burned incense and candles can be discarded outside the house.

Be careful not to blow out the incense and candles with your mouth, as this act is considered highly disrespectful and may anger the deities. You can extinguish them with your hand.