Spirit tablet

Spirit tablet
Spirit tablets for ancestors in Hong Kong
Chinese name
Chinese	神主牌
Literal meaning	spirit master sign
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin shénzhǔpái Yue: Cantonese Yale Romanization sàhn jyú pàaih Jyutping san4 zyu2 paai4 Southern Min Hokkien POJ sîn-chú-pâi
Alternative Chinese name
Chinese	神位
Literal meaning	spirit seat
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin shénwèi Yue: Cantonese Yale Romanization sàhn waih Jyutping san4 wai6 Southern Min Hokkien POJ sîn-ūi
Second alternative Chinese name
Chinese	神牌
Literal meaning	spirit sign
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin shénpái Yue: Cantonese Yale Romanization sàhn pàaih Jyutping san4 paai4 Southern Min Hokkien POJ sîn-pâi
Vietnamese name
Vietnamese alphabet	bài vị
Chữ Hán	牌位
Korean name
Hangul	1. 위패 2. 신위
Hanja	1. 位牌 2. 神位
Transcriptions Revised Romanization 1. wipae 2. sinwi
Japanese name
Kanji	位牌
Transcriptions Revised Hepburn ihai

A spirit tablet, memorial tablet, or ancestral tablet^[1] is a placard that people used to designate the seat of a deity or past ancestor as well as to enclose it. The name of the deity or the past ancestor is usually inscribed onto the tablet. With origins in traditional Chinese culture, the spirit tablet is a common sight in many East Asian countries, where forms of ancestor veneration are practiced. Spirit tablets are traditional ritual objects commonly seen in temples, shrines, and household altars throughout mainland China and Taiwan.^[2]