Divinity Than Bep (Tao Quan) The Divinity of household and kitchen management

Than Bep or Tao Quan are divinity in Vietnamese folk beliefs, playing an important role in protecting the family, especially in managing the kitchen and household chores. Tao Quan are not only gods who protect the family but also play a role in maintaining harmony and luck for the family in the new year.

According to Vietnamese concept, Tao Quan has the following characteristics:

1. The role of Tao Quan:
   • Kitchen management: The Tao Quan are considered to be the ones who manage the kitchen in the family, helping the homeowner maintain warmth, happiness and prosperity. Everything that happens in the family, from cooking to life issues, is supervised by the Tao Quan.
   • Family fortune monitoring: Tao Quan not only take care of the kitchen but are also the gods who monitor the life and fortune of the family, helping the family to have good luck and avoid disasters during the year.
2. The Tao Quan in the family:
   • Traditionally, there are three Tao Quan in every household: Tao Cong, Tao Quan, and Tao Duc. Tao Cong is the god who manages household affairs, Tao Quan represents wealth and prosperity, and Tao Duc is the god who governs morality and harmony in the family.
3. Tao Quan worship ceremony:
   • On the 23rd of December (before Tet Nguyen Dan), Vietnamese families often hold a ceremony to send the Tao Quan to heaven, to report to the Jade Emperor about what has happened in the family during the past year. The offering tray usually includes simple dishes and especially carp (considered the vehicle for the Tao Quan to ride to heaven).
   • The offering tray usually includes: fruit, chicken, sticky rice, banh chung, and especially live carp, which after the offering, people will release the carp into the river, so that the Tao Quan can “ride” to heaven to report to the Jade Emperor.
4. Meaning of Tao Quan:
   • Protecting the family: The Tao Quan are considered to be the gods who protect the peace, happiness and prosperity of the family.
   • Praying for luck and prosperity: Worshiping the Tao Quan on Tet is not only a farewell ceremony but also an occasion for the family to pray for a new year of good luck, favorable work, good health and a warm family.
   • Connecting heaven and earth: The Tao Quan also have a special meaning in connecting people with the gods in heaven, showing respect and gratitude to the natural forces that protect human life.

History and origin:

Tao Quan originate from the ancient Vietnamese belief in the worship of guardian gods of the family. These gods are believed to help improve the family’s fortune, which partly reflects the agricultural culture where people believe in gods to pray for good harvests and a favorable life.

In short:

In Vietnamese culture, Tao Quan or Than Bep is not only the god who protects the kitchen but also has a great significance in supervising the family’s fortune, praying for peace and prosperity. The Tao Quan worship ceremony on the occasion of Lunar New Year is an important part of the Vietnamese people’s religious life, showing respect for the gods and wishing for a prosperous and happy new year.