Placing the Incense Burner (Ān Xiāng)
the act of installing an incense burner or spirit tablet for deities or ancestors in its designated place.
Ān xiāng refers to the relocation or placement of sacred objects such as incense burners or spirit tablets for deities or ancestors into a new, fixed position. This is not merely a physical move; in traditional belief, it symbolizes the establishment of a sacred space and the commencement of worship. In the past, people believed that selecting an auspicious day for such an important ritual would ensure the deities or ancestors remained settled, offering protection and peace to the household. Even today, many families, when moving into a new home or rearranging their household shrines, still consult the Tong Shu (almanac) for suitable and unsuitable activities, choosing a day appropriate for ān xiāng to perform the ritual, seeking peace of mind and good fortune.