The concept of the Chinese Spiritual World comes from the cultural practices and methods from Chinese culture. These concepts have uniquely evolved from Chinese values, acknowledgement of the co-existence of the living and deceased, and the belief in reincarnation.
- Ancestral worship: This is to honor the deeds and memories of the deceased. This practice comes from the values and teachings of Confucius and Laozi. Elders, seniors, extended family and particularly parents are to be respected and looked after. Paying respect continues even after their death.?Descendants are traditionally expected to install an altar in their home to pay homage regularly, each day, with joss sticks and tea.
- Three Realms: It is a belief that Heaven, the living and hell exist side by side. Heaven is a place for saints while hell is a place for the devious. Three wun seven pak (三魂七魄) explains a person's existence. The three realms are where a person exists, and the seven states are what makes a person exist. Hun and po are types of souls in Chinese philosophy and traditional religion. It is believed that every living human has both, a hun soul which leaves the body after death, and also a po soul which remains with the corpse of the deceased. Two "souls" is a common folk belief, and reinforced by yin-yang theory.?Three "souls" comes from widespread beliefs that the soul of a dead person can exist in the multiple locations. The missionary Justus Doolittle recorded that Chinese people in Fuzhou believe each person has three distinct souls while living. These souls separate at the death of the adult to whom they belong. One resides in the ancestral tablet erected to his memory, if the head of a family; another lurks in the coffin or the grave, and the third departs to the infernal regions to undergo its merited punishment.
- Jian: The living realm where people exist is referred to as Yang Jian. The place where spirits exist after death is referred to as Yin Jian.
- Fan Tai Sui: This concept is when an individual faces major obstacles in health, job and studies. These obstacles last for a single Chinese calendar year.
- Zung saang gei: This belief is known to extend a person’s life. It is said that when a piece of hair is placed in a particular fung shui location, It can extend a person’s life.
- Fuji (扶箕) – planchette writing is practiced using either a rattan sieve or a wooden stylus to write Chinese characters in sand or incense ashes. This Chinese tradition of automatic writing continues to be practiced in Taoist temples in Hong Kong, Taiwan, and China.
- Mun mai (問米) – is communication directly with spirits who have died. The general cultural term is that people are raised from the underground or down from heaven to communicate.
- Yum si lou (陰司路) – is the idea of flooding the spiritual road with spiritual money to ensure the person who died will reach their destination safely. In Chinese culture, the road to heaven, diyu or reincarnation may not be clear. By overloading the path with spiritual money, hopefully all troubled souls on the way will be too occupied with the money and leave the traveling-soul alone. This is an assurance for the living.
- Villain hitting (打小人) – is a folk sorcery popular in the Guangdong area of China and Hong Kong used for exorcizing.
- Tong ling (通靈) – is to tunnel and channel through to communicate with spirits or Deities, Tangki in Minnan region will the best example.
- Gui ren: Someone who can help you, or is destined to help you.
- Xiao ren: Someone who can hurt you, or is destined to hurt you. Simple methods such as kau cim can usually inform you whether a guiren or xiaoren is visible in your near future.
- Peach wood sword (桃木劍) – the definitive weapon used for demon exorcism during Taoist exorcism.
- Stone tablets (石敢當) – the tablets are placed at main doors, junctions of small avenues, three-way junctions, river banks or ponds to gather positive energy and ward off evil spirit. Sometimes it is used to block natural mishaps such as natural disasters.
- Tai mountain stone tablets (泰山石敢當) – the most powerful of the stone tablets are made from stones coming from Mount Tai. These stone tablets are shaped like the mountain forming the 5 fingers shape.
- Spirit tablet – a spiritual home in your house for ancestor spirits.
- "Zhèng cái"– This is basic money earned from working or jobs.
- "Hèng cái"– Is a type of destiny money that is earned usually in large sums. An old Chinese quote goes: "If it is yours, is yours. If it is not yours, it’s never going to be yours’’
- "Pò cái dǎng zāi"? – Is the process of losing a lot of money to avoid a disaster. Some people are advised to prepare to lose money in certain astrological years.
