Qi Si — Seven Sacrifices to Household Spirits 七祀
Paul PengQi Si (七祀, Qī Sì, lit. "Seven Sacrifices") is the ancient Chinese ritual system of seven household and community spirits established by the king for the benefit of the people. From the Arbiter of Fate who oversees human destiny to the Hearth Spirit who governs food and fire, these seven spirits form a complete map of the sacred forces that govern daily life. In the Zhengyi tradition, the Door Spirit and Hearth Spirit remain among the most widely venerated household deities in Chinese folk religion — a living continuation of this ancient system.
Qi Si (七祀, Qī Sì, lit. "Seven Sacrifices") is the ancient Chinese ritual system of seven household and community spirits established by the king for the benefit of the people, as recorded in the Liji (礼记, "Book of Rites"). The system comprised: Siming (司命, the Arbiter of Fate), Zhongliu (中霤, the Spirit of the Central Courtyard), Guomen (国门, the Spirit of the City Gate), Guoxing (国行, the Spirit of the Road), Taili (泰厉, Neglected Ghosts with no descendants), Hu (户, the Door Spirit), and Zao (灶, the Hearth Spirit). The king established these seven both for the people's use and for his own personal practice, making the Qi Si the ritual bridge between state religion and household worship.
The Liji (礼记), "Ji Fa" (祭法) records:
"The king established the Seven Sacrifices for the surnames of the people: they are called Siming, Zhongliu, Guomen, Guoxing, Taili, Hu, and Zao. The king also established the Seven Sacrifices for himself."
Zheng Xuan (郑玄) explains each spirit: "司命主督察三命, 中霤主堂室居处, 门、户主出入, 行主道路行作, 厉主杀罚, 灶主饮食之事。" ("Siming oversees and inspects the three fates. Zhongliu governs the central hall and living quarters. The door and gate govern entry and exit. The road governs travel and movement. Taili governs punishment. The hearth governs food and drink.") The seasonal schedule integrates the Five Elements (五行) theory, assigning each spirit to a season and a corresponding organ offering.
The Door Spirit guards the boundary between inside and outside. Spring offering: spleen (脾, associated with earth, the transitional element). The door marks the threshold of the home — in spring, the world opens outward.
The Hearth Spirit governs the fire of the home and all food preparation. Summer offering: lungs (肺, associated with metal). The hearth is the center of nourishment — in summer, the fire burns brightest.
The Central Courtyard Spirit governs the heart of the home — the open space at the center of the traditional Chinese dwelling. Midsummer offering: heart (心, associated with fire). The courtyard is the home's axis.
The City Gate Spirit governs access to the community and the boundary between the city and the outside world. Autumn offering: liver (肝, associated with wood). The gate marks the threshold of the community.
The Road Spirit governs travel, movement, and the paths that connect communities. Winter offering: kidneys (肾, associated with water). In winter, the road is the lifeline between settlements.
Siming oversees and inspects the three fates of human beings. This spirit receives offerings throughout the year as the supreme household deity governing human destiny and lifespan.
Taili are the spirits of ancient rulers who died without descendants and thus receive no regular sacrifices. They are propitiated to prevent them from causing harm to the living — a ritual act of compassion and precaution.
In the Zhengyi tradition, the Qi Si system of household spirits has been integrated into the Taoist pantheon. The Door Spirit (Men Shen, 门神) and Hearth Spirit (Zao Shen, 灶神) remain among the most widely venerated household deities in Chinese folk religion, with Taoist priests providing the consecration ritual process for their images. The Zhengyi school's ritual calendar preserves the seasonal logic of the Qi Si, with specific times of the year dedicated to the worship of each category of spirit.
The Hearth God receives special attention during the year-end period, when the Zhengyi priest performs the ritual sending-off of the Hearth God to report to Heaven. The mantras and hand seals used in these household rites reflect the same hierarchical logic as the classical Qi Si: each spirit receives invocations appropriate to its rank and domain, from the supreme Siming to the humble Road Spirit. This practice is a direct continuation of the ancient Qi Si tradition, adapted into the Taoist liturgical framework.
