Since 2016, the Mother Goddess Worship became the 11th heritage of Vietnam to be recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, the Hau Dong activity and related stories have not only become more widely known but also more creatively and diversely expressed with many interesting changes. The Hau Dong ritual costume is one of them.
Bronze artist Vu Thi Dung (Hanoi)
The ritual of the spirit medium usually has 36 royal seats, according to the custom, there will be 36 different sets of royal scarves and robes. The designs and accessories of these scarves and robes are very diverse. In particular, they clearly represent each region and each saint. At the same time, they follow the rules and color conventions along with the strict coordination of accessories.
According to Thanh Dong Cung Van Nguyen Van Chung (head of the Han Son Temple and Co Bo Bong Temple, Ha Trung, Thanh Hoa), each saint has a different origin and story. Therefore, the costumes must also be different. The Thanh Dong, regardless of their personal preferences or economic conditions, must follow the fashion principles of each price.
Musician Nguyen Van Chung (Thanh Hoa)
“For example, the costume of Co Doi Thuong Ngan is a green shirt embroidered with flowers, a silver necklace around her neck, and a water chestnut scarf on her head… Co Bo Bong’s costume is white, with a white scarf on her head, and a white (or pink) belt. Or Co Chin Thuong Ngan’s costume is a light peach pink, with floral shoes and a pink necklace… Meanwhile, the costume of Thanh Ong Hoang Muoi is a yellow dragon dress embroidered with the word Tho, with a turban, a yellow belt, and a yellow hairpin…”, said the medium musician Nguyen Van Chung.
“The material value of the Holy See’s ceremonial vestments is not considered. There are sets that cost a few hundred thousand, but there are also sets that cost a few million. There are court ceremonial vestments that cost hundreds of thousands, but there are also sets that cost billions. In general, the vestments worn to meet the Holy See, in addition to sincerity, need to be neat and precise – strictly following the motifs, colors and materials. To make beautiful ceremonial vestments, the craftsman must understand the “character” of the Holy See, the related stories, the colors, the prescribed motifs…”, said Ms. Dung.
“Dung is very careful when making her own ceremonial dress. She brings the materials to Dong Cuu embroidery village, Thuong Tin (Hanoi). She personally selects the materials, each piece of brocade and silk - the best type, although the price is quite expensive (some are up to more than half a million VND per meter). When making the set, Dung also hires the complete embroidery by hand. The embroidery price for each set (calculated as finished product) is also from one to several million VND per set (depending on the nature and requirements for complexity or simplicity). The embroidery time takes from 1 to 3 months. In return, the finished product is very satisfactory. The embroidery is standard, the Dragon is the Dragon, the Phoenix is the Phoenix. The embroidery is graceful and lively, people with rich emotions like the mediums look at it and are very moved,” Dung continued.
Not only Ms. Dung, but also the well-off mediums, investing in ceremonial costumes is very important. They believe that the more carefully prepared the costumes are, the more sincere they will be, and the more beautiful the emotions will be, the more sublime they will be.
On the market, ceremonial costumes in general and costumes for the spirit mediums in particular have a wide variety of designs and prices. If the costumes are made from common materials and accessories, combined with fashion accessories (artificial jewelry), the price is only from a few hundred thousand to more than a million VND per set, and the whole set is only about ten million VND. However, with high-end costumes, it is different. In addition to being made from expensive fabrics, the accessories used are also very high-end, such as high-quality gold glitter thread, beads attached with precious stones, crystals, imported sequins... not to mention the accessories in the set such as bracelets, bangles, rings... all made from gold, jade, precious stones... All of which make the costume cost up to hundreds of millions, billions...
Each costume costs billions, but many bronzes do not hesitate to spend money. Investing once, using it for regular and annual ceremonies to wear the saint helps them express part of their wishes.
But most of all, being able to dress beautifully - wearing clothes that are not only expensive, high-class, with admirable embroidery, sewing, and intricate embellishments, with motifs and details imbued with proud traditional cultural colors, so that they can be beautiful and shine in their religion - the place they always think is where they belong.
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