Phu Tho, focusing on the Hung Temple historical relic site - the focal point of the Hung King worship practice with solemn and respectful ceremonies and festivals taking place at temples on Hung Mountain and Hung King worship relics in the province, attracting millions of compatriots nationwide and overseas Vietnamese to participate in the Hung King's death anniversary - Hung Temple Festival every year.
Hung King's death anniversary in Phu Tho. Photo: VNA
The worship of Hung Kings is important in the Vietnamese mind, affirming that Vietnamese people share a common ancestor. That origin is the red thread that creates the tradition of solidarity, love, and mutual support. Worship of Hung Kings has become a cultural symbol - a belief connecting the past with the present, having the effect of nurturing family, village and national affection. With that meaning, the Vietnamese community voluntarily preserves and develops the worship of Hung Kings naturally in daily life, while affirming the strong vitality of the philosophy of returning to the origin. From the traditional cultural values of the Hung Kings period , for generations, in the mind of every Vietnamese person, the Hung Kings are the National Founders who built the first state in history, the common ancestors of the entire Vietnamese people. Through the process of building and defending the country, the Vietnamese people have always respected and considered the Hung Kings as their ancestors, taking them as a spiritual support, a sacred belief in the ancestral power to overcome natural disasters, defeat foreign invaders, and protect the country's borders. Since the time of Thuc Phan, a stone oath pillar was erected on the top of Nghia Linh mountain when the 18th Hung King abdicated, expressing his will to protect the country that the Hung King handed over to him for life and to forever burn incense and look after the ancestral shrines. Therefore, the Hung King worship is a national folk ritual in Vietnam originating from the national source, from the honor of historical figures who contributed to the founding of the country and the establishment of a nation and people. The Hung King worship includes ceremonies, offerings, pilgrimages, and performances in more than a hundred villages in Phu Tho province and other places across the country; this practice brings respect to ancestors, thereby raising awareness of pride and social cohesion. Practicing the heritage of Hung King worship takes place regularly throughout the year but is most concentrated in spring, in which the biggest ritual is the Hung King's death anniversary on the 10th day of the third lunar month at Hung Temple on Nghia Linh Mountain, Phu Tho. Mr. Ho Dai Dung, Vice Chairman of Phu Tho Provincial People's Committee shared that the Hung Temple Festival is a symbol of the spirit of great solidarity, an important occasion for all people to make a pilgrimage to their roots and commemorate the merits of the Hung Kings. The Hung King's death anniversary shows national pride and self-respect, affirming that all Vietnamese people of all ethnicities and classes, regardless of age, gender, whether living in Vietnam or abroad, have the same origin, the same death anniversary on the 10th day of the third lunar month every year has become a spiritual meeting place for every Vietnamese person. The organization of the Hung Kings' Commemoration Ceremony is especially focused on educating the tradition and morality of "When drinking water, remember its source", honoring the merits of the Hung Kings who built the country and strengthening the great national unity; is a cultural festival of the entire people, with profound significance in the spiritual and cultural life of the community to show gratitude to ancestors, unite the community, and pray for ancestors to bless the nation and the people. That is also the essence, the origin of the formation and connection of the Hung Kings' worship, from family to clan, to nation and people. That close cohesion is the sustainable strength to create the unique identity of the Vietnamese people and the Hung Kings' worship. Ms. Pham Thi Hoang Oanh, Deputy Director of the Hung Kings Temple Historical Site, said that the Hung Kings' worship is one of the representative intangible cultural heritages of humanity that has been recognized by UNESCO. This is one of the beliefs with unique ritual forms and distinct characteristics of the Vietnamese people. The Hung King worship belief was formed a long time ago, demonstrating the traditional morality of "When drinking water, remember its source", being grateful to ancestors, being grateful to the previous generations who had the merit of founding the nation, building and defending the country for thousands of years, becoming the traditional cultural identity of the Vietnamese people. Spreading the space of practicing the belief According to statistics of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, currently in the whole country there are 1,417 relics worshiping the Hung Kings and their wives, children, and generals of the Hung King era. In Phu Tho province alone, there are 345 relics associated with the Hung King worship belief, of which 249 relics are being worshiped.Phu Tho, focusing on the Hung Temple historical relic site - the focal point of the Hung King worship practice with solemn and respectful ceremonies and festivals taking place at temples on Hung Mountain and Hung King worship relics in the province, attracting millions of compatriots nationwide and overseas Vietnamese to participate in the Hung King's death anniversary - Hung Temple Festival every year.
Along with Phu Tho, to commemorate the Hung Kings, localities with Hung Kings worship sites such as Hanoi, Vinh Phuc, Hai Phong, Bac Ninh, Thai Nguyen, Lang Son, Nghe An, Thua Thien - Hue, Lam Dong, Binh Phuoc, Khanh Hoa, Dong Nai, Ho Chi Minh City, Ben Tre, Kien Giang... all organize incense offering ceremonies to commemorate the Hung Kings according to the general instructions of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism on the 10th day of the third lunar month every year in a solemn and respectful manner, expressing the gratitude and merit of the descendants to their ancestors for the nation-building work of the Hung Kings.
Not only in the country, some countries in the world, the Vietnamese community abroad also built temples to worship the Hung Kings such as in California (USA), Canada, Australia... or places of worship to place altars, tablets and statues of Hung Kings so that overseas Vietnamese can hold incense offering ceremonies to remember their ancestors on national holidays such as in Russia, Czech Republic, Laos... The worship of Hung Kings has been deeply rooted and spread widely, wherever Vietnamese people live, the belief in worshipping ancestors - worshipping the Hung Kings is honored and worshiped by Vietnamese people.
Mr. Nguyen Dac Thuy, Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Phu Tho province, said that over the past years, Phu Tho has committed to implementing the Action Program to protect the vitality and spread of the Hung King Worship Belief; implementing many measures, mechanisms and policies to raise the sense of responsibility of state management agencies, local authorities and communities in preserving and promoting heritage values.
After the Hung King Worship Religion was recognized by UNESCO, the number of pilgrims to Hung Temple to worship their ancestors increased day by day. This is the greatest success in the work of preserving and promoting the value of the Hung King Worship Religion heritage, the awareness of the origin of millions of Vietnamese people, proving the vitality and strong spread of the Hung King Worship Religion. Through that, Phu Tho has been making efforts to bring the heritage back to the community, affirming the importance of the community as well as helping the community understand its role in preserving and promoting the heritage value of the land of the ancestors.
Chairman of Phu Tho Historical Science Association Nguyen Tien Khoi said that up to now, most of the religious activities associated with the worship of Hung Kings in 13 districts, towns and cities in Phu Tho have been restored by the people, both materially and spiritually. People voluntarily contribute money and artifacts to preserve, renovate and restore worship spaces and religious practices; rituals are taught; steles and royal decrees at communal houses and temples are studied and clarified for people to understand better...
VNA
Source
Comment (0)