Hanoi, May 18: The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism recognized the Loyalty Oath at Dong Co Temple as a national intangible cultural heritage.
Dong Co Temple is located next to West Lake (Buoi ward, Tay Ho district, Hanoi), worshiping Dong Co god, built in 1028 during the reign of King Ly Thai Tong.
The king ordered the temple to be built to teach the mandarins and the people. Initially, the king held an oath-taking ceremony on March 25 every year, requiring all royal relatives, civil and military mandarins to participate. However, because March had a national death anniversary, the oath-taking ceremony was moved to April 4 (lunar calendar) every year.
Loyalty oath at Dong Co temple. Photo: VNA
On the day of the oath-taking ceremony, the king ordered a high altar to be built in front of the temple, surrounded by flags, spears and swords. In the middle of the altar was a large incense burner to worship the god Dong Co. Civil and military officials in the court entered the temple, knelt before the god, and recited the oath: "Being an unfilial son/ Being a disloyal subject/ May the gods destroy you."
The Dong Co Temple Loyalty Oath was maintained through the Tran and Le dynasties. Today, the oath is still held annually by the Tay Ho district government and local people, demonstrating the patriotism, loyalty, and filial piety of the Vietnamese people.
This year, the Dong Co oath ceremony takes place on May 21-22. In addition to the traditional ceremony, there are also many cultural and sports activities.
National intangible cultural heritage is a representative heritage, expressing the identity of the community and locality, reflecting the cultural diversity and creativity of people, inherited through many generations; capable of recovery and long-term existence; agreed upon by the community, voluntarily nominated and committed to protection.
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