Tran Temple with locals and tourists

Photo caption — People and tourists offer incense to the Tran Kings after receiving the seal of blessing.

On the morning of January 15, the weather in Nam Dinh was rainy and cold, but people from all over the country came to Tran Temple, Nam Dinh City to ask for the seal. Present at the seal distribution area at Thien Truong Temple from early morning, Mr. Tong Van Cuong, Bac Kan Province said: The Organizing Committee has arranged the seal distribution area reasonably and conveniently, people do not have to wait long, there is no jostling. Mr. Cuong hopes to ask for the seal to pray for health, and for everything in the new year to be smooth and favorable.

Mr. Nguyen Duc Binh, Head of the Management Board of the Tran Temple - Thap Pagoda Historical Site, Nam Dinh City, informed that the Organizing Committee will ensure enough number of seals to distribute to the people. The seal distribution will take place until the end of January and possibly into February if tourists still have demand.

Over the past years, the Party Committees and authorities at all levels of Nam Dinh province, along with the press agencies, have actively promoted and raised awareness among the people and tourists. Thanks to that, people have increasingly understood the meaning and core values of this festival, thereby properly implementing the regulations of the Organizing Committee, so there is no longer chaos and fighting for blessings on the altars on the opening night; there is no longer jostling, pushing, or fighting to get the seal, instead people line up in order to get the seal...

In the past, many people thought that the Tran Temple seal was given by the Tran Kings to mandarins and meritorious people, so it implied the granting of wealth and promotion. However, according to cultural researchers, this understanding is not true to the original nature and meaning of the Seal Opening and Distribution Festival that has been maintained and organized by the people of Tuc Mac village, Nam Dinh city from ancient times to the present.

Mr. Nguyen Van Thu, former Director of Nam Dinh Provincial Museum - Nam Dinh culture researcher analyzed, on the Tran Temple seal there are the words "Tran Mieu Tu Dien", meaning the worshiping rules at the Tran Temple; "Tran Mieu" means the Tran Temple and the words "Tich Phuc Vo Cuong". The essence of the words "Tich Phuc Vo Cuong" that King Tran gave to his descendants in the past was to want people to accumulate blessings for a long time, to teach people to be good, to do things that are beneficial to the community.

Thus, the “Tran Temple Dictionary” seal is not associated with any administrative level or official position, but simply carries the meaning of worshiping customs at the “Tran Temple”. However, the seal is kept and rituals are performed in a sacred space, where the Tran kings and Saint Tran are worshiped, which were formerly the palaces of the Tran Dynasty’s retired emperors in the Thien Truong Palace - the second center of power of Dai Viet in the 13th - 14th centuries.

According to folk belief, having a seal is like receiving the King's or Saint's blessing, hoping to receive good luck and good things in the new year. Attending the Tran Temple Seal Opening Ceremony is also a meaningful spring trip and pilgrimage to learn more about the history and culture of the Tran Dynasty in particular, and the land and people of Thanh Nam in general.

Mr. Thu acknowledged that in the past, many people may have misunderstood, thinking that getting the seal and asking for blessings would help them advance in their career, bring power and luck in their positions, which led to the phenomenon of fighting for blessings, jostling, and pushing at the places where seals were requested and distributed. In recent years, people have understood more fully the meaning of this festival, so in reality, there is no longer a chaotic situation in the Tran Temple area.

According to Mr. Thu, personal advancement must be based on the efforts and training of that person himself. Each person needs to promote the tradition of his ancestors, strive to study, train, and strive constantly in work; continue the historical tradition, and contribute to the construction and development of his homeland and country.

The Opening Seal Festival is a humanistic cultural custom for the King to worship heaven, earth, and ancestors, expressing his respect and gratitude to the country and his ancestors for building and defending the country.

The meaning of the four words “Tich phuc vo cuong” engraved on the seal that the Tran King gave to his descendants is that he wanted the people to spread blessings, to teach the people to preserve family traditions, discipline, and morality, to accumulate blessings well and fully so that the blessings in the future will be sustainable. This is the profound educational meaning of the Tran Kings giving out seals.

TH (according to Tin Tuc newspaper)

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