Preserving the Intangible Cultural Heritage of the Ky Cung - Ta Phu Temple Festival

The Ky Cung - Ta Phu Temple Festival is one of the unique spring festivals of Lang Son province.

The Ky Cung - Ta Phu Temple Festival was inscribed on the national list of intangible cultural heritage in 2015. In order to promote and gradually enhance the value of this unique cultural heritage, in recent years, the authorities at all levels in Lang Son province have implemented many positive solutions.

The unique spring festival of Lang Son province.

Located at the northern gateway of Vietnam, Lang Son is a representative locality of the Northeast cultural region. Having weathered historical ups and downs, Lang Son now possesses a diverse and rich cultural heritage, containing many unique features. Alongside this, Lang Son also boasts a diverse system of scenic spots and religious and spiritual relics such as Mau Son Mountain, Tam Thanh Pagoda, Mac Dynasty Citadel, Thanh Pagoda, Ky Cung Temple, Bac Le Temple, etc. Lang Son currently has 9 heritage sites listed as national intangible cultural heritage by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (most of which are heritages of ethnic minority communities). One of these is the Ky Cung - Ta Phu Temple Festival.

Procession of palanquins at the Ky Cung Temple - Ta Phu Temple Festival.

The Ky Cung Temple - Ta Phu Temple Festival takes place from the 22nd to the 27th of January each year, comprising both ceremonial and festive parts. The main ceremonial part of the festival focuses primarily on two days (January 22nd and 27th), including the opening ceremony, procession, installation ceremony, and thanksgiving ceremony. At noon on January 22nd, the procession carrying the incense burner of the high-ranking official Tuan Tranh from Ky Cung Temple to Ta Phu Temple is conducted solemnly and grandly. On January 27th, the high-ranking official Tuan Tranh is brought back to Ky Cung Temple. According to Mr. Phan Van Hoa, Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Lang Son province, the connection between the two temples stems from the story of the unjust suffering of the high-ranking official Tuan Tranh, which was vindicated by Han Quan Cong Than Cong Tai. Therefore, to repay the kindness of Duke Than Cong Tai of Han, every year during the Ta Phu - Ky Cung Temple Festival, the incense burner of the high-ranking official Tuan Tranh is carried by the people from Ta Phu Temple (where Duke Than Cong Tai of Han is worshipped) to participate in the Firecracker Festival and express gratitude to the person who cleared his name.

Many people participate in a scramble to grab the firecracker heads at the Ky Cung Temple - Ta Phu Temple Festival.

This is the connection and link in the traditional festival between the two relics, Ky Cung Temple and Ta Phu Temple. Although they are two relics, they share a common festival called the Ky Cung - Ta Phu Temple Festival or the Traditional Ta Phu - Ky Cung Temple Festival. The festival includes processions and games such as: "Snatching the Firecracker Head," chess, tug-of-war, stick fighting, martial arts, a food festival, sli singing, luon singing, quan ho singing... all taking place with the participation of a large number of people from all walks of life and tourists from all over. The most spectacular event in the Ky Cung - Ta Phu Temple Festival is the scramble to snatch the firecracker head on the morning of the 27th day of the first lunar month. Mr. Duong Van Bien, Deputy Chief of the Office of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Lang Son province, said that before the festival takes place, the firecracker head is worshipped year-round according to tradition. People believe that whoever manages to grab the firecracker head during the festival and bring it home to the temple will bring good luck and prosperity to their family and lineage throughout the year and in the years to come.

Conservation linked with tourism development.

According to the leaders of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Lang Son province, based on clearly identifying comparative advantages, the province has made many efforts to preserve and promote the value of cultural heritage associated with economic and tourism development, ensuring a harmonious and reasonable balance between preserving historical and cultural relics and the requirements of economic development; creating momentum in the socio-economic development of the province. Specifically, in recent years, the Department has advised the Provincial People's Committee to develop programs, plans, projects and implement activities to promote the value of cultural heritage. At the same time, it has guided districts and cities to strengthen education and widely disseminate the content of legal documents such as: the Law on Vietnamese Cultural Heritage; the resolution on the preservation and promotion of cultural heritage of the province and many other related documents to the community so that people understand their role and responsibility in the preservation of cultural heritage. From 2016 to the present, various levels and sectors in the province have been implementing nearly 20 projects and programs to preserve and promote the value of intangible cultural heritage. Typical examples include festivals, social customs, folk performing arts, and traditional folk songs.

Lang Son province focuses on preserving traditional festivals in conjunction with tourism development.

Intangible cultural heritage forms are regularly preserved, transmitted, and promoted. As a result, Lang Son province now has 9 heritage items listed as national intangible cultural heritage by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. The focus on preserving ethnic cultural heritage has significantly contributed to creating unique and distinctive tourism products, attracting visitors to Lang Son. This includes numerous cultural, sports, and tourism activities regularly organized annually throughout the province. Regarding the Ky Cung - Ta Phu Temple Festival, the Department of Culture and local authorities in Lang Son province have implemented several conservation and promotion measures over the years, such as: granting land use rights certificates for the relic area, and carrying out management and protection work on the relic. The Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Lang Son province advised on the establishment and implementation of the "Project for the Preservation and Promotion of the Value of the National Intangible Cultural Heritage of Ky Cung - Ta Phu Temple Festival"; preserving, restoring, and rehabilitating several relics: Ky Cung Temple, Cua Dong Temple, Cua Tay Temple, Vang Khac communal house, Mau Thoai Temple… associated with maintaining religious and spiritual cultural activities at these relic sites and religious establishments. "The restoration and maintenance of the Ky Cung - Ta Phu Temple Festival has contributed to educating the historical and cultural traditions of the nation to all levels of people in the area, especially the younger generation, while also creating an attraction to draw tourists to Lang Son…", emphasized Mr. Phan Van Hoa, Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Lang Son province. As proof, in the past 5 years, not only domestic tourists but also many tourists from outside the province and international visitors have chosen Lang Son as a destination for their New Year's experiences. In the first two months of 2024 alone, the estimated total number of tourists to Lang Son reached over 760,000 (a 13.3% increase compared to the same period in 2023), including 22,000 international tourists and 739,000 domestic tourists. Revenue is estimated at 539 billion VND (a 15.7% increase compared to the same period in 2023). Source: https://phunuvietnam.vn/bao-ton-di-san-van-hoa-phi-vat-the-le-hoi-den-ky-cung-ta-phu-20241213063618945.htm