A unique collection of items used in spirit medium rituals.

VHO - For the past 35 years, medium Nguyen Dang Tai (Bo De ward, Hanoi) has collected many artifacts dating back over 100 years, including musical instruments, religious objects, and ceremonial items that were once used by famous artisans in rituals honoring the Saints at temples and shrines throughout Vietnam.

For the first time, a collection of spirit medium rituals is being displayed to the community of Mother Goddess worshipers.

Recognized by UNESCO as a Representative Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, "The Practice of the Tam Phu Mother Goddess Worship of the Vietnamese People" is not only a source of pride but also places a great responsibility on us in preserving and promoting the original, humanistic values ​​of this heritage in contemporary life.

With its rich history and unique cultural landscape, Hanoi currently has one of the highest concentrations of Mother Goddess worship sites in the country.

This pair of bone china cups is a valuable artifact collected by Mr. Nguyen Dang Tai. These precious cups belonged to the late bronze statue of Nguyen Thi Than (1920 - 2010), from Ai Mo village.

According to statistics from the Hanoi Department of Culture and Sports , the city has more than 2,000 relics and places of worship related to the Mother Goddess worship, including temples, shrines, and hundreds of private shrines.

This demonstrates the enduring vitality of folk beliefs, deeply ingrained in the spiritual life of the people of the capital city.

One precious artifact that Mr. Nguyen Dang Tai painstakingly collected is the set of books called "Thien Thu" (Heavenly Book).

Since the "Vietnamese practice of worshipping the Mother Goddess of the Three Realms" was inscribed by UNESCO, Hanoi has become a shining example in the preservation and promotion of this heritage.

Many clubs and spaces for practicing the Mother Goddess worship have been established, helping the community to understand the cultural and spiritual values ​​of the Mother Goddess religion correctly and fully.

Besides performing arts activities, the collection and preservation of artifacts and ritual objects of the Mother Goddess religion is also of great interest to many people.

The "bat" instrument, meaning the bridge is shaped like a bat, symbolizes the Chinese character for "fortune" (福). This instrument was used by the late artisan Hai Văn, originally from Nam Định , from the 1930s at the Công Đồng Bắc Lệ temple.

According to Mr. Nguyen Dang Tai, this is considered a one-of-a-kind guitar.

The horses were sculpted into the shape of an exquisite bat.

The collection and preservation of artifacts not only contributes to heritage conservation but also highlights the subtle aesthetic value and profound humanistic depth of the Mother Goddess worship belief, while vividly portraying the unique cultural flow of the Vietnamese people.

Recently, at the "Performance of the Mother Goddess Worship in Doai Region in 2025" program at Lien Tri Pagoda (Kieu Phu commune, Hanoi), medium Nguyen Dang Tai (Bo De ward, Hanoi) displayed and introduced a collection of artifacts related to the Mother Goddess worship.

Mr. Nguyen Dang Tai stated that there are certain items that only sorcerers and mediums of the past could use.

This collection has been amassed by Mr. Nguyen Dang Tai over the past 35 years, and includes many artifacts over 100 years old, such as musical instruments, religious objects, and ceremonial items that were once used by famous artisans in rituals honoring the Saints at temples and shrines throughout Vietnam.

This collection has given the public a visual insight into the historical depth, aesthetics, and craftsmanship associated with the Mother Goddess religion.

The mother-of-pearl inlaid tray and yin-yang divination tray belong to the late shaman Nguyen Van Xo, from Ai Mo village (Gia Lam, Hanoi).

Mr. Nguyen Dang Tai said that these precious artifacts are the result of 35 years of collecting, including items that were used and preserved by shamans, sorcerers, and mediums in the past.

Thanks to their conservation efforts, performance organization, and artifact exhibitions, artisans and mediums are contributing to preserving and spreading the standard values ​​of the Mother Goddess worship in contemporary life.

The beaded sash, headscarf, and incense-offering scarf are from the late artisan Tho Minh (80 Hang Quat, Hanoi).

The event "Performance of the Mother Goddess Worship in the Western Region in 2025" also marks the first time a collection of spirit medium rituals has been displayed to the community of the Four Palaces (Tứ Phủ) belief system.

In particular, Mr. Nguyen Dang Tai's collection includes five rare and precious antique musical instruments, over 100 years old, which were used by artisans throughout their lives of service to the Saint.

The drum, clapper, and flute set of the late Master Đoàn Đức Đan. This set is used in religious ceremonies at Ái Mộ Temple (Thiên Định Temple).

Among them is the "bat" instrument, whose bridge is shaped like a bat, symbolizing the Chinese character for "fortune" (福). This instrument was used by the late artisan Hai Văn, originally from Nam Định, from the 1930s at the Công Đồng Bắc Lệ temple. According to Mr. Nguyễn Đăng Tài, this is considered a one-of-a-kind instrument.

Next is the "Tam Phu Linh Tu" instrument, so named because the words "Tam Phu Linh Tu" are inscribed on its surface. This instrument belonged to the late artisan Nguyen Van Sac, the chief musician of the Lanh Giang Temple (Duy Tien district, former Ha Nam province).

Ten sets of scarves and clothing made by the late artisan Nguyen Van Binh (Binh Van) at 583 Hong Ha, Hanoi.

The third and fourth instruments belonged to the late artisan Nguyen Thi Chi, also known as Mrs. Chao, a leading female singer in Vietnamese traditional music throughout the 20th and 21st centuries. The latter instrument was passed down to her son, Nguyen Van Minh. In 2015, it was handed over to Mr. Nguyen Dang Tai for safekeeping and preservation to this day.

The fifth instrument is a zither made from zither wood by the late artisan Tran Duc Nhan, originally from Sao Do (Chi Linh, Hai Duong province).

These are artifacts that Mr. Nguyen Dang Tai painstakingly collected over 35 years.

In Mr. Nguyen Dang Tai's collection, there is also a set of ivory trays, medicine tubes, and lacquered wooden boxes. This set was specifically used to worship Ong Hoang Bay Bao Ha, and were the belongings of two famous mediums from Ai Mo village (Gia Lam, Hanoi): Pham Van Lich (1900 - 1976) and Trinh Thi But (1902 - 1976).

A fruit tray, a blue-glazed wine flask, a white jade offering cup, and three ivory fans were the items used in the rituals of the late medium Pham Thi Su (1934 - 2010), from Ai Mo village (Gia Lam, Hanoi). This set of artifacts was used in the rituals of the Goddess Thuong Ngan and Co Ba Bong to bestow blessings and healing upon her followers.

These artifacts have been stained by the passage of time for hundreds of years.

This is a set of ritual scenes depicting the ceremonies of the late folk singer and sorcerer Nguyen Van Nhan (1920 - 2008), from Bac Cau village (Ngoc Thuy, Long Bien, Hanoi). From 1954 until his death, sorcerer Nguyen Van Nhan performed the rituals of opening shrines for over two thousand disciples.

Master Nguyen Van Nhan was one of the five "kieu 5 che" (five people sitting on five chairs) – one of the ancient rituals in the Mother Goddess worship at Duc Ong Temple and Ghenh Temple (Long Bien, Hanoi) in the 1960s and 1970s.

Besides painstakingly collecting the artifacts, Mr. Nguyen Dang Tai also understands their history, usage, and the rituals involved.

One precious artifact that Mr. Nguyen Dang Tai painstakingly collected is a set of "Heavenly Books," an ivory scepter, and knives used in the rituals honoring Saint Tran, belonging to the late artisan Dang Dinh Nan. Artisan Dang Dinh Nan was one of the most famous mediums in Northern Vietnam during the 1950s and 1970s, when the worship of Saint Tran took place.

The pair of bone china cups are also among the valuable artifacts that Mr. Nguyen Dang Tai has collected. These precious cups belonged to the late bronze statue of Nguyen Thi Than (1920 - 2010), from Ai Mo village.

In addition, Mr. Nguyen Dang Tai's collection also includes a fan belonging to the late Venerable Trang Cong Thinh of Thuan My Linh Tu Temple. This is one of 500 fans commissioned by Mr. Trang Cong Thinh for the inauguration of Thuan My Linh Tu Temple in 1990.

Along with that are a set of silver bracelets and necklaces, a rooster tail headscarf, and a silk robe belonging to the late medium Pham Van Luong (1949 - 2008). Also included are the antique ivory amulets of the Five Venerable Officials and the Four Realms of the Divine Assembly, belonging to the late medium Nguyen Thi Lao (1944 - 1998), house number 47 Luong Ngoc Quyen, Hanoi...

Source: https://baovanhoa.vn/van-hoa/bo-suu-tap-vat-pham-doc-nhat-vo-nhi-trong-nghi-le-hau-dong-189381.html