Tug of war heritage in Long Bien, Hanoi: Materials that create cultural brands

People participate in tug of war in Long Bien ward. Photo: INT

When tradition is passed on through hands-on experiences, tug of war becomes the material that creates the identity and cultural brand of the locality.

Heritage in the pulse of life

On the morning of November 16, in the sacred space of Tran Vu Temple (Long Bien, Hanoi ), the exchange and performance program "Tug of war rituals and games" attracted many artisans, heritage practice communities and international friends.

At 7am, in front of Tran Vu temple, old people wearing black robes stood chatting, children eagerly ran after the lion-lion-dragon troupe, and tug-of-war teams were getting ready to start. The festival space began with the ritual of offering incense and worshipping the Saints, in a quiet and respectful manner. But just a few minutes later, when the sound of the festival drums resounded from the temple yard, the atmosphere seemed to brighten up. Tourists jostled each other to stand on both sides, some wearing traditional uniforms, some holding phones to record, all joining in the festival rhythm.

Tug of war appears in the cheers, in the rapid breathing of each team, in the focused eyes of the artisans from Lao Cai, Bac Ninh , Phu Tho... The ropes become the connecting thread between lands that are hundreds of kilometers apart.

Mr. Nguyen Manh Ha, Party Secretary and Chairman of the People’s Council of Long Bien Ward, shared: “Cultural heritage is not just a memory of the past. When handed over to today’s generation through lively activities like this, heritage becomes a resource for sustainable development.”

Mr. Ha said that for the people of Long Bien ward, tug of war is not “a festival for display”, but a long-standing part of life. In 2015, when “Tug of War Rituals and Games” was recognized by UNESCO, that joy spread to the residential groups. Many families still remember the moment when the local artists brought the tug of war to represent Vietnam in the international dossier.

From that pride, Long Bien has persistently restored traditional rituals, preserved the cultural space of Tran Vu temple - Cu Linh pagoda - Ngoc Tri communal house, brought heritage into schools, and created an experiential playground for teenagers.

Ms. Nguyen Tuyet Trinh, a teacher at Doan Thi Diem Secondary School, said that every year, the school designs extracurricular programs to bring students to Tran Vu Temple to experience the tug-of-war heritage. Every time, the students' reactions follow a familiar "script": At first, they are shy, thinking that tug-of-war is just a familiar game in the schoolyard. But when the artisan shows them how to wrap the rope, how to "take a breath", when they hear the explanation that the rope symbolizes the consensus and spirit of harmony of the whole community, many students enthusiastically raise their hands to join.

The moment when tiny hands grasped the rough rope, the curious eyes lit up when seeing the whole team falling backwards, was both an experience and a lesson that textbooks could hardly convey. Heritage at that time was no longer a concept in the UNESCO dossier, nor was it dry lines in conservation documents.

“I think that is how heritage lives with the breath of life: Not distant, not displayed in glass cabinets, but touching the hands, eyes, and feelings of each person, from the elderly who are attached to the festival to the children who know for the first time that a string also has its own cultural soul,” Ms. Trinh shared.

Maintain identity in the development journey

Mr. Nguyen Manh Ha said that this year's event has more color from international friends: Korean, Cambodian, and Filipino artists. They bring their own cultural habits and songs, but all share the same laughter and spirit of solidarity in the friendly tug-of-war matches.

When the tug-of-war team of the Tay and Giay people ( Lao Cai ) and the international delegation prepared to compete, many foreign tourists excitedly asked to join with the reason "wanting to try the feeling of Vietnamese culture with muscles".

In the rhythm of the drums, in the solid sound of the earth underfoot, one can clearly feel the invisible thread connecting communities that are different in language and customs. That is also the spirit that UNESCO promotes: Heritage is a bridge for people to understand each other better.

As the festival gradually came to an end, the temple yard was still bustling with lingering footsteps. Mr. Tran Quang Long, a resident of Group 6, Long Bien Ward, shared his feelings: "If Long Bien had an annual tug-of-war festival, there would be a lot of tourists coming." This is also the direction that Long Bien Ward leaders are pursuing: Making heritage a highlight, a "cultural brand" of the locality.

According to the ward leader, Long Bien owns the position of the eastern gateway of the capital, with a cluster of relics connected into a system, with enough potential to develop tug of war into a unique cultural and tourism product. This direction can be implemented in many layers: Organizing tours to experience traditional festivals; building periodic performance activities at Tran Vu temple; forming a learning space for students; developing souvenir products associated with the image of tug of war.

When heritage is combined with tourism and cultural creation, Long Bien not only preserves traditional values, but also has the opportunity to position itself as a distinct destination on the cultural map of Hanoi, both full of festivals and rich in community spirit, while maintaining the tradition of teaching to the younger generation.

“Rapid urban development, dense population, and continuous construction projects… Long Bien understands that modernity is only sustainable when accompanied by the spirit of preserving identity. Tug of war heritage is a part of that identity, a part that is being nurtured by the community through their participation. We hope that from today, Long Bien will become a friendly meeting place for tourists. Heritage will be a bridge for people to find connection, empathy, and common pride,” Mr. Nguyen Manh Ha expressed his hope.

Nhat Ha

Source: https://giaoducthoidai.vn/di-san-keo-co-o-long-bien-ha-noi-chat-lieu-lam-nen-thuong-hieu-van-hoa-post757435.html