Hung King's death anniversary - symbol of national unity

Hung Kings' Commemoration Day, also known as Hung Temple Festival or National Commemoration Day, is a day for Vietnamese people to remember the nation-building achievements of the Hung Kings and their ancestors.

Elderly people in Chu Hoa commune, Viet Tri city, Phu Tho province perform traditional rituals. (Photo: Trung Kien/VNA)

“No matter where you go, remember the anniversary of the ancestors on the tenth of March” is a folk song that has been deeply ingrained in the subconscious of Vietnamese people, expressing pride in the origin of “Descendants of the Dragon and Fairy” of the Vietnamese people.

Every year on the 10th day of the 3rd lunar month, no matter where they go, all Vietnamese people turn to their homeland and their roots. This year, the Hung Kings' death anniversary falls on Thursday, April 18.

Cultural and religious symbols connect the past with the present

Hung Kings' Commemoration Day, also known as Hung Temple Festival or National Commemoration Day, is the day for Vietnamese people to remember the Hung Kings' contributions to building the country.

The Hung King worship is performed every year on the 10th day of the 3rd lunar month at the Hung Temple Historical Relic Site (a complex of relics including the Upper Temple, the Middle Temple, the Lower Temple, the Au Co Temple, the Tomb...) on Nghia Linh Mountain, Viet Tri City; affirming that Vietnamese people have a common origin, creating a strong spiritual belief, creating a tradition of solidarity, love, and mutual support.

Worshiping Hung Kings has become a cultural and religious symbol connecting the past with the present, helping to foster family, village and national affection.

The Hung King Worship Belief - worshiping the common Ancestor of the whole country, perhaps currently in the world only the Vietnamese people, that is the typical and unique cultural identity of the Vietnamese people and also a typical Cultural Heritage of humanity. Through previous studies, it has been shown that the Hung King Worship Belief originated from the worship of natural gods and mountain gods.

According to legend, the Upper Temple on Nghia Linh Mountain is where the Hung Kings used to go to perform rituals to worship heaven and earth, the rice god, and pray for favorable weather, prosperity, and happiness for the people.

Until the end of the 19th century and before the restoration of the Upper Temple in 1917, the worship of deities here was still a mixture of worship of mountain gods, rice gods and worship of the Hung Kings.

According to the legend and the stele in the temple, An Duong Vuong Thuc Phan was so grateful that Hung Vuong abdicated the throne that after Hung Vuong died, An Duong Vuong went to Nghia Linh mountain to build a temple to worship him. With the sincere belief in gratitude for his merit, for thousands of years, generations of Vietnamese people have created, practiced, cultivated and passed down the worship of Hung Vuong.

Since the Later Le Dynasty, the worship of the Hung Kings was performed by the local people. Since the Hong Duc period of King Le Thanh Tong, the Hung Temple festival was brought to the national level, "granted international status", and the ceremony was presided over by a mandarin representing the royal court.

During the Nguyen Dynasty, King Minh Mang brought the Hung Kings' tablets from Hung Temple to Hue to worship at the Lich Dai De Vuong Temple, while still granting royal titles to the Hung Temple for local people to worship. During the second year of Khai Dinh (1917), the 10th day of the third lunar month was officially chosen as the main holiday, with solemn rituals held.

Continuing the tradition of his ancestors, especially the tradition of "remembering the source of water when drinking," immediately after the successful revolution, President Ho Chi Minh signed Decree No. 22/SL-CTN on February 18, 1946, allowing civil servants to take the 10th day of the 3rd lunar month off every year to participate in organizing activities to commemorate the Hung Kings' death anniversary and pay homage to the nation's roots.

The 10th day of the 3rd lunar month every year has become an important holiday for all people, a national holiday with national cultural identity.

And he visited Hung Temple twice, the first time on September 19, 1954 and the second time on August 19, 1962. During his second visit, he made the immortal statement: "The Hung Kings had the merit of building the country - Uncle and nephew, we must work together to protect the country."

Since 1995, the Hung Kings' Commemoration Day has been noted in the Secretariat's announcement as a major holiday of the year. Then, on April 2, 2007, the National Assembly approved the amendment and supplement to Article 73 of the Labor Law allowing employees to take time off with full pay on the Hung Kings' Commemoration Day.

From then on, March 10 (Lunar calendar) every year has become an important holiday for all people, a national holiday with national cultural identity.

And on December 6, 2012, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) recognized the "Hung King worship in Phu Tho," a symbol of the spirit of great solidarity and the traditional morality of "remembering the source of water when drinking" of the Vietnamese people, as a representative Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

According to UNESCO experts, "Hung King worship" has met the most important of the five criteria, which are: heritage with outstanding global value, encouraging the common awareness of all nations in promoting that value.

Pervasive in contemporary life

The Hung King Worship belief originated from the ancient land of Phu Tho, then spread throughout the country, especially the provinces of the Northern Delta, the Central region and to the South following the footsteps of the Vietnamese people.

Nowadays, Hung King worship exists in many countries around the world, where Vietnamese communities live.

Currently, the whole country has more than 1,410 relics worshiping Hung Kings and related to the Hung King era, spread across regions, from Hanoi, Hai Phong, Bac Ninh, Thai Nguyen, Lang Son, Nghe An, Thua Thien-Hue, Lam Dong, Binh Phuoc, Khanh Hoa, Dong Nai, Ho Chi Minh City, Ben Tre, Kien Giang, Can Tho...

Therefore, Hung King's death anniversary has become a festival for people across the country with many programs, cultural activities, traditional arts, and folk cultural activities. In Phu Tho province alone, there are more than 340 relics associated with the worship of Hung King.

Mr. Nguyen Quoc Hoang, Vice President of the Malaysia-Vietnam Friendship Association, presided over the ceremony and offered incense to the Hung Kings in Malaysia. (Photo: Hang Linh/VNA)

Along with compatriots in the country, for many years now, Vietnamese people living abroad have always sincerely turned to their roots. However, not everyone has the honor to attend the anniversary of the death of their ancestors in their homeland. Therefore, organizing the anniversary of the death of the Hung Kings abroad so that people can have the opportunity to turn to their national roots is an extremely necessary need.

Activities of Hung Kings' Commemoration Day - Hung Temple Festival 2024

In 2024, Phu Tho province will organize many rich and diverse activities with the desire to bring visitors new experiences when attending the Hung Kings' Commemoration Anniversary - Hung Temple Festival.

According to Mr. Ho Dai Dung, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Phu Tho province, the Hung Kings' Commemoration Anniversary - Hung Temple Festival and the Cultural - Tourism Week of the Ancestral Land in 2024 will take place from April 9 to April 18 (ie from March 1 to March 10 of the lunar calendar) in Viet Tri city, Hung Temple Historical Relic Site, districts, towns and cities in the province.

The ceremony was organized to ensure solemnity, respect, community spirit, safety, civilization, and economy with many important rituals such as the Commemoration of the National Ancestor Lac Long Quan and Incense offering to commemorate the Mother Au Co on the 6th day of the 3rd lunar month (April 14, 2024); the Commemoration of the Hung Kings and Flower offering at the relief "Uncle Ho talking to cadres and soldiers of the Vanguard Army" on the 10th day of the 3rd lunar month (April 18, 2024); Incense offering ceremony to commemorate the Hung Kings of districts, towns, and cities in the province from the 1st to the 10th day of the 3rd lunar month (April 9-18).

Many exciting activities were also held, including the opening ceremony of the Hung Temple Festival and the Cultural-Tourism Week of the Ancestral Land in the year of the Dragon 2024 held at the Central Festival Stage - Hung Temple Historical Relic Site.

Xoan artisans from the original Xoan village perform Xoan singing at Hung Lo Communal House, Hung Lo Commune, Viet Tri City, attracting a large number of locals and tourists. (Photo: VNA)

Other activities are held at the Hung Temple Historical Relic Site during the festival such as Cultural Camp and Exhibition, Promotion, and Introduction of Typical Products; Mass Art Festival, Phu Tho Folk Songs; Artistic Orchid Display; Banh Chung Wrapping and Cooking Contest, Banh Giay Pounding Contest; Lion-Lion-Dragon Dance Performance (March 7th of Lunar Calendar) at the ceremonial axis area - Festival Center and physical training, sports activities, traditional folk games; Procession of palanquins from communes, wards, and towns in the outskirts of the Relic Site to Hung Temple on March 7th (Lunar Calendar) (April 15, 2024)...

Many activities took place in the center of Viet Tri city such as the exhibition of artifacts, world documentary heritage, books, newspapers, and photo documents at Hung Vuong Museum - Phu Tho Provincial Library and Hung Vuong Museum; Trade Fair and OCOP product display at Bao Da Stadium (Duu Lau ward, Viet Tri city); Street music program "Viet Tri Livemusic" at Van Lang Park; ancient village Xoan singing performance from March 6-10 (Lunar calendar) at ancient Xoan wards in Viet Tri city; Open Swimming Competition at Van Lang Park lake on March 6 (Lunar calendar); Volleyball tournament of teams competing for Hung Vuong Cup took place from March 3-6 (Lunar calendar).

In particular, the art program and high-altitude fireworks display at the Southern Stage of Van Lang Park on the evening of March 9 (Lunar calendar) brought a joyful atmosphere, serving a large number of people and tourists returning to the homeland./.

According to VNA

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/gio-to-hung-vuong-bieu-tuong-cua-tinh-than-dai-doan-ket-dan-toc-211989.htm