Hung Kings Commemoration Day in the Vietnamese Consciousness

"No matter where one goes, remember the Hung Kings Commemoration Day on the tenth day of the third lunar month." In the hearts of every Vietnamese person, the Hung Kings Commemoration Day has for generations become a symbol of cultural and spiritual beliefs, a focal point of the great unity of the Vietnamese people. On this occasion, every Vietnamese person, whether at home or far away from their homeland, turns their thoughts with reverence and gratitude for the merits of their ancestors, demonstrating the traditional moral principle of "drinking water, remembering the source."

The Hung Kings worship tradition affirms that the Vietnamese people share a distinct common origin, fostering strong spiritual beliefs and creating a tradition of unity, love, and mutual support. The Hung Kings worship has become a cultural and religious symbol connecting the past with the present, nurturing family, village, and national bonds.

The Hung Kings worship tradition, or Hung Kings Commemoration Day, is observed annually on the 10th day of the 3rd lunar month at the Hung Kings Temple historical site (a complex of relics including the Upper Temple, Middle Temple, Lower Temple, Au Co Mother Temple, and the Mausoleum…) on Nghia Linh Mountain, Viet Tri City.

Opening Ceremony of the Hung Temple Festival and Commemoration of the 20th Anniversary of the 2003 UNESCO Convention.

The Hung Kings worship – the worship of the common ancestor of the entire nation – is perhaps unique to the Vietnamese people worldwide . It is a distinctive and characteristic cultural identity of the Vietnamese people and also a representative cultural heritage of humanity. Throughout history, the Hung Kings worship has always been an intrinsic element of national culture, contributing to fostering national pride and creating a spirit of unity, patriotism, and love for one's people. "Every person has ancestors, every lineage, just as a tree has roots, and a river has a source."

Previous research indicates that the Hung Kings worship tradition originated from the worship of natural deities and mountain gods. According to legend, the Upper Temple on Nghia Linh Mountain was where the Hung Kings ascended 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 a blend of mountain gods, rice gods, and the Hung Kings. According to the temple's historical records and inscriptions, An Duong Vuong Thuc Phan, grateful for the Hung Kings' abdication, built a temple on Nghia Linh Mountain after the Hung Kings' death.

On the morning of April 25, 2023 (corresponding to the 6th day of the 3rd lunar month of the Year of the Rabbit), Phu Tho province respectfully held the commemoration ceremony for National Ancestor Lac Long Quan.

With profound respect and gratitude for their merits, for thousands of years, generations of Vietnamese people have created, practiced, nurtured, and passed down the belief in worshipping Hung Kings.

From the Later Le Dynasty, the worship of the Hung Kings was performed by the local people themselves. From the Hong Duc era of King Le Thanh Tong, the Hung Temple festival was elevated to a national level, receiving "international recognition," and the rituals were presided over by the provincial governor on behalf of the court. During the Nguyen Dynasty, King Minh Mang had the ancestral tablets of the Hung Kings moved from Hung Temple to Hue to be worshipped at the Temple of the Great Emperors, while still granting permission for the local people to worship at Hung Temple. In the second year of the Khai Dinh reign (1917), the 10th day of the 3rd lunar month was officially designated as the main festival day, with solemn rituals organized.

Continuing the traditions of our ancestors, especially the tradition of "drinking water, remembering the source," immediately after the successful revolution, President Ho Chi Minh signed Decree No. 22/SL-CTN on February 18, 1946, allowing civil servants to take a day off on the 10th day of the 3rd lunar month each year to participate in activities commemorating the Hung Kings' Ancestral Anniversary – a tribute to the nation's origins. 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 uttered the immortal words: "The Hung Kings had the merit of founding the nation – we, their descendants, must together preserve it." He also reminded: "We must pay attention to protecting and planting more flowers and trees so that Hung Temple becomes increasingly solemn and beautiful, a historical park for future generations to visit."

Since 1995, the Hung Kings Commemoration Day has been officially recognized by the Party Central Committee as a major holiday of the year.

On the morning of April 25, 2023 (corresponding to the 6th day of the 3rd lunar month of the Year of the Rabbit), Phu Tho province respectfully held a ceremony to offer incense in commemoration of Ancestral Mother Au Co at the Hung Temple Historical Site.

Subsequently, on April 2, 2007, the National Assembly approved amendments to Article 73 of the Labor Law, granting employees the right to take a day off with full pay on Hung Kings' Commemoration Day. From then on, the 10th day of the third lunar month each year became a major national holiday, a national holiday embodying the cultural identity of the nation.

On December 6, 2012, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) recognized the "Hung Kings Worship Belief in Phu Tho," a symbol of national unity and the Vietnamese people's tradition of "drinking water, remembering the source," as a representative intangible cultural heritage of humanity. According to UNESCO experts, the "Hung Kings Worship Belief" met the most important of the five criteria: it is a heritage of outstanding global value, encouraging a shared awareness among all nations in promoting that value.

The Hung Kings worship tradition originated in the ancient land of Phu Tho, then spread throughout the country, especially in the Northern Delta provinces, Central Vietnam, and southward following the footsteps of the Vietnamese people. Today, Hung Kings worship is practiced in many countries around the world where Vietnamese communities reside.

On April 25, 2023 (corresponding to the 6th day of the 3rd lunar month), a delegation of 75 exemplary overseas Vietnamese from 23 countries around the world came to offer incense and pay respects to the Hung Kings.

Currently, the entire country has more than 1,410 relics dedicated to the Hung Kings and related to the Hung Kings era, spread across various 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, the Hung Kings' Commemoration Day has become a national festival with many traditional cultural and artistic programs and folk cultural activities. Phu Tho province alone has more than 340 relics associated with the Hung Kings' worship.

Along with their compatriots at home, Vietnamese people abroad have for many years sincerely turned their hearts towards their roots. However, not everyone has the honor of returning to attend the Hung Kings Commemoration Day in their homeland. Therefore, organizing Hung Kings Commemoration Day abroad to give people the opportunity to connect with their national origins is an extremely necessary need.

That is why the idea of ​​organizing a global Vietnamese Ancestor's Day quickly received social support, with the desire to become a day of national unity and to honor Vietnamese values, so that Vietnamese people across five continents do not forget their ancestors and together turn towards their roots. The Hung Kings Commemoration Ceremony and the Hung Kings worship tradition will follow the Vietnamese people spreading across five continents, bringing with them traditional cultural values, customs, cuisine, and especially spiritual culture and ancestor worship... to the community, contributing to bridging the gap between overseas Vietnamese and their compatriots at home.

The Vietnamese community abroad solemnly organizes the commemoration ceremony for Hung Vuong, the founding father of Vietnam.

The Global Vietnamese National Ancestor Day - Commemoration Ceremony and Honoring the Descendants of King Hung Globally 2023 was also held in both in-person and online formats with the participation of overseas Vietnamese from nearly 20 countries at 1 PM (Vietnam time) on April 29, 2023 (corresponding to the 10th day of the 3rd lunar month). The program is maintained annually by the Global Vietnamese National Ancestor Day Project Committee following a common script (from 2015 to the present), aiming to create a shared cultural day - connecting Vietnamese people globally and international friends, building a strong bridge of cultural friendship, and fostering sincere friendship between Vietnam and its international friends.

Thus, it can be seen that the formation and development of the Hung Kings worship belief is a process of progression from lower to higher levels, continuously enriched over many generations; it is a symbol that inspires and creates the strength of national unity, and is a source of pride for the Vietnamese people throughout their historical journey.

For the Vietnamese people, the pilgrimage to Hung Temple is a cherished aspiration of many generations. It is considered a pilgrimage back to the historical roots. From the legend of the "hundred eggs," all Vietnamese people recognize each other as brothers and sisters, sharing a common origin, a common bloodline of Lac Hong, and a common national ancestor: the Hung Kings.

This year, many cultural activities are being organized to commemorate the Hung Kings' Commemoration Day.

From a community and societal perspective, the Hung Kings worship belief is understood as a collective memory, a commemoration of the people's national past, possessing a high degree of community cohesion. In other words, the Hung Kings worship belief of the Vietnamese people is a thread connecting the past, present, and future.

Educating people about their ancestors and national pride is also a prerequisite and foundation for fostering compassion and community ethics, reminding each individual to act according to social norms and strengthening faith in the witness, blessings, and protection of the divine beings, ancestors, and national heroes.

Through this, it awakens national pride and self-respect, highlights the meaning of patriotism and gratitude for the nation-building efforts, and is recognized and revered by the people. From a social perspective, it also serves as a spiritual bond connecting the community and a symbol of national unity.