Hai Duong: Con Son-Kiep Bac Autumn Festival opens with many unique rituals

The 2024 Con Son-Kiep Bac Autumn Festival will take place from September 12-22 (August 10-20 of the lunar calendar) at the two relic sites of Con Son and Kiep Bac, with many unique traditional rituals that many people are looking forward to.

On the evening of September 18, in front of the Kiep Bac Temple gate, Con Son - Kiep Bac Special National Relic Site, Chi Linh City, the Provincial Party Committee, People's Council, People's Committee, and Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Hai Duong province solemnly held a ceremony to commemorate the 724th anniversary of the death of National Hero Tran Hung Dao and open the Con Son - Kiep Bac Autumn Festival in 2024.

Attending the memorial ceremony were representatives of leaders of several central ministries and branches; Vientiane province (Laos); leaders of Hai Duong, Bac Giang , Hung Yen, Nam Dinh provinces... Vietnam Buddhist Sangha along with a large number of Buddhists, people and tourists from all over.

Mr. Le Ngoc Chau, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, said that Hai Duong is a land with a rich historical and cultural tradition, and has long been famous as a land of spiritual and talented people.

Leaders of several central ministries and sectors, Vientiane province (Laos), Hai Duong province, and religious dignitaries offer incense to commemorate national hero Tran Hung Dao. (Photo: Manh Minh/VNA)

The Con Son-Kiep Bac National Special Monument is the heart of the sacred land of “Chi Linh Bat Co.” This place has a dangerous military position and a favorable feng shui position. During the Tran Dynasty, Tran Hung Dao established the Van Kiep headquarters, and together with the Tran Dynasty king and his subjects, organized an army with the determination to fight and win, crushing the expansionist intentions of the invading Yuan-Mongol empire.

Tran Hung Dao's real name is Tran Quoc Tuan, born in 1228, belonging to the royal family of the Tran Dynasty. In the 13th century, the Yuan-Mongol invaders invaded our country. Under the strategic command of the National Duke Tran Hung Dao, the army and people of Dai Viet were filled with the spirit of "Killing the Mongols" and defeated the brutal invaders three times, protecting the entire country's borders.

The name of Tran Hung Dao is associated with glorious victories in Dong Bo Dau, Ham Tu, Tay Ket, Chuong Duong, Van Kiep, Bach Dang Giang... and is forever the pride of the nation.

Not only known as a military genius, Tran Hung Dao also composed two books "Essentials of Military Strategy" and "Secrets of Van Kiep Tong" to teach contemporary generals how to lead troops to fight the enemy.

Typical of these is the Proclamation to the Soldiers which encouraged patriotism and hatred of the enemy, moving thousands of soldiers. Under the command of Tran Hung Dao, many talented generals gathered to assist the king and the country, including heroes such as Truong Han Sieu, Pham Ngu Lao, Nguyen Che Nghia, Yet Kieu, Da Tuong...

With such great merit, Tran Hung Dao was given the title Hung Dao Dai Vuong by the Tran kings and a temple was built for him while he was still alive in Van Kiep called "Sinh Tu." Retired Emperor Tran Thanh Tong personally composed a stele praising the merit of Hung Dao Dai Vuong, called "Sinh Bi."

On August 20, Canh Ty year (1300), Hung Dao Dai Vuong passed away at Van Kiep palace. The royal court promoted Hung Dao Dai Vuong as Grand Master, Supreme Patriarch, Supreme National Public Employee Vu Hung Dao Dai Vuong. The people of Dai Viet honored him as Duc Thanh Tran Cuu Thien Vu De and built a temple right on the foundation of the palace called Kiep Bac temple to commemorate Hung Dao Dai Vuong's contributions to the country.

Special art program “Con Son – Kiep Bac, world heritage journey”. (Photo: Manh Minh/VNA)

The Con Son-Kiep Bac Autumn Festival is an opportunity to promote the potential, strengths and typical products of Hai Duong to the people and tourists from all over the world; at the same time, it contributes to affirming the complete, great and global value of the Yen Tu-Vinh Nghiem-Con Son and Kiep Bac relic and landscape complex of the three provinces of Hai Duong, Quang Ninh and Bac Giang in the dossier submitted to UNESCO for recognition as a world heritage site.

Immediately after the memorial speech, delegates, people and tourists listened to the reading of the funeral oration for Saint Tran and respectfully offered incense to commemorate the 724th anniversary of the death of National Hero Tran Hung Dao.

The 2024 Con Son-Kiep Bac Autumn Festival takes place from September 12-22 (August 10-20 of the lunar calendar) at the two relic sites of Con Son and Kiep Bac, with many traditional rituals: Incense offering ceremony; Cao Nieu ceremony; procession ceremony; Worship and death anniversary of Hung Dao Dai Vuong Tran Quoc Tuan; Seal opening and granting ceremony of Kiep Bac temple; peace praying ceremony and flower lantern festival; Festival of performing to serve the Saints; water puppetry performance; cultural activities; Culture, tourism and trade promotion week...

Due to the impact of floods, this year's Con Son-Kiep Bac Autumn Festival will not have a military gathering performance on the Luc Dau River.

The military festival on Luc Dau River is a typical activity of the annual Con Son-Kiep Bac Autumn Festival. The ceremony recreates the military gathering and parade of Tran Dynasty generals to show off their strength in preparation for the resistance war against the Yuan-Mongol invaders, recalling the heroic spirit of Dong A in the past and reminding today's generation of the glorious feats of arms of the Tran Dynasty soldiers and people associated with the contributions of National Hero Tran Hung Dao.

On the same evening, at Kiep Bac Temple in the Con Son-Kiep Bac Special National Relic Site, Chi Linh City, the opening and granting of the Kiep Bac Temple seal ceremony took place.

Performing the ceremony of granting seals to Kiep Bac temple to people and tourists from all over the world. (Photo: Manh Tu/VNA)

This is a unique traditional cultural activity at the annual Con Son-Kiep Bac Autumn Festival.

The new point this year is that the Seal Opening and Seal Granting Ceremony takes place after the Hung Dao Dai Vuong Tran Quoc Tuan Memorial Ceremony instead of taking place late at night like previous festival seasons. Therefore, the activity attracts a large number of people and tourists from all over the world to attend.

Kiep Bac Temple worships Hung Dao Vuong Tran Quoc Tuan, a military genius and national hero, who was awarded the title of Quoc Cong Tiet Che by King Tran and worshiped by the people as Cuu Thien Vu De.

The ceremony of giving the seal of Saint Tran is a traditional ceremony at Kiep Bac Temple. According to the Management Board of the Con Son-Kiep Bac National Special Relic, according to ancient custom, before the Saint's death anniversary, the local government and the temple elders held a ceremony to stamp the seal on a piece of yellow silk and then asked for his permission, then distributed it to visitors from all directions.

The seal opening ceremony began at 9 p.m. Monks and representatives of the Organizing Committee of the 2024 Con Son-Kiep Bac Autumn Festival offered incense, flowers, and offerings, performed the ceremony to worship Saint Tran and opened the seal according to traditional rituals.

When the ceremony ended, the festival organizing committee distributed seals to people and tourists.

Kiep Bac Temple still preserves four seals of Saint Hung Dao Dai Vuong: "Tran Trieu Hung Dao Vuong chi an," this is the most important seal representing the authority and power bestowed by Saint Tran.

The second seal is "National Law King" with the meaning of asking the Holy One to grant strength and authority to force all forces to obey rules and laws.

The third seal is “Van Duoc Linh Phu” which means a sacred talisman that helps people live forever, reproduce, and develop. The fourth seal is “Phi Thien Than Kiem Linh Phu” which means praying for peace, killing demons, and exorcising evil spirits.

People and tourists from all over the world come to Kiep Bac Temple to ask for a piece of yellow silk printed with all four seals of the temple to hang at home or carry with them to pray for peace, happiness, prosperity, longevity and all good things.

The Kiep Bac Temple seals are rare treasures associated with spiritual culture, expressing the belief in love and respect for the saints who saved the country, and at the same time expressing the people's desire to live in peace and happiness./.

Source: https://baolangson.vn/hai-duong-khai-hoi-mua-thu-con-son-kiep-bac-voi-nhieu-nghi-le-dac-sac-5022230.html