Hy Cuong commune is reviving the procession of Mr. Khiu and Mrs. Khiu to commemorate and express gratitude for the merits of two legendary deities from the Hung King era who founded the nation: Saint Tan Vien and Quy Minh Dai Vuong.
A land rich in tradition.
Amidst the ever-changing modern pace of life, Hy Cuong quietly maintains its unique character, serene yet sacred, ancient yet vibrant. There, each communal house, traditional building, and festival is not only a heritage but also a living memory, an anchor for the souls of generations of people in the ancestral land.
Located within the ancient capital of the former Van Lang Kingdom, the history of Hy Cuong's formation and development is a continuous link between the past and the present. Layers of cultural sediment are not only preserved in legends and place names, but also present in the system of relics, customs, traditions, and folk festivals... vividly reflecting the social life, beliefs, and culture of the people during the Hung King era.
Most notably, the Hung Temple National Special Historical Site, the center of ancestral worship for the Vietnamese people, is associated with the Hung King Commemoration Day - Hung Temple Festival, holding sacred significance in the Vietnamese psyche. The commune currently has 14 historical and cultural relics, including 6 classified by the State (2 national-level relics, 4 provincial-level relics). In particular, all 7 of the prominent communal houses and temples are dedicated to the Hung Kings and other figures from the nation-building period, such as Co Tich Communal House, Thanh Dinh Communal House, Ha Communal House, Thuong Communal House, etc. The cultural space of Hy Cuong is further enhanced by the "Three Sacred Mountains" complex, comprising Nghia Linh Mountain, Trok Mountain, and Van Mountain, places associated with many sacred legends. These are not only natural landscapes but also spiritual symbols, places where the spiritual energy of heaven and earth converges, intimately connected to the community's spiritual life.
Furthermore, the rich treasure trove of intangible cultural heritage includes 38 heritage items belonging to 6 categories, of which 24 are associated with the culture of the Hung King era. Folk festivals, traditional rituals, performances, etc., passed down through generations, are not only places of cultural activity but also ways for people of the past to recreate history, express their beliefs in ancestor worship, fertility beliefs, animism, and more. In particular, the Hung King worship belief has been inscribed by UNESCO as a representative intangible cultural heritage of humanity, further affirming the unique value and significance of the culture of the ancestral land.
All these factors have created a unique Hy Cuong, where culture is not only preserved but also vibrant and deeply ingrained in daily life, becoming a solid spiritual foundation for the local development.
Spreading values in the modern era
Following the merger, Hy Cuong commune has more favorable conditions for overall planning and effective exploitation of its cultural and tourism potential. Recognizing this, the local Party Committee, government, and people have implemented a comprehensive set of solutions to preserve and promote the value of heritage. Emphasis has been placed on inventorying, documenting, and digitizing heritage; historical and cultural relics are gradually being restored and renovated, ensuring spaces for religious practices. Folk festivals associated with the Hung Kings worship are organized with reverence and solemnity, contributing to the promotion of the rich spiritual life and distinctive culture of the ancestral land. Notably, the role of the community as the main actors has been clearly demonstrated, with people directly participating in preserving, practicing, and transmitting cultural values, so that heritage truly "lives" in contemporary life.
Comrade Nguyen Thu Hien - Chairman of the People's Committee of Hy Cuong commune, said: Hy Cuong is proposing to implement a science and technology project: "Research, preservation and promotion of the unique cultural heritage values of the Hung King era, gradually becoming an important driving force for sustainable socio-economic development in Hy Cuong commune, Phu Tho province." At the same time, the commune is also developing a thematic resolution for the 2025-2030 term to mobilize resources and create significant changes in the work of preserving and promoting heritage. A highlight is the commune's organization and participation in activities serving the Hung King Ancestral Commemoration Day - Hung Temple Festival and the Ancestral Land Culture and Tourism Week in the year of the Horse 2026. This is not only a major cultural event but also an opportunity for Hy Cuong to affirm its central role in the cultural space of the Ancestral Land.
In Hy Cuong, as the Hung Kings Commemoration Day approaches, the rural landscape gradually becomes vibrant, warm, and rich in cultural identity. Residential areas, agencies, and units in the area actively beautify the landscape, clean the environment, and prepare the necessary facilities and conditions to serve the festival. The atmosphere is urgent and coordinated, reflecting the sense of responsibility and pride of the people of this ancestral land. For the ceremonial part, the commune participates in incense offering rituals at the Hung Kings Temple National Special Historical Site and organizes incense offerings at the system of communal houses and temples in the area according to traditional rituals. The "Offering of Gratitude" ceremony continues to be widely implemented in each family, contributing to spreading the values of the Hung Kings worship belief in community life. Processions and sacrificial ceremonies are meticulously prepared by residential areas to ensure solemnity, reverence, and a vivid recreation of traditional cultural spaces.
During the festival, the commune organized a variety of cultural, artistic, sporting, and folk game activities in a rich and engaging manner. Programs such as "Hy Cuong Livemusic" and the "Gratitude Feast" competition were meticulously prepared, promising a joyful atmosphere, community bonding, and the honoring of traditional cultural values. Simultaneously, publicity efforts were intensified through the radio system and digital platforms; landscaping, environmental sanitation, and the development of civilized festival practices were implemented comprehensively. All efforts aimed at organizing a solemn, safe, and culturally rich festival, contributing to building a friendly and hospitable image of Hy Cuong in the hearts of visitors from all over.
Drawing from a thousand-year-old historical source, Hy Cuong is gradually transforming itself, turning its heritage into an intrinsic strength for sustainable development. Preserving the "soul of the nation" is not only a responsibility but also a journey to ensure that the values from the Hung King era continue to be inherited and spread in life today and in the future.
Anh Tho
Source: https://baophutho.vn/hy-cuong-giu-hon-cot-dan-toc-252372.htm
