Hung Temple, a place where the sacred spirit of the mountains and rivers converges, a place that unites the two words "compatriots," always extends its arms to welcome all Vietnamese people on pilgrimage to Nghia Linh. The Hung King worship belief, an intangible cultural heritage recognized by UNESCO, has been and continues to promote its value and become a unique cultural feature of humanity.
The vitality of the Hung Kings worship belief
Since ancient times, the belief in worshipping Hung Kings has been deeply ingrained in the consciousness of every Vietnamese person, creating immense value in fostering brotherhood and enduring vitality from generation to generation, serving as a spiritual foundation that creates the enduring strength of the nation.
This belief has increasingly held an important place in spiritual life, carrying profound spiritual values related to emotions, self-respect, and national pride. Throughout history, this belief has become a spiritual anchor, a belief in the sacredness and mystery of ancestors, enabling the Vietnamese people to strengthen national unity, work together to overcome natural disasters and foreign invaders, and protect their homeland.
According to researchers, the Hung Kings worship belief belongs to the ancestor worship culture of the Vietnamese people. The Hung Kings are worshipped by the people at Nghia Linh Mountain, Hy Cuong commune, Viet Tri city, Phu Tho province.
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According to statistics from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, there are 1,417 relics nationwide dedicated to Hung Kings and other figures from the Hung King era. Phu Tho province alone has 345 relics associated with villages that worship Hung Kings, with the Hung Temple National Special Historical Relic Site being the largest center for the practice of Hung King worship in the country.
According to statistics from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism , there are 1,417 relics nationwide dedicated to Hung Kings and other figures from the Hung King era. Phu Tho province alone has 345 relics associated with villages that worship Hung Kings, with the Hung Temple National Special Historical Relic Site being the largest center for the practice of Hung King worship in the country.
The relics dedicated to Hung Kings, along with the rituals and festivals, are spread throughout the three regions of Vietnam: north, central, and south. Along with the rest of the country, to express gratitude for the merits of the Hung Kings, on the 10th day of the third lunar month each year, Vietnamese expatriates abroad organize the Hung Kings Commemoration Ceremony, establishing altars to the National Ancestors at the offices of embassies and consulates of various countries to fulfill their need to honor their ancestors and nation.
According to Mr. Nguyen Dac Thuy, Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Phu Tho province, the strong spread and vibrant vitality of the Hung King worshiping belief and ancestor worship clearly demonstrate the traditional moral values of the Vietnamese people, preserved and passed down from generation to generation.
With these distinctive values, on December 6, 2012, UNESCO officially inscribed the Hung Kings worship belief in Phu Tho as a representative intangible cultural heritage of humanity. In particular, the Hung Kings Commemoration Day and the Hung Temple Festival represent the pinnacle of the tradition of gratitude, remembering the source of blessings, and remembering those who planted the tree from which the fruit is eaten.
The Hung Kings Commemoration Day is a unique historical phenomenon, rare compared to many other nations around the world. The belief in worshipping the Hung Kings is not only reflected in cultural and spiritual life but also becomes a moral principle of "drinking water, remembering the source," expressing gratitude to the ancestors who contributed to the founding of the nation. |
The spiritual power of the Hung Kings Commemoration Day is like a call from the heart of every descendant of Lac and Hong to return to their roots, to their homeland, with the sacred and familiar word "compatriots."
The Hung Kings Commemoration Day is also an occasion for people from north to south, lowlands or highlands, Kinh or ethnic minorities, religious or non-religious, in Vietnam or abroad, to turn their thoughts towards the Ancestral Land, the place where the sacred energy of the rivers and mountains converges, to respectfully light incense and express gratitude for the nation-building contributions of the Hung Kings, and to join hands in preserving and building a prosperous and beautiful country, fulfilling the aspirations of our ancestors.
Visiting the ancestral shrines of the nation is not only about returning to one's roots but also a pilgrimage to traditional faith, to the sacred and mystical essence of ancestors, of the spirit of the mountains and rivers. It is precisely because of this undying faith and reverence in the hearts of every Vietnamese person towards their ancestors, from grandparents and parents to the Hung Kings, that the nation's strength has been multiplied many times over throughout history.
According to Ms. Pham Thi Hoang Oanh, Deputy Director of the Hung Temple Historical Relic Site, in recent years, Phu Tho province has developed a national action program on protecting and promoting the value of the Hung King worshiping belief in Phu Tho. In this program, Hung Temple is identified as the largest and oldest center for practicing the Hung King worshiping belief in the historical development of the Vietnamese nation.
Therefore, Phu Tho province is paying special attention to organizing diverse activities to prominently introduce the Hung Kings worshiping belief to a wide audience. Every year, the province organizes many activities to introduce and promote the cultural heritage of the Hung Kings worshiping belief so that people can better understand the immense value of this unique cultural heritage.
Spreading cultural values
These days, in Viet Tri city and the Hung Temple historical site, many rituals and cultural and artistic activities bearing the distinct mark of the Hung King era are taking place, with the highlight being two UNESCO-recognized cultural heritages: "The Hung King Worship Belief" and Phu Tho Xoan singing. The ceremonial part of these events is conducted solemnly and respectfully, with a strong sense of community, ensuring safety, civility, and economy.
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The festival activities are closely linked with cultural, sports, and tourism events, forming a series of activities for the Ancestral Land Culture-Tourism Week; showcasing the unique cultural identity of the Ancestral Land region, creating attractiveness and competitiveness to attract tourists, and widely promoting the potential and strengths of Phu Tho's cultural tourism resources.
As the largest and most unique place of worship in the country, Phu Tho has invested in building the Hung Temple historical site into an increasingly spacious and beautiful complex; the Hung Temple festival has become more civilized and exemplary, ensuring the best conditions for people when they come to offer incense and commemorate the Hung Kings.
Since the first day of the third lunar month, Hung Temple has welcomed tens of thousands of visitors from all over the country and Vietnamese expatriates abroad who have come to offer incense and commemorate the Hung Kings.
Mr. Pham Van Thiet, 64 years old, from Soc Son, Hanoi, said that for many years, he and his children and grandchildren have come to Hung Temple every year to offer incense and commemorate the Hung Kings. Hung Temple is becoming increasingly magnificent, worthy of being a place of worship for the ancestors of the entire nation. Especially when coming here during these days, his family can also participate in many unique cultural activities that bear the distinct mark of the Hung King era.
Dang Thanh Tung, 30 years old, from the Bau Bang District Youth Union, Binh Duong province, added that this was his first time visiting Hung Temple. He described the temple as spacious, clean, and beautiful. Besides participating in ceremonies such as the commemoration of National Ancestor Lac Long Quan and the incense offering ceremony in remembrance of Ancestral Mother Au Co, he also immersed himself in the cultural flow of the ancestral land, deeply marked by the Hung King era, through performances of Xoan singing; boat racing competitions on Van Lang Park lake... along with many other folk performances and traditional games.
Mr. Pham Khac Dat, Director of the Hung Temple Historical Relic Area, informed that to create the best conditions for people and tourists visiting Hung Temple, they have renovated the overall landscape of the Hung Temple Historical Relic Area, ensuring that the landscape and environment of the festival area are always green, clean, and beautiful; strengthened the management of sales and service business activities; prevented and dealt with street vendors who cause offense and frustration to tourists; maintained, repaired, and renovated infrastructure in the area; and strengthened inter-agency inspections of cultural, sports, tourism, and advertising activities and services to ensure security, order, and safety.
Mr. Nguyen Huy Ngoc, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Phu Tho province and Head of the Organizing Committee for the Hung Kings Commemoration Day and the Hung Kings' Cultural and Tourism Week in 2025, said that every year, on the 10th day of the 3rd lunar month, Phu Tho province is honored to welcome millions of visitors from all over the country to offer incense and pay respects to the Hung Kings.
Through continuous efforts, the province has elevated the organization of the Hung Kings Commemoration Day and the Hung Kings' Cultural and Tourism Week into an exemplary, solemn festival, deeply rooted in national identity.
In particular, emphasis should be placed on preventing traffic congestion and preventing businesses from arbitrarily raising prices or overcharging tourists. Service businesses must publicly display prices and ensure transparency.
Furthermore, the province is also resolutely preventing vagrants from affecting the solemn image of the festival, while maintaining order and minimizing crowding and pushing, creating conditions for people nationwide to participate in the festival safely, solemnly, and respectfully.
According to NDĐT
Source: https://baoquangbinh.vn/van-hoa/202504/linh-thieng-hai-tieng-dong-bao-2225458/
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