Where does today's Double Ninth Festival in Vietnam originate from?

There are many legends about the Double Ninth Festival (due to the repetition of the number 9 twice), however, most believe that the Double Ninth Festival originated in China. However, the exact date is still inconsistent because some say it originated in the Han Dynasty (206 BC - 220 AD), others say it originated in the Tang Dynasty (618 - 907)...

However, the most likely correct thing, according to Chinese beliefs, is that the number 9 has a good meaning, symbolizing longevity, so it is also considered a festival for the elderly, a festival for the elderly. In Japan, the Double Ninth Festival is also a festival of chrysanthemums, but it is still unclear when it appeared.

Chrysanthemum

Source: hatgiongphuongnam

As a researcher, on the occasion of today's Double Ninth Festival - September 9th of the Lunar calendar (October 23), from historical documents, I would like to reveal some information about this festival as follows:

During the Tran Dynasty (1225 - 1400), during the resistance war against the Yuan-Mongol invaders, the famous general Tran Khac Chung used the Double Ninth Festival and chrysanthemums to write poems calling on everyone to support the king and help the country to repel the invaders instead of enjoying leisure such as: On the Double Ninth Festival, I pick chrysanthemums and ferment peaches/Autumn comes to eat flowers, my uncle has passed away/The romanticism of the two elders is a thousand years old/The hidden chrysanthemums must come out to carry the high sky. Tran Khac Chung, whose name is "Cuc An", is considered a pioneer in Vietnamese chrysanthemum poetry (Tran Khac Chung's poem in Ly Tran Poetry and Literature , volume II, Social Sciences Publishing House - 1988, and author Luu Hong Son with the poem The symbol of the chrysanthemum of Tao Yuanming in ancient Vietnamese and Korean poetry published in Northeast Asian Studies , issue 11 (141), pp. 26-36).

Next is a poem by Zen master Huyen Quang (lived in the Tran Dynasty): At the end of the year in the middle of the forest there is no calendar/Looking at the chrysanthemums blooming, I know Trung Duong (poem Chrysanthemums by Zen master Huyen Quang) .

In addition, the book An Nam chi luoc also talks about the Double Ninth Festival in the Tran Dynasty: "Those were the days when nobles drank wine, recited poetry and went sightseeing" (Le Tac - An Nam chi luoc , page 83).

The Double Ninth Festival takes place on the 9th day of the 9th lunar month every year in China, Japan, Vietnam and some other Asian countries.

During the Nguyen Dynasty, the book Dai Nam Thuc Luc (Education Publishing House) stated: "Mau Tuat, Minh Mang year 19 (1838)... Chongyang Festival. The King went to Ngu Binh mountain. Before that, the King told the Ministry of Rites: Chongyang festival has existed since ancient times. Our country's people are simple and simple, most of them do not enjoy the festivals of That Tich and Chongyang. Now that the country is peaceful, it is a time for fun, so this year is the beginning, on the 9th of September, I will go to Ngu Binh mountain, let the mandarins attend the banquet, the people can enjoy the trip to show their joy... Hundreds of mandarins performed the longevity ceremony, after the ceremony, they went to the banquet. The King personally poured the king's chrysanthemum wine and gave it to the prince, the dukes, and the civil and military mandarins, each one a cup and said: This wine is very good, I drink one cup, it will take me two times to finish it...".

Thus, it can be seen that the Trung Cuu Festival in our country was known earliest during the Tran Dynasty.

It is known that for many years, Ba Vang Pagoda has restored the beauty of the Double Ninth Festival with the name of Ba Vang Pagoda Chrysanthemum Festival, held every 2 years on the 9th day of the 9th lunar month, to preserve a beauty in the national cultural tradition and honor the image of a symbol of Truc Lam Buddhist culture.

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