Legend of 18 Hung Kings and Hung King's Death Anniversary

According to legend, our country had 18 Hung Kings reigning, and our people take the 10th day of the third lunar month as the National Ancestor's death anniversary to show gratitude to those kings.

Biography of the 18 Hung Kings According to many historical documents today, based on excavation documents and "Dai Viet Su Luoc", the 18 Hung Kings reigned, including the following kings . 1. Kinh Duong Vuong, whose real name is Loc Tuc, also known as Luc Duc Vuong, was born in the year of Nham Ngo (2919 BC). He ascended the throne at the age of 41. It is unclear how many generations of kings he reigned for, reigning for a total of 86 years, from the year of Nham Tuat (2879 BC) to the year of Dinh Hoi (2794 BC). 2. Lac Long Quan, whose real name is Sung Lam, also known as Hung Hien Vuong, was born in the year of Binh Thin (2825 BC). He ascended the throne at the age of 33. It is unclear how many generations of kings he reigned for. This branch reigned for a total of 269 years, all calling themselves Hung Hien Vuong, from the year of Mau Ty (2793 BC) to the year of Binh Thin (2525 BC). 3. Hung Quoc Vuong, real name Hung Lan, born in the year Canh Ngo (2570 BC), ascended the throne at the age of 18. It is unclear how many generations of kings he reigned over, all of whom called themselves Hung Quoc Vuong, for 272 years, from the year Dinh Ty (2524 BC) to 2253 BC. 4. Hung Hoa Vuong, real name Buu Lang, born in the year Dinh Hoi (2252 BC), it is unclear how many generations of kings he reigned over, all of whom called themselves Hung Hoa Vuong, reigned for a total of 342 years, from the year Dinh Hoi (2254 BC) to the year Mau Thin (1913 BC). 5. Hung Hy Vuong, real name Bao Lang, born in the year Tan Mui (2030 BC), ascended the throne at the age of 59. It is unclear how many generations of kings were passed down, all of whom called themselves Hung Hy Vuong, reigned for a total of 200 years, from the year Ky Ty (1912 BC) to Mau Ty (1713 BC). 6. Hung Hon Vuong, whose real name was Long Tien Lang, born in the year Tan Dau (1740 BC), ascended the throne at the age of 29, passed down to 2 generations of kings, reigned for a total of 81 years, all of whom called themselves Hung Hon Vuong, from the year Ky Suu (1712 BC) to the year Ky Dau (1632 BC). 7. Hung Chieu Vuong, whose real name was Quoc Lang, born in the year Quy Ty (1768 BC), passed down to the throne at the age of 18, passed down to 5 generations of kings, all of whom called themselves Hung Chieu Vuong, reigned for a total of 200 years, from the year Canh Tuat (1631 BC) to the year Ky Ty (1432 BC). 8. Hung Vy Vuong, real name Van Lang, born in the year of Nham Thin (1469 BC), ascended the throne at the age of 39. Five generations of kings all called themselves Hung Vy Vuong. He reigned for a total of 100 years, from the year of Canh Ngo (1431 BC) to the year of Ky Dau (1332 BC). 9. Hung Dinh Vuong, real name Chan Nhan Lang, born in the year of Binh Dan (1375 BC), ascended the throne at the age of 45. Three generations of kings all called themselves Hung Dinh Vuong. He reigned for a total of 80 years, from 1331 to 1252 BC.

Hung Vuong is the name given to the kings of Van Lang country by the Lac Viet people. (Photo: kenh14.vn)

10. Hung Uy Vuong, real name Hoang Long Lang, 3 generations, 90 years, from 1251 to 1162 BC. 11. Hung Trinh Vuong, real name Hung Duc Lang, born in the year Canh Tuat (1211 BC), ascended the throne at the age of 51, passed down 4 generations of kings, all called Hung Trinh Vuong, reigned for a total of 107 years, from the year Canh Ty (1161 BC) to the year Binh Tuat (1055 BC). 12. Hung Vu Vuong, real name Duc Hien Lang, born in the year Binh Than (1105 BC), ascended the throne at the age of 52, passed down 3 generations of kings, all called Hung Vu Vuong, reigned for a total of 86 years, from the year Dinh Hoi (1054 BC) to the year Nham Tuat (969 BC). 13. Hung Viet Vuong, whose real name is Tuan Lang, was born in the year of Ky Hoi (982 BC) and ascended the throne at the age of 23. He passed on the throne to 5 generations of kings, all of whom called themselves Hung Viet Vuong. He reigned for a total of 115 years, from the year of Quy Hoi (968 BC) to the year of Dinh Mui (854 BC). 14. Hung Anh Vuong, whose real name is Vien Lang, was born in the year of Dinh Mao (894 BC) and ascended the throne at the age of 42. He passed on the throne to 4 generations of kings, all of whom called themselves Hung Anh Vuong. He reigned for a total of 99 years, from 853 to 755 BC. 15. Hung Trieu Vuong, whose real name is Canh Chieu Lang, was born in the year of Quy Suu (748 BC), he passed on the throne at the age of 35. He passed on the throne to 3 generations of kings, all of whom called themselves Hung Trieu Vuong. He reigned for a total of 94 years, from the year of Dinh Hoi (754 BC) to the year of Canh Than (661 BC). 16. Hung Tao Vuong, real name Duc Quan Lang, born in the year of Ky Ty (712 BC), had 3 kings, reigned for a total of 92 years, from the year of Tan Dau (660 BC) to the year of Nham Thin (569 BC). 17. Hung Nghi Vuong, real name Bao Quang Lang, born in the year of At Dau (576 BC), ascended the throne at the age of 9, passed down 4 kings all calling themselves Hung Nghi Vuong, reigned for a total of 160 years, from the year of Quy Ty (568 BC) to the year of Nham Than (409 BC). 18. Hung Due Vuong, born in the year of Canh Than (421 BC), ascended the throne at the age of 14, passed down an unknown number of kings, reigned for a total of 150 years, from the year of Quy Dau (408 BC) to the year of Quy Mao (258 BC). Why did the 10th day of the 3rd lunar month become the Hung Kings' Commemoration Day? In the past, people did not go to the temple on the 10th day of the 3rd lunar month but chose a good day according to their destiny, then worshiped the Hung Kings throughout the year. The busiest time often fell in the spring and autumn months without specifying a specific day. People in Hy Cuong commune, Lam Thao district took the 11th day of the 3rd lunar month to combine with worshiping Tho Ky, and held a separate ceremony. Therefore, the worship time often lasted continuously, was costly, did not clearly express respect, and did not gather the people's hearts. Realizing this, Phu Tho Governor Le Trung Ngoc in 1917 (the first year of Khai Dinh) made a petition to the Ministry of Rites, requesting to set a rule of choosing the 10th day of the 3rd lunar month every year for people across the country to pay respect to the Hung Kings, one day before the festival day of the local people. At the same time, he also requested to exempt local people from contributions to the autumn ceremonies.

After that, the Ministry of Rites issued a reply and officially established the national holiday of the Hung Kings' death anniversary as the 10th day of the 3rd lunar month and prescribed the rituals, ceremonies, and offerings to the ancestors every year. This was recorded on the stele "Hung Mieu Dien Le Bi" established by the Phu Tho Provincial Commemoration Council and erected at the Thuong Temple - Hung Temple Relic Site in the spring of 1923. Specifically, the content on the stele is: "Now, following the order of the Ministry of Rites, the international day at the Hung Kings' temple is the 10th day of the 3rd lunar month. On the afternoon of the 9th day of the 3rd lunar month every year, the mandarins in the province, along with the mandarins in the entire district, must all wear their official uniforms and gather at the public house. The next morning, go to the temple to pay respect..." From then on, on the 10th day of the 3rd lunar month, people across the country turn to their homeland - Hy Cuong commune, Lam Thao, Phu Tho to honor the merits of the Hung Kings.

TA synthesis