{"id":4202,"date":"2024-01-23T15:09:28","date_gmt":"2024-01-23T15:09:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hoangthanhthanglong.vn\/en\/?p=4202"},"modified":"2024-11-20T15:19:57","modified_gmt":"2024-11-20T15:19:57","slug":"4202-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hoangthanhthanglong.vn\/en\/4202-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Research and Experimental Revival of Ancient Th\u0103ng Long Royal Tet Rituals at the Imperial Citadel of Th\u0103ng Long"},"content":{"rendered":"

In an effort to preserve and promote the traditional cultural values of humanity, UNESCO has focused significantly on intangible cultural heritage over the past few decades. In 2003, UNESCO announced the \u201cConvention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage<\/em>,\u201d which led to countries starting to register their masterpieces of intangible cultural heritage. Vietnam signed the UNESCO “Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage” as a member and has implemented numerous programs to preserve and promote intangible cultural heritage. In 2001, the National Assembly of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam passed the Cultural Heritage Law, which for the first time included a chapter on the \u201cProtection and Promotion of Intangible Cultural Heritage<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n

The most fundamental characteristic of intangible cultural heritage is that it does not primarily exist in physical form (excluding some forms that have been documented) but resides in human memory and consciousness and<\/em> is expressed through human behavior and activities<\/em> within a specific performance environment.<\/p>\n

Preserving intangible cultural heritage is of utmost importance, especially considering its rapid loss due to societal changes toward industrialization and modernization. At the World Heritage site of the Central Sector of the Imperial Citadel of Th\u0103ng Long \u2013 Hanoi, efforts to research, preserve, and promote the values of intangible cultural heritage have also been emphasized. Since its inscription in 2010, the Th\u0103ng Long \u2013 Hanoi Heritage Conservation Center has actively promoted research into the intangible cultural heritage of the Th\u0103ng Long Royal Court and has achieved many initial successes. Intangible cultural heritage of the royal court is seen as the foundation to revive and illuminate the heritage. It is incredibly rich, including rituals, festivals, games, and performances, all refined into the nation’s elite culture. The royal court rituals and performances took place in the sacred space of the heritage site, primarily along the central axis and the space of the K\u00ednh Thi\u00ean Palace. Some spring royal rituals have been researched and experimented with through display interpretations and ritual reenactments to serve visitors and effectively preserve and promote the cultural values of 1,000 years of Th\u0103ng Long \u2013 Hanoi.<\/p>\n

The Tet rituals began at the end of the 12th lunar month of the old year and extended into the first lunar month of the new year. In ancient Th\u0103ng Long royal court, a series of unique spring royal rituals were formed, including the Kitchen God worship ceremony, the calendar presentation ceremony, the Spring Ox presentation ceremony, the seal closing ceremony, the ceremony of setting up and taking down the New Year’s tree, and the seal opening ceremony.<\/p>\n

The Kitchen Gods Worship Ceremony<\/strong><\/p>\n

Worshiping the Kitchen Gods is a long-standing custom in Vietnam. According to legend, the Land Deity (\u00d4ng C\u00f4ng) is the god who oversees the household land, while the Kitchen Gods (\u00d4ng T\u00e1o) consist of three kitchen guardians who take care of household affairs. These deities are believed to be sent by the Jade Emperor (\u00d4ng Tr\u1eddi) to observe and record the good and bad deeds of humans. Every year, on the 23rd day of the 12th lunar month, these gods ride carp back to the Heavenly Court to report on all the good and bad deeds of humans over the past year, allowing the Jade Emperor to judge their actions.<\/p>\n

In Vietnamese culture, the image of the “carp crossing the V\u0169 M\u00f4n” or “carp transforming into a dragon” also symbolizes transcendence, representing the spirit of overcoming challenges, perseverance, and dedication to conquering knowledge to achieve success. It is a symbol of hidden noble character or striving towards a positive outcome.<\/p>\n

Traditionally, the 23rd day of the 12th lunar month is the day to bid farewell to the Kitchen Gods as they return to the Heavenly Court to report on the household’s affairs to the Jade Emperor. Both in folk traditions and the royal court, people prepare offerings to present to the Kitchen Gods.<\/p>\n

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Carp Release Ceremony at the Ancient River in the Archaeological Site of 18 Ho\u00e0ng Di\u1ec7u<\/em><\/p>\n

Calendar Presentation Ceremony<\/strong><\/p>\n

In the dynasties of the East, the king considered himself the “Son of Heaven,” the intermediary between Heaven and the people, responsible for creating and distributing the calendar. This allowed people to know the time and weather for agricultural activities, ceremonies, and stabilizing their lives. As early as the L\u00fd Dynasty, an observatory was established to calculate time. Annually, on the 24th day of the 12th lunar month, the court held the Calendar Presentation Ceremony to offer the royal calendar to the king and distribute it to officials and localities.<\/p>\n

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Illustration: The Imperial Astronomical Bureau Compiling the Calendar<\/em><\/p>\n

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The Imperial Astronomer Presenting the Royal Calendar<\/em><\/p>\n

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Reenactment of the Calendar Presentation Ceremony<\/em><\/p>\n

Spring Ox Presentation Ceremony<\/strong><\/p>\n

During the Revival L\u00ea dynasty, the Spring Ox Presentation Ceremony<\/em> was a major event combining royal and folk elements. Carefully prepared and solemnly conducted by the court on the first day of spring, this ceremony involved presenting a clay ox as a symbolic act to expel cold weather. Annually, in spring, the ritual is reenacted with a procession of the Spring Ox from the \u0110oan M\u00f4n gate to the courtyard of the K\u00ednh Thi\u00ean Palace, where it is presented to the officials.<\/p>\n

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Model Reconstruction of the Spring Ox<\/em><\/p>\n

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Procession of the Spring Ox into the Courtyard of K\u00ednh Thi\u00ean Palace<\/em><\/p>\n

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Reenactment of the Spring Ox Presentation Ceremony<\/em><\/p>\n

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Small Model of the Spring Ox in the Reenactment Ceremony<\/em><\/p>\n

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Performing the Spring Ox Beating Ritual<\/em><\/p>\n

New Year’s Tree Planting and Lowering Ceremony<\/strong><\/p>\n

The New Year’s Tree (c\u00e2y n\u00eau) erection is an important royal ritual indispensable during the Tet festival, documented since the L\u00ea Trung H\u01b0ng period. Records indicate that on the 30th day of the 12th lunar month, the New Year’s Tree was erected in the royal palace, the chancellor’s residence, and the officials’ mansions, followed by common households. On the 7th day of the first lunar month, the court organized the lowering of the New Year’s Tree, marking the end of the New Year’s celebrations.<\/p>\n

As an annual tradition, on the 23rd day of the 12th lunar month, the Th\u0103ng Long Heritage Conservation Center, along with visitors, joyfully conducts the New Year’s Tree erection ceremony at the \u0110oan M\u00f4n gate and the tree lowering ceremony on the 7th day of Tet.<\/p>\n

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Ritual of Offering to the Deities Before Erecting the New Year’s Tree <\/em>\u00a0At the Imperial Citadel of Th\u0103ng Long<\/em><\/p>\n

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New Year’s Tree in Front of \u0110oan M\u00f4n Gate<\/em><\/p>\n

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New Year’s Tree Lowering Ceremony at the <\/em>Imperial Citadel of Th\u0103ng Long<\/em><\/p>\n

Researching, preserving, and promoting the intangible cultural heritage of the royal court is crucial. It contributes to building a unique image and identity for the Imperial Citadel of Th\u0103ng Long, laying the foundation for tourism development.<\/p>\n

Department for Heritage Research and Collection<\/strong>
\nThang Long \u2013 Hanoi Heritage Conservation Center<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In an effort to preserve and promote the traditional cultural values of humanity, UNESCO has focused significantly on intangible cultural heritage over the past few decades. In 2003, UNESCO announced the \u201cConvention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage,\u201d which led to countries starting to register their masterpieces of intangible cultural heritage. Vietnam signed …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4206,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[36,37,38],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4202","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news-events","category-international-conference","category-news"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/hoangthanhthanglong.vn\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4202","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/hoangthanhthanglong.vn\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/hoangthanhthanglong.vn\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hoangthanhthanglong.vn\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hoangthanhthanglong.vn\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4202"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/hoangthanhthanglong.vn\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4202\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hoangthanhthanglong.vn\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4206"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/hoangthanhthanglong.vn\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4202"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hoangthanhthanglong.vn\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4202"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hoangthanhthanglong.vn\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4202"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}