Overview
The Hung Kings Temple Festival is one of the most important traditional festivals in Vietnamese culture. Every year, on the 10th day of the third lunar month, millions of people across the country make a pilgrimage to Phu Tho province, where the Hung Kings Temple complex sits atop Nghia Linh Mountain, to pay tribute to the Hung Kings, the legendary founders of the nation.
Origins and Legends
The Legend of Lac Long Quan and Au Co
According to legend, Lac Long Quan and Au Co gave birth to a pouch of one hundred eggs, which hatched into one hundred sons. The eldest son was crowned king, taking the title Hung Vuong, and named the country Van Lang. Successive kings ruled the nation and defended it against foreign invaders. The worship of the Hung Kings therefore embodies deep gratitude and reminds later generations of their national roots.
Historical Development
The worship of the Hung Kings has a long history, evolving over many centuries. Since the Hung King era, temples were established on Nghia Linh Mountain. Through the Dinh, Le, Ly and Tran dynasties, worship was maintained by the state and local people. By the Nguyen dynasty, the festival became more organized. In 1917, Le Trung Ngoc, the governor of Phu Tho, petitioned the court to officially designate the 10th day of the third lunar month as the national day for performing rituals at the Hung Kings Temple.
Cultural Heritage Value
In 2012, UNESCO officially inscribed the Worship of Hung Kings in Phu Tho on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. This global recognition honors a unique belief that embodies the Vietnamese tradition of "remembering the source when drinking water." The festival is not merely a spiritual activity but also a symbol of national unity.
Distinctive Features
The Ritual Section: Solemn and Reverent
The ritual section is the most significant part of the festival. The main incense offering ceremony takes place on the 10th day of the third lunar month at the Upper Temple, the summit of Nghia Linh Mountain. Preparatory rituals are held at other temples within the complex.
The palanquin procession involves villages at the mountain's foot, with participants carrying palanquins, parasols, flags and banners while beating drums and gongs. Elders wear traditional tunics, while young men serve as guards, carrying the palanquins with great skill and solemnity.
The incense offering ceremony is performed by state representatives and local people. Offerings typically include chung cake (square sticky rice cake) and day cake (round sticky rice cake), symbolizing Earth and Heaven respectively, expressing wishes for prosperity.
Other rituals include the flag ceremony, the agricultural god ceremony and the throne succession ceremony, reenacting historical stories of the Hung King era.
The Festive Section: Folk and Lively
While the ritual section is solemn, the festive part allows people to express joy through various folk games. Activities such as swinging, cockfighting, boat racing, tug-of-war, wrestling, shuttlecock throwing, stilt walking and chess are organized around the mountain's foot. Notably, Xoan singing, a distinctive folk art form of the ancestral land, is performed during the festival. In 2011, Xoan singing in Phu Tho was listed by UNESCO as intangible cultural heritage in need of urgent safeguarding, later transferred to the Representative List in 2017.
Camps and cultural activities are also integral. Camps are set up around the complex, creating a vibrant community space. Cultural performances, sports competitions and exhibitions of regional specialties are also held.
Sacred Space and Architecture
The Hung Kings Temple complex lies on Nghia Linh Mountain in Hy Cuong commune, Viet Tri city, Phu Tho province. The complex includes various temples, pagodas and mausoleums arranged from the foot to the summit, each tied to specific legends.
The Lower Temple at the foot is linked to the legend of Au Co giving birth to the hundred-egg pouch. The Middle Temple halfway up was where the kings discussed state affairs. The Upper Temple at the summit is the main shrine of the Hung Kings and hosts the grand incense ceremony. The Hung Kings Mausoleum lies east of the Upper Temple, housing spirit tablets. The Well Temple at the western foot is associated with princesses Tien Dung and Ngoc Hoa.
Significance
The festival is an occasion for the entire nation to honor the Hung Kings' contributions in founding the country. It reflects the profound community-based tradition of gratitude. The saying "Wherever you go, remember the Ancestral Anniversary on the tenth day of the third month" has become embedded in the consciousness of every Vietnamese, reminding people of their roots and connecting generations.
The festival also promotes Vietnam's image to international friends, contributing to preserving cultural heritage in an era of integration.
