Two more festivals of Hai Duong included in National Intangible Cultural Heritage List

The traditional festival of Tranh temple is one of two festivals having been included in the National Intangible Cultural Heritage List by the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism (file photo)

The traditional festivals of Tranh temple in Dong Tam commune, Ninh Giang district, and Cao An Phu temple in An Sinh ward, Kinh Mon town, have just been announced as part of the national intangible heritage by the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

Tranh temple, also known as Quan Lon Tuan Tranh (Great Mandarin Tuan Tranh) temple, is an ancient temple near Tranh wharf.

Before the August Revolution in 1945, there were spring and autumn festivals there with such rituals as proclamation ceremony, funeral oration and water procession, deity statue cleaning, parade with a statue of Great Mandarin Tuan Tranh, sacrifices, clay firecracker playing, van singing (spiritual singing), etc.

Since the August Revolution, some rituals at the festival of Tranh temple have been retained but many procedures with cumbersome and sophisticated forms and contents and unsound customs were removed.

The festival of Cao An Phu temple is associated with the life and career of An Sinh Prince Tran Lieu, father of Hung Dao Great Lord Tran Quoc Tuan, the soul of three victories over the Yuan – Mongol invaders.

Before the August Revolution, the festival was held for three days. Ceremonial and festive parts included a proclamation ceremony, deity statue cleaning, a parade, sacrifices, long and chung cake making and wrestling contests.

Since the August Revolution, the festival has still been organized for three days on the occasion of the death anniversary of An Sinh Prince Tran Lieu with ceremonial and festive parts basically the same as before.

Hai Duong has so far had nine festivals and folk performing arts included in the National Intangible Cultural Heritage List, consisting of the festivals of Con Son pagoda, Kiep Bac temple, Quat temple, Suot temple, Trinh Xuyen temple and Hao Xa pagoda, water puppetry, trong quan singing (a kind of alternate singing between men and women) and ca tru (ceremonial singing).

TIEN HUY