Dong Co temple is the remaining vestige of the ancient city of Thang Long (Photo: VietnamPlus)
Hanoi (VNA) - Hoi The Trung Hieu, a festival that represents a Pledge of Allegiance to the Country at Dong Co Temple in Hanoi, aims to elevate national pride and respect for loyalty to the nation and filial piety to the ancestors.
Dong Co temple, located at 353 Thuy Khue street, Buoi ward, Tay Ho district, is a place of worship for the Bronze Drum Genie in Dan Ne ward, Yen Dinh district, in the central province of Thanh Hoa. It is associated with a special ceremony – Hoi The Trung Hieu.
Since 1028 when King Ly Thai Tong ordered the construction of an oath platform, initiating the oath ceremony to educate courtiers, generals, and people in the society, the Hoi The Trung Hieu and the Quang Chieu Lantern Festival have become the two most important and grand festivals of the Thang Long Imperial Citadel in the Ly dynasty.
The Dong Co Temple Festival is a court festival that pays homage to the ancestors. As a nationally significant oath ceremony, it received much attention from the Kings and the royal court.
Most officials, courtiers, and people within and outside the Thang Long Imperial Citadel attended the festival with a devoted and filial spirit, praying for prosperity and peace of the nation.
In the subsequent Tran dynasty, the festival also emphasised the integrity of officials.
The Dong Co temple relic site is situated in Dong Xa village, adjacent to the ancient Thang Long Imperial Citadel, with the cool To Lich river flowing nearby. It is one of the remaining vestiges of the ancient city of Thang Long.
Hoi The Trung Hieu in Dong Co temple takes place on March 25 on the lunar calendar. (Photo: VietnamPlus)
The event has been handed down over two centuries in the Ly dynasty and was continued by the Tran dynasty and the Late Le dynasty, following nationally recognised rituals.
However, in the Nguyen dynasty, the event was not organised as the capital moved to Phu Xuan, the central province of Thua Thien-Hue.
The community of Dong Xa village feels it’s an honor to protect and take care of the sacred Dong Co temple - the place where the Hoi The Trung Hieu has been held throughout the Ly, Tran and Le dynasties. They recognise the enduring value of the event in orienting moral education across generations. Therefore, they took the initiative to restore the organisation of the event which now takes place annually on the fourth day of lunar April.
The highlight of the event is the ritual of reading the oaths, with the participation of the leaders of the Party Committee and People's Committee of Tay Ho district, mass organisations and local residents.
Hoi The Trung Hieu in Dong Co temple remains relevant and valuable through all ages. (Photo: VietnamPlus)
This ritual is considered the "soul" of the event, contributing to its rare and distinct characteristics that few other festivals possess.
The festival is an occasion for the community to express gratitude and heartfelt thanks to the Bronze Drum Genie for protecting the country and its people, while also meeting the spiritual needs of the local residents.
Through the practice of this cultural heritage, social customs have formed within the local community regarding the oath observance.
Hoi The Trung Hieu is organised as a significant ritual during the festival, serving as a motivation and reminder for each individual to fulfill and be responsible for their oaths before the Bronze Drum Genie. It contributes to the moral education, representing the cultural foundation of the local community./.
