Preserving the heritage of Sinh Temple and Hoa Temple

A price for a medium of the singing troupe at the Saint's performance festival at Sinh temple.

A price for a medium of the singing troupe at the Saint's performance festival at Sinh temple.

This is one of the centers of belief and practice of worshiping the Mother Goddesses of the Three Realms of the Vietnamese people, which has been recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

Heritage of Sinh Temple, Hoa Temple

Sinh Temple (Mother Birth Temple) and Hoa Temple (Saintly Transformation Temple) are ancient structures hidden on the slopes of Ngu Nhac Mountain among the vast green mountains in the fertile countryside. They worship Saint Phi Bong Dai Tuong Quan Chu Phuc Uy (Hao Thien) and Saint Mother Thach Linh (Hoang Thi Ba). According to folklore, these saints have always blessed the people with health, fertility, favorable weather, and bountiful harvests, so the local people are very respectful, appreciative, and make every effort to protect, preserve, and embellish the relics.

According to the legend on a stele carved at the end of the Nguyen Dynasty at Sinh Temple, Phi Bong was General Chu Phuc Uy (living in the 6th century) who had the merit of fighting the enemy to save the country, and was worshiped in a temple. He was the son of a poor, old, childless, and very kind couple, Chu Danh Thuc and Hoang Thi Ba, from An Mo village. During his lifetime, Chu Phuc Uy was a handsome boy, and when he grew up, he helped King Ly Nam De defeat the Liang army and establish the Van Xuan country (544). Later, with extraordinary strength, Chu Phuc Uy also helped Hung Dao Vuong Tran Quoc Tuan defeat the Yuan Mongol army on the Bach Dang River in 1288.

Over the centuries, the biography of General Phi Bong has been sanctified with many details, adding to the mystery and sacredness of the Vietnamese people's beliefs. Through the ups and downs of history, the legend and legend of General Phi Bong are still preserved in the people's memory. The relics are also preserved and constantly embellished.

Head of the Con Son - Kiep Bac relic site management board Nguyen Thi Thuy Lien said: "In the dossier submitted by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to UNESCO about typical Mother Goddess worship centers in our country, there are Sinh Temple - Hoa Temple relics. The practice of Mother Goddess worship of the Vietnamese people was recognized by UNESCO as an intangible cultural heritage of humanity in 2016 and has become a joy for the whole country in general and the pride of the people of An Mo village, Tran Hung Dao ward, Hai Phong city in particular."

Preserving and promoting the quintessence of folk culture

Every year in the 5th and 8th lunar months, An Mo land is bustling with festival atmosphere. In addition to the common rituals like in other festivals, Sinh Temple and Hoa Temple Festival also has sacred rituals with special characteristics such as the Saint Ball Welcoming Ceremony, Ban Xua Ceremony and the Singing and Performing Festival to serve the Saint...

The ceremony to welcome the Saint's ball takes place at both temples to commemorate the Saint's birth and ascension to heaven. At the moment of welcoming the Saint's ball, in a solemn and respectful atmosphere, when the three drum and gong beats stop, a village elder respectfully lights incense and reads the text welcoming the Saint's ball (the Saint's birth); followed by the ceremony of releasing sky lanterns to send the Saint off, symbolizing the moment of the Saint's ascension to heaven.

After the lantern releasing ceremony, there is the ceremony of giving the Saint's and Mother's robes to the villagers and visitors from all over. According to the concept, those who receive the Saint's and Mother's robes will be lucky, have much wealth, and be blessed and protected. The ceremony ends with the traditional procession and incense offering ceremony, expressing the admiration and respect of all the people for the merits of the Saint.

The festival at Sinh Temple and Hoa Temple also took place very excitingly with traditional folk games such as wrestling, tug of war, human chess, cockfighting; badminton, table tennis, football competitions... mixed with ancient folk melodies such as Chau Van singing, Cheo singing, Quan Ho singing, fashion shows...

Thanh Dong Nguyen Phuoc Duyen, Dong Anh commune ( Hanoi ) shared: “Singing and performing to serve the Saints is a prominent activity at the festival, contributing to preserving, conserving and promoting the values of intangible cultural heritage of humanity. Every year, the “Traditional singing and performing” contest has become a playground for Thanh Dong to show their talents and direct this cultural activity to reach healthy values of truth, goodness and beauty, eliminating superstitions and heresy, purifying the Mother Goddess religion which is very sacred in the Vietnamese people's consciousness”.

Nowadays, many residents of An Mo village know how to sing Van, including dozens of people who work as Van singers serving temples and palaces. The local musicians also travel to many places inside and outside the city to perform rituals of spirit mediumship and saint worship. Ms. Nguyen Ngan Giang in Hai Duong ward (Hai Phong) confided: "The profound, ancient melodies performed by the people of An Mo through Van singing melodies and spirit mediumship not only recount mysterious and sacred legends but also preserve and illuminate the quintessence of folk culture."

Source: https://nhandan.vn/giu-gin-di-san-den-sinh-den-hoa-post902073.html