Who are the 18 Hung Kings?

The Hung Kings, according to legend, were the first kings of the nation, starting the Hung King dynasty and building the Van Lang nation - the first state in Vietnamese history.

Hung Kings' death anniversary, also known as Hung Temple Festival or National death anniversary, is an occasion for the Vietnamese people to commemorate the Hung Kings, who are considered the ancestors who founded Vietnam.

The Hung Kings Commemoration Festival is an occasion for people to express their gratitude to their national origins. It usually takes place on the 10th day of the third lunar month every year at Hung Temple, Phu Tho province. This is a major event of spiritual, cultural and historical significance, attracting the participation of many people across the country.

Who are the 18 Hung Kings?

According to many current historical documents, based on excavation documents and "Dai Viet Su Luoc", the 18 Hung Kings reigned including the following kings.

(1) King Kinh Duong, real name Loc Tuc, also known as Luc Duc Vuong, born in the year of Nham Ngo (2919 BC), ascended the throne at the age of 41. It is not clear how many generations of kings he reigned over, reigning for a total of 86 years, from the year of Nham Tuat (2879 BC) to Dinh Hoi (2794 BC).

(2) Lac Long Quan, real name Sung Lam, also known as Hung Hien Vuong, born in the year of Binh Thin (2825 BC), ascended the throne at the age of 33, unknown number of kings. This branch reigned for a total of 269 years, all called themselves Hung Hien Vuong, from the year of Mau Ty (2793 BC) to the year of Binh Thin (2525 BC).

(3) King Hung, real name Hung Lan, born in the year Canh Ngo (2570 BC) ascended the throne at the age of 18, unknown how many generations of kings passed down, all called themselves Hung Quoc Vuong, for 272 years, from the year Dinh Ty (2524 BC) to 2253 BC.

(4) King Hung Hoa, real name Buu Lang, unknown year of birth, ascended the throne in the year of Dinh Hoi (2252 BC), unknown number of generations of kings, all called themselves Hung Hoa Vuong, reigned for a total of 342 years, from the year of Dinh Hoi (2254 BC) to the year of Mau Thin (1913 BC).

(5) King Hung Hy, real name Bao Lang, born in the year of Tan Mui (2030 BC), ascended the throne at the age of 59. It is unclear how many generations of kings he reigned over, all of whom called themselves Hung Hy Vuong, reigned for a total of 200 years, from the year of Ky Ty (1912 BC) to Mau Ty (1713 BC).

(6) King of Heroes, real name Long Tien Lang, born in the year of Tan Dau (1740 BC), ascended the throne at the age of 29, passed on to 2 generations of kings, reigned for a total of 81 years and called himself Hung Hon Vuong, from the year of Ky Suu (1712 BC) to the year of Ky Dau (1632 BC).

(7) King Hung Chieu, real name Quoc Lang, born in the year of Quy Ty (1768 BC), ascended the throne at the age of 18, passed down 5 generations of kings all called themselves Hung Chieu Vuong, reigned for a total of 200 years, from the year Canh Tuat (1631 BC) to the year Ky Ty (1432 BC).

(8) King Hung Vy, real name Van Lang, born in the year of Nham Thin (1469 BC), ascended the throne at the age of 39, passed down 5 generations of kings all called themselves Hung Vy Vuong, reigned for a total of 100 years, from the year Canh Ngo (1431 BC) to the year Ky Dau (1332 BC).

(9) King Hung Dinh, real name Chan Nhan Lang, born in the year of Binh Dan (1375 BC), ascended the throne at the age of 45, passed down 3 generations of kings all called themselves Hung Dinh Vuong, reigned for a total of 80 years, from 1331 to 1252 BC.

(10) King Hung Uy, real name Hoang Long Lang, 3 generations, 90 years, from 1251 to 1162 BC.

(11) King Hung Trinh, real name Hung Duc Lang, born in the year Canh Tuat (1211 BC), ascended the throne at the age of 51, passed down 4 generations of kings, all called themselves Hung Trinh Vuong, reigned for a total of 107 years, from the year Canh Ty (1161 BC) to the year Binh Tuat (1055 BC).

(12) King Hung Vu, real name Duc Hien Lang, born in the year of Binh Than (1105 BC), ascended the throne at the age of 52, passed down 3 generations of kings all called themselves Hung Vu Vuong, reigned for a total of 86 years, from the year of Dinh Hoi (1054 BC) to the year of Nham Tuat (969 BC).

(13) Hung Viet Vuong, real name Tuan Lang, born in the year of Ky Hoi (982 BC), ascended the throne at the age of 23, passed down 5 generations of kings, all called themselves Hung Viet Vuong, reigned for a total of 115 years, from the year of Quy Hoi (968 BC) to Dinh Mui (854 BC).

(14) King Hung Anh, real name Vien Lang, born in the year of Dinh Mao (894 BC), ascended the throne at the age of 42, passed down 4 generations of kings all called themselves Hung Anh Vuong, reigned for a total of 99 years, from 853 to 755 BC.

(15) King Hung Trieu, real name Canh Chieu Lang, born in the year of Quy Suu (748 BC), ascended the throne at the age of 35, passed on to three generations of kings, all of whom called themselves Hung Trieu Vuong, reigning for a total of 94 years, from the year of Dinh Hoi (754 BC) to the year of Canh Than (661 BC).

(16) Hung Tao Vuong, real name Duc Quan Lang, born in the year of Ky Ty (712 BC), 3 generations of kings, reigned for a total of 92 years, from the year of Tan Dau (660 BC) to the year of Nham Thin (569 BC).

(17) King Hung Nghi, real name Bao Quang Lang, born in the year of At Dau (576 BC), ascended the throne at the age of 9, passed down 4 generations of kings all called themselves Hung Nghi Vuong, reigned for a total of 160 years, from the year of Quy Ty (568 BC) to the year of Nham Than (409 BC).

(18) King Hung Due, born in the year of Canh Than (421 BC), ascended the throne at the age of 14, unknown number of kings passed down, reigned for a total of 150 years, from the year of Quy Dau (408 BC) to the year of Quy Mao (258 BC).

With so many Hung Kings, which king's death anniversary is Hung King's death anniversary?

According to legend and history, the 18 Hung Kings ruled one after another for more than 2,600 years. If divided equally, each king's reign would last about 150 years, which makes many people doubt its reality.

Some scholars explain that the 18 Hung Kings do not represent 18 specific individuals, but rather 18 lines or branches, each with many successive kings reigning and using the same royal title. The number 18 is also symbolic because it is a multiple of 9 – a sacred number in Vietnamese culture.

Although there were many Hung Kings, the Vietnamese only have one Hung King's death anniversary. This makes many people wonder: which king's death anniversary is that?

In fact, the death anniversary of the Hung Kings appeared about 2,000 years ago. During the reign of Thuc Phan An Duong Vuong, a stone oath pillar was erected on Nghia Linh Mountain with a vow to affirm eternal respect and responsibility for the Hung Kings and the country they left behind.

From ancient times to the present, all dynasties have recognized the great contributions of the Hung Kings in founding and building the country. Therefore, our people have set aside a day to commemorate these great contributions, considering this an occasion to express gratitude to those who laid the foundation for the nation.

Initially, people did not have the habit of going to Hung Temple on the 10th day of the 3rd lunar month as they do now. They often chose a good day based on their personal destiny to worship throughout the year, most crowded in spring and autumn.

In many localities, the ancestor worship ceremony is held on the 12th day of the third lunar month, combined with the worship of Tho Ky. Families with descendants living far away hold death anniversary ceremonies from the 11th day of the third lunar month, but do not organize them on a large scale.

Such a year-round ceremony is both costly and inconsistent, and does not fully demonstrate the devotion of the entire community. Realizing this, in 1917, under the reign of Khai Dinh, the Governor of Phu Tho, Mr. Le Trung Ngoc, proposed to the Ministry of Rites to make the 10th day of the 3rd lunar month the official death anniversary of the nation's ancestors.

Since then, the 10th day of the third lunar month every year has become an important occasion for people across the country to turn to their roots - the land of Phu Tho, where the Hung Kings are worshiped.

Hung King's Commemoration Day has since become a major holiday, also known as National Commemoration Day. This is an occasion for the entire nation to commemorate their ancestors, demonstrating the spirit of remembering the source of drinking water. On this day, workers across the country are given the day off to participate in memorial activities.