Awakening the spirit of the Hoan Chau uprising

(Baonghean) - To commemorate the merits of Mai Hac De and his generals, people in many provinces and cities across the country have built monuments, temples, and shrines. Particularly in Nam Dan, the birthplace and place where King Mai grew up, where the uprising broke out and where the tombs of King Mai and King Mai's mother are located... every year, from January 13 to 15, the King Mai Temple Festival is solemnly held to commemorate the merits of King Mai and his generals and to review the heroic spirit of the Hoan Chau uprising that defeated the Northern invaders and built the independent Van An State.

(Nghe An Newspaper reporter had an interview with comrade Dinh Xuan Que - Chairman of Nam Dan District People's Committee about related issues).

Mr. Dinh Xuan Que beats the drum to open the 2015 Mai King Temple Festival.

Reporter:Although history has passed away, the vestiges of the Hoan Chau uprising associated with the name of national hero Mai Thuc Loan - the first King of Nghe An land - are increasingly preserved, maintained and promoted, isn't that right, comrade?

Comrade Dinh Xuan Que:According to ancient history, King Mai Hac De's real name was Mai Thuc Loan, originally from Mai Phu village (now Mai Phu commune, Loc Ha district, Ha Tinh province), born, grew up and matured in Ngoc Trung village, Dong Liet commune (now Nam Thai commune, Nam Dan district, Nghe An province). He lost his parents early and had to go to work from a young age, but thanks to his strong physique, intelligence, talent, and especially good martial arts, he soon became famous in the area. When Mai Thuc Loan grew up, it was also the time when the Tang Dynasty ruled our country and they established the heavy tribute tax. There were countless people who lost their lives on the way to carry and carry tribute products because of hunger, thirst, and beatings from the escorting mandarins. Hatred for the invading Tang bandits grew among the people.

King Mai Temple Festival. Photo by Thanh Le

Mai King Temple Festival 2015. Photo: Bui Van Dung

Mai Thuc Loan was a person who understood the hardship and resentment of the people who lost their country, so he bravely stood up to lead the people to rise up and create an uprising in Dun Son, which then exploded and spread widely throughout the country, sweeping away the invaders from the country. In 713, Mai Thuc Loan was enthroned by the people as King and had the reign name "Mai Hac De", the Van An Dynasty was established. Later, the Tang Dynasty sent troops to invade our country again, so the enemy was strong, at that time Mai Hac De fell seriously ill and passed away, Mai Thieu De and his generals were not strong enough to maintain the victory for a long time, so they were eventually ruled by the North again.

However, 10 years of independence have an extremely great significance for our people. The Hoan Chau uprising is considered one of the largest-scale uprisings with the most profound influence compared to the uprisings against the Northern domination.

Procession at King Mai Temple.

To commemorate the merits of Mai Hac De and his generals, people in many provinces and cities across the country have built monuments, temples, and shrines. Particularly in Nam Dan, the birthplace and place where King Mai grew up, where the uprising broke out and where King Mai and his mother are buried... every year, from the 13th to the 15th of January, the King Mai Temple Festival is solemnly held to commemorate the merits of King Mai and his generals and to review the heroic spirit of the Hoan Chau uprising that defeated the Northern invaders and built the independent Van An State. At the same time, it educates the people, especially the young generation, about the good traditions of the nation's cause of building and defending the country, in order to increase national pride and love for the homeland. This is also an opportunity for Nam Dan district to promote and introduce the relic cluster of King Mai to attract tourists and investors to learn and enjoy cultural values ​​through the system of King Mai temples, mausoleums and shrines to promote traditional culture and good customs of the locality, thereby developing tourism in the district.

King Mai Temple. Photo: Sy Minh

Reporter:The Mai King Temple Festival is held annually on the full moon day of the first lunar month with many exciting activities. Can you tell us more about the main activities of the 2016 Festival?

Comrade Dinh Xuan Que:The Mai King Temple Festival is a traditional cultural festival held annually on the occasion of the full moon of the first lunar month. This is one of the festivals that kicks off the festival activities of the year in Nghe An province. Coming to the festival, people and tourists from all over the world will be immersed in activities imbued with the identity of the land of "spiritual people" such as the water procession, the opening ceremony, the proclamation ceremony, the incense offering ceremony in memory of Mai King, the great ceremony, the thanksgiving ceremony, the flower lantern releasing ceremony... or participate in folk games such as chess, cockfighting, swinging, tug of war, stick pushing, wrestling... and join in the volleyball tournament, the "Elegant Youth" contest, folk songs, and plays praising the merits of Mai King. In addition, the festival is also an opportunity for Nam Dan to introduce typical products of the homeland such as soy sauce, tapioca flour, traditional cuisine with specialties,...

Boat racing at the Mai King Temple Festival. Photo: Thanh Le

Reporter: As a traditional festival held annually, the Mai King Temple Festival has become a highlight of spiritual cultural tourism every early spring. So what are Nam Dan's concerns to attract tourists?

Comrade Dinh Xuan Que:Identifying propaganda work as one of the most important tasks that the district puts on top. In addition to focusing on propaganda on Nghe An Newspaper, Nghe An Television Station, District Electronic Information Portal, District Radio - Television Station, Radio Stations of 24 communes and towns, we also directed the Department of Culture and Information, the Center for Culture - Information and Sports to build clusters of panels introducing the festival program at the Mai King's Tomb Area, Van Dien intersection, the road to the Temple, the Town 3-way intersection, Nam Giang and Nam Trung intersections; hanging a system of banners across National Highway 46 from Nam Giang to the Temple (town), Mai King's Tomb Area in Dun Mountain (Van Dien), at the entrances and exits of the district; adding a system of pennants, festival flags, and national flags. Directing each commune and town to arrange 2 to 3 banners across the road to hang at central locations, mobilizing people to hang the national flag to celebrate the festival.

Play human chess at King Mai Temple.

To make the Mai King Temple Festival more and more attractive to tourists is something that the Organizing Committee is very concerned about. One of the important highlights, also a new feature of this year's Festival, is the Lantern Festival to commemorate the merits of Mai King, praying for "National peace, people's peace; Nam Dan development; every family is prosperous" held on the night of January 14th of the lunar calendar in the yard and lake in front of Mai King's Tomb. There will be thousands of lanterns released in Mai King's Tomb and the lake. These lanterns are taken care of by the abbot and Buddhists of Ha Pagoda (Hung Tien Commune). Hopefully, with careful preparation, combined with spiritual elements that are both solemn and sacred; and have practical meaning, Mai King Temple Festival will become more and more attractive for tourists to come back every early Spring./.

Reporter:Thank you very much for this exchange!

Thanh Thuy

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