How to release carp on Tao Quan worship day?
Besides flower lanterns and fruit, carp is an indispensable item on the offering tray to see off the Kitchen Gods on the 23rd of December.
According to traditional customs, every year on the 23rd of December, families prepare a meal to send the Kitchen Gods to heaven. People believe that on this day, the Kitchen Gods will ride a carp to heaven to report to the Jade Emperor about the business and cooking activities of each family in the year. That is why, in addition to the offering tray, Vietnamese people also have the custom of releasing carp on this day.
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In the culture of Eastern countries in general and Vietnam in particular, carp is a familiar symbol associated with the material and spiritual life of people. Carp in Chinese has a pronunciation similar to the word "surplus", meaning surplus, so this type of fish carries the meaning of wishing for fullness, peace, and prosperity.
Carp is known for its legend of jumping over the Dragon Gate and becoming a dragon, symbolizing perseverance, tenacity, and the desire to succeed in exams and career. Releasing carp on December 23rd not only carries the concept of sending the Kitchen God to heaven, but also expresses the people's wishes for a prosperous new year with all good things.
According to Dr. Duong Van Sau, Head of the Department of Culture and Tourism, Hanoi University of Culture, Vietnamese culture has a combination and blend of Buddhism, Taoism and folk beliefs. Releasing carp also has the meaning of releasing life, expressing compassion, joy, rebirth, creating a cycle of development.
How to release fish?
Dr. Duong Van Sau said that according to folk beliefs, carp must be released before noon (12 noon on December 23) so that the Kitchen Gods can reach heaven in time. Therefore, from the 22nd to noon on December 23, many people have started releasing fish into rivers, streams, and lakes.
However, not everyone knows how to release fish properly while still protecting the environment. In Hanoi, after December 23, many environmental workers had to work hard to clean up the garbage on the lake surface, which were fish bags, and even salvaged dead fish that could not escape from the plastic bags...
According to Dr. Duong Van Sau, when releasing fish, the person releasing the fish should stand close to the water's edge and release the fish gently instead of standing on the shore or on the bridge tossing and throwing the fish into the river. "Along with those who have good intentions, many people still carelessly throw trash into the lake - where the fish are released. This action not only destroys the sacredness and original meaning of the carp release custom, but also seriously pollutes the river and lake," said Dr. Sau.
Dr. Duong Van Sau believes that the root cause of this problem comes from the small-scale farmer mentality, only interested in completing one's own work, not familiar with civilized public life and environmental protection. In addition, the current authorities do not have drastic sanctions, creating uniformity in punishment, leading to the situation that, despite many years of talking, it has remained the same!./.