Saints have eyes, money has thorns.

(Baonghean) - The event of the Vietnamese people's Tam Phu Mother Goddess worship practice being honored by UNESCO as a Representative Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity on December 1, 2016, has great significance for the preservation and promotion of traditional cultural values. However, due to its close connection with religious beliefs, the Mother Goddess worship practice (with Chau Van singing and spirit mediumship as its core) is facing the risk of being distorted, becoming somewhat superstitious, and being exploited for personal gain.

Based on the belief in goddess worship, the practice of worshipping the Three Realms Mother Goddess among the Vietnamese people has formed and developed strongly. From the 16th century onwards, this practice became a cultural and religious activity with a profound influence on social life and the people's consciousness.

The Holy Mother Lieu Hanh is worshipped alongside other Holy Mothers who govern the heavens, mountains, forests, and rivers, as well as historical or legendary figures who have contributed to the nation and its people, often enshrined in temples dedicated to the Mother Goddess religion.

The Vietnamese practice of worshipping the Mother Goddess of the Three Realms – with the ritual of singing and spirit mediumship at its core – is a blend of indigenous Vietnamese religion and elements imported from outside religions such as Taoism and Buddhism.

The Holy Mothers and deities in the pantheon of the Three Realms originate not only from the Kinh people, but also from ethnic minorities such as the Muong, Tay, Nung, and Dao... reflecting cultural exchange, equal relations, and close ties between ethnic groups in Vietnam.

The spirit medium ritual at Ông Hoàng Mười Temple. (Illustrative photo: Thanh Sơn)

Through the artistic combination of folk cultural elements such as costumes, music, ceremonial singing, dance, and folk performances in spirit possession rituals and festivals, the practice of worshipping the Mother Goddess of the Three Realms serves as a "living museum" preserving the history, heritage, and cultural identity of the Vietnamese people.

Therefore, once officially recognized as a national and international intangible cultural heritage, the practice of worshipping the Mother Goddess of the Three Realms will have the opportunity to be properly recognized and appreciated.

However, the concerns of scientists, researchers, cultural managers, and the public about the distortion of this form of religious practice are not unfounded, as recently, spirit medium rituals and offerings to deities have become widespread in large temples and shrines with manifestations of commercialization and superstition.

The unique spirit medium performance at the temple festival.

Even those who are perfectly capable but simply want to show off their wealth, their skills in rituals or dancing, will perform spirit medium rituals at large temples and shrines to borrow the divine power to bestow money and blessings in a fleeting moment of hazy incense smoke amidst the lively and sometimes gentle music and songs of the musicians.

That's what people call "the thrill of the chase." It means seeing others go to these places of worship, and if you have money, you go too, simply to relieve the pent-up frustrations of life and to show off that you know how to have fun.

No belief system or religion teaches people to do bad things. It is only people who exploit them for evil purposes.

Therefore, recognizing the Mother Goddess worship practice as an intangible cultural heritage raises many issues regarding management, promotion of traditional culture, and the freedom of religion for citizens.

The fine line between the ritualistic practice of Mother Goddess worship (singing and chanting in spirit mediumship) and superstitious activities that encourage the masses to become intoxicated by a surreal belief in deities can turn a significant portion of the population into deluded individuals who do not believe in reality but only seek favors and bribes from the gods.

Therefore, honoring folk cultural values ​​related to religious beliefs, if not handled appropriately, can easily be exploited and turned into superstition.

"Money has thorns, but the Saints have eyes." Is the spirit medium ritual truly a practice of Mother Goddess worship, or has it been distorted into superstitious activity, a place where mediums exploit the divine power to deceive people and harm others for their own benefit? It all begins with the heart of each individual.

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