(Baonghean.vn) - Hau dong, also known as hau bong, chau van, ngu dong... is an important ritual in the worship of the Holy Mother of the Three Palaces - Four Palaces (Mother Religion) of our people. This is a ritual of communicating with the gods through the mediums to transform into "Miss Bo, Mr. Hoang". People believe that the gods can enter the bodies of the mediums to exorcise evil spirits, cure diseases, and bestow blessings and fortune on the followers and disciples. At the end of the year, at Hoang Muoi TempleHau Dong activities take place regularly with hundreds of thousands of participants.
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| The person who performs the ritual is called a Thanh Dong. Thanh Dong usually has 2 or 4 assistants (called Nhi Tru or Tu Tru Hau Dang) who follow him to prepare the costumes, ceremonies, etc. |
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| A male medium is called "cầu". In addition to being able to wear many elaborate and beautiful costumes, "cầu" also wears lipstick and powder, and can have long hair like a girl's. |
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| An important part of the price of the medium is the cung van (singing and playing group). Cung van in the hau dong ritual consists of 3-5 musicians, using the moon lute, small drum, cymbal, clapper..., performing a very unique folk performing art. Cung van are people who are fluent in ancient texts, have a sharp improvisational mind to sing literature in accordance with the price of the medium, accompanying the medium to make it more sublime. |
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| When the spirit enters the medium, the medium is no longer themselves but the embodiment of the spirit that has entered them. |
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| In the ritual of Hau Dong, there are 36 altars in total, each altar worships a saint. Usually, a session does not always have all 36 altars, but from 8 to 15 altars, depending on the wishes of the medium. |
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| Every time the price changed, people covered the "boy" with a red silk scarf. |
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| After changing his costume, he moved to a new price with a new avatar. |
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| Sometimes the medium transforms into a general, other times he transforms into a beautiful and talented girl. |
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| The dance of the bronze is also changed according to the characteristics of each price. |
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| The mandarin's price usually dances with flags, swords, long knives, and halberds; the price for the ladies' payment usually dances with fans and bait. |
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| "The price" of Mr. Hoang is to dance with a scarf, dance with bare hands, dance with flags... |
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| While the medium was transforming, the assistant mediums sitting below also swayed and danced in response. |
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| The bronze statue gives blessings to the disciples to dispel bad luck in the year and to bring blessings and peace for the new year. |
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In Nghe An, the ritual of Hau Dong is regularly performed at temples such as Ong Hoang Muoi Temple, Hong Son Temple, etc. The ritual of Hau Dong in the Dao Mau belief is closely linked to the origin and history of the nation, becoming a symbol of patriotism that has been worshipped and spiritualized. |
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| With those precious values, on September 9, 2013, the Hau Dong ritual was recognized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage, and the Vietnamese Mother Goddess Worship was recognized by UNESCO as a Representative Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. |
Neptune - Le Thang
