Con Son-Kiep Bac Spring Festival kicks off

Central and provincial leaders offer incense in commemoration of the 684th death anniversary of Venerable Huyen Quang, the 3rd founder of the Truc Lam Zen sect (1334-2018). Photo: Thanh Chung

The annual festival commemorates the death anniversary of monk Huyen Quang, who died in 1334 and was the third founder of the Truc Lam Zen sect.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Luong Van Cau highlighted the historical significance of Con Son – Kiep Bac, saying that it reflects great contributions of the Truc Lam Zen sect as well as monk Huyen Quang to the national construction and safeguard in the past.

Also on the occasion, the provincial People’s Committee announced the Prime Minister's Decision recognizing Con Son Tu Phuc Tu Bi (stele of Con Son Pagoda) as a national treasure.

Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports, and Tourism Trinh Thi Thuy awards the Prime Minister's Decision recognizing Con Son Tu Phuc Tu Bi as a national treasure. Photo: Tien Manh

Con Son Tu Phuc Tu Bi dates back to the Le Trung Hung (16th -18th century) Dynasty under the reign of Hoang Dinh (Le Kinh Tong) (1601-1619). It is a precious material about literature, history and fine art, especially for the study of history of Con Son Pagoda.

Words on the hexagon-shaped stele affirm that Con Son Pagoda, where monk Huyen Quang was abbot, was built in the 18th century.

Prior to the opening ceremony of the festival, there was a ceremonial water-carrying parade staged by hundreds of people from Con Son Pagoda to Con Son Lake, where monks and nuns offered incense.

Numerous locals and visitors line up to offer incense at Con Son Pagoda. Photo: Thanh Chung

The festival, to run until March 10, will also feature a string of cultural and sport activities such as incense offering, worshipping rituals at Ngu Nhac Mountain, a mud banger festival (an ancient game involving tossing a large, shaped piece of clay, approximately 30kg and trying to make the loudest bag from it smashing apart), a wrestling contest, and a cake making contest.

Covering a total area of eight hectares in Chi Linh District, the Con Son-Kiep Bac historical site is entwined with the lives and causes of Tran Hung Dao and the Great Man of Culture of the World, Nguyen Trai.

The site was a defence line built at the end of the 13th century to protect the Thang Long Imperial Citadel. It witnessed important battles between the Tran Dynasty army and the Yuan-Mongol invaders.

Tourists visit national treasure Con Son Tu Phuc Tu Bi in the yard of Con Son Pagoda. Photo: Thanh Chung

Con Son, surrounded by pine trees, saw the pure and upright life of Nguyen Trai (1380-1442), one of Vietnam’s most famous poets and writers.

With its special value, the Con Son – Kiep Bac was recognized as a national heritage site in 1962 and a special national heritage site in 2012. In 2013, the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism named the Spring Festival at Con Son Pagoda and the Autumn Festival at Kiep Bac Temple as part of the national intangible cultural heritage.

A heaven-earth sacrificing ritual was held on March 4 on Ngu Nhac Mountain at the Con Son – Kiep Bac special national relic site.

Deputy Secretary of the provincial Party Committee Vu Van Son presents five types of cereals to representatives of the provincial departments, boards, sectors, and unions

The activity, which was part of the Con Son – Kiep Bac Spring Festival 2018, takes place annually on the 17th day of the first lunar month with the aim of praying for peace, prosperity, development and bumper crops.

After the ceremony, local authorities presented five types of cereals including corn, rice, bean, peanuts and millet to participants.

Ngu Nhac Mountain, located in Le Loi Commune, Chi Linh District, consists of five sacred peaks stretching over 4 km. Five shrines were built on top of the peaks, namely Bac Nhac (North), Trung Nhac (Middle), Dong Nhac (East), Tay Nhac (West) and Nam Nhac (South) to worship the gods of five directions.