Close-up of the Yin Yang market - a place to "buy luck, sell bad luck" in Bac Ninh

According to preserved documents, in the year of Nham Dan (43 AD), the Han Dynasty ordered Ma Vien to lead troops to attack the Trung Sisters. The enemy troops attacked Vu Ninh town, Tien Du district (Bac Ninh province) and encountered the Trung Sisters' troops, and a fierce battle broke out, many soldiers were sacrificed. After the battle, the relatives of those soldiers returned to look for their loved ones after the Lunar New Year.

Gradually, people believed that the gates of hell only opened once a year on the night of the 4th and early morning of the 5th of the first lunar month for people in the underworld to meet their relatives on earth. From then on, the Yin-Yang market was born.

The market begins at "lighting up" on an empty lot, next to a famous sacred temple in the area. This is a market without tents or candles for lighting.

The market is not a place for luck and misfortune like many other markets. In the market, no one bargains, and the sellers do not count the money the buyer pays. In the dark, you can only see people walking around and whispering. People are not as interested in "luck and misfortune" as in some other markets. The market is an opportunity for people from the living world to meet people from the dead.

Those who go to the market are happy and comfortable. They believe that it is an opportunity to do charity and good deeds for the dead. Their spiritual life will be more peaceful.

Mr. Thai Quoc Cuong, Vo Cuong ward, Bac Ninh city said that no one in the village remembers when the first Am Duong market started, only knowing that the elders have passed it on to each other until now. "This year, although the impact of the COVID-19 epidemic on people's customs and practices is not small, everyone who goes to the market feels happy and comfortable. Because they often believe that it is an opportunity to do good deeds for the dead. Hopefully their spiritual life will be more peaceful" - Mr. Cuong said.

The Yin Yang Market was restored, and many people from everywhere eagerly flocked to enjoy the cultural values ​​of the ancients.

Many people who go to the market often bring a black chicken that has been carefully cared for beforehand as an offering to the gods. Although there are no stalls, the market still has many offerings of votive paper, incense, candles, areca nuts, betel, salt, porridge, fruit, etc.

Fruits are packaged in small bags, easily serving tourists from all over the world who come to "buy luck, sell bad luck" at the beginning of the year.

Ms. Phan To Khanh Vy, O village (Xuan O), Vo Cuong ward, Bac Ninh city, is burning votive paper for the deceased at the market and said: "This year, my friends and I went to Am Duong market to light incense sticks, ask for a little more luck, pray for good health, peace, and success in everything we do, and for our work and studies to be smooth and achieve good results" - Ms. Vy said.

The market closes while it is still night. After the market closes, the people who go to the market invite each other to drink water, chew betel and sing Bac Ninh folk songs.

According to VOV