The dragon dance performed by Quả Linh villagers, Vụ Bản District. The dance is a special activity of the Thái Bình Xướng Ca Festival, which has been recognised as a national intangible cultural heritage. Photo baonamdinh.vn

HÀ NỘI — The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has named Thái Bình Xướng Ca (Peace Singing) Festival, a unique traditional activity in the northern province of Nam Định's Vụ Bản District, as a national intangible cultural heritage.

The festival is held every three years, from the 9th to the 11th day of the third month (lunar calendar) in the years of Tiger, Monkey, Snake, and Pig, celebrating great military victories of the Trần Dynasty (1226-1400). 

It reflects important historical values and demonstrates the role and contributions of the people in Gạo Village, Thành Lợi Commune, during the three national resistances against the Nguyên-Mông (Yuan-Mongols) invaders in 1258, 1285 and 1287-1288.

To boost traditional and historical education to younger generations, the event also shows people’s dreams, aspirations and cultural creativity, contributing to preserving national cultural identity.

Nguyễn Văn Thư, Director of the Nam Định Province Museum, said documentary sources show from the Đinh-Tiền Lê to the Trần Dynasty, the former Gạo Village (now Quả Linh Village) had food warehouses and an army troop to protect and transport food for the royal court.

The village made great contributions to helping the Trần Kings (Trần Thái Tông, Trần Thánh Tông and Trần Nhân Tông) three times defeat the Nguyên Mông in the 13th century.

Nam Định Province Museum has developed a scientific dossier of the intangible cultural heritage for the traditional festival of Nam Định Peace Singing Festival.

According to the dossier, especially after the third victory on the Bạch Đằng River in 1288, King Trần Nhân Tông rewarded the Gạo villagers for opening a singing festival to celebrate the victory.

During the event, which is now the Thái Bình Xướng Ca Festival, various special rituals bearing the historical imprints of the Trần Dynasty are performed, such as the procession of the Kiệu Thánh (Saint Palanquin), an incense offering ceremony for the 18 clan ancestors, a series of sacrifices for mandarins, works on building a pavilion, boat racing, weaving contests on the lake, singing military songs and chest playing games.

Many cultural activities during the Thái Bình Xướng Ca Festival take place on the water, symbolising the naval battles of the Trần Dynasty army and people during the victories over foreign invaders. — Photo daidoanket.vn

All of the cultural performances in the event are re-enacted activities of the Gạo villagers during their time to help the Kings in the resistance wars, particularly food transportation. Many activities take place on the water, symbolising the naval battles of the Trần Dynasty army and people to defeat the foreign invaders.

According to legend, in the past, Gạo Village had its boat team specially for transporting food for the Kings' army. During the festival, the people's singing reflects the image of a team with three boats driven by three strong people selected from the villagers.

The team is led by a big, commanding dragon boat with drums playing to sail around the village lake.

According to the dossier, this vivacious performance has attracted many visitors since it conveys a highly educational meaning about consciousness and solidarity for today's generation. 

During the festival, Gạo or Quả Linh villagers also perform traditional folk arts such as the dragon dance of Bến hamlet, lion dances of Chải and Cùng hamlets and swinging of Cuối hamlet.

In particular, with their two-dragon dance majoring actions of golden and green dragons, the villagers believe it is a symbol of the absolute unity of the nation. While the golden or yellow dragon is about prosperity and smart leadership, the green one symbolises the people's peaceful aspirations. Therefore, when two dragons go hand in hand, winding side by side symbolises national solidarity.

Besides its historical values, the festival contributes to preserving and promoting the traditional cultural identity of the nation, attracting tourists to the area and creating a driving force for local socio-economic development, according to the dossier. VNS