Preserving the unique cultural features of the nine-curve ritual at Hoa Lu Festival

With its status as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage - Hoa Lu Festival currently preserves and transmits many typical and unique cultural features, in which the nine-curve sacrificial ritual is being preserved and promoted by the nine-curve sacrificial teams of Truong Yen commune (Hoa Lu).

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While leisurely reciting a short song from the nine-part funeral oration that the nine-part funeral team of Truong Yen commune is practicing in preparation for the Hoa Lu Festival in 2024, Mr. Tran Van Khang (Truong Xuan village) further explained to us the content and meaning of the nine-part funeral ritual.

According to the elders, the nine-curve sacrificial ritual originated from the reign of King Dinh Tien Hoang, and was passed down through handwritten documents by Mr. Nguyen Van Ngo, also known as Nam, currently kept by Ms. Pham Thi Hoan, born in 1958, Dong Thanh village, Truong Yen commune.

The Nine-Quarts Sacrifice was once lost and had many different versions. After the Provincial People's Committee approved the Hoa Lu Festival script, making the Nine-Quarts Sacrifice one of the main rituals of the Festival, the Department of Culture and Sports coordinated with the National Institute of Culture and Arts to conduct research to restore the Nine-Quarts Sacrifice, bringing about the revival of this ritual .

Since 1992, the sacrificial teams of Truong Yen commune have restored and preserved the nine-curves ritual to this day. Currently, Truong Yen commune maintains many sacrificial teams, but there are only three remaining nine-curves: the nine-curves female mandarin team of Dong Thanh village and the nine-curves male and female mandarin team of Truong Yen commune.

Preserving the unique cultural features of the nine-curve ritual at Hoa Lu Festival — Members of the Dong Thanh village nine-curve dance team practice.

In the sweltering heat of the beginning of the season, the Dong Thanh Village Cultural House lights up every night for the village's nine-curve female cavalry team to practice. The good news is that there are many young faces participating in this year's practice team.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Son, chief priest of the nine-curve female worship team of Dong Thanh village, shared: The nine-curve female worship team of Dong Thanh village currently has 40 members. Because many elderly and in poor health members have gradually withdrawn from the team, we are always looking for and selecting suitable people to join the worship team.

To be in the funeral team, the chosen person must be a good citizen and have a family that complies with the policies of the Party and the State. In particular, if a family member in the funeral team is in mourning, they must wait 3 years before continuing to participate.

Although the conditions are simple but strict, over the years, the members of the sacrificial team have always received the support and approval of the Party Committee, the government and the local people. The members of the sacrificial team themselves always keep in mind to be careful with their speech and daily life because they are honored to represent many local people to attend the King's sacrificial ceremony every festival.

Participating in the nine-curve sacrificial team with many people of Truong Yen commune is always an honor and pride because it can perform traditional sacrificial rituals to offer to the King, contributing to preserving and conserving one of the traditional rituals of Hoa Lu Festival.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Thu shared: As the youngest member (28 years old) of the nine-curve sacrificial team of Dong Thanh village, I witnessed the women in the sacrificial team practicing and performing the sacrificial rituals every time the Festival took place. As a native of Truong Yen, I wish to join the sacrificial team to contribute with the women in the village to continue preserving and introducing the unique traditional cultural features of the nation at the Festival. My mother used to be a member of the nine-curve sacrificial team of the village, so it further urged me to continue the tradition...

The Nine-Quarts Sacrifice is a respectful and solemn ritual performed at the Temple of King Dinh Tien Hoang. The Nine-Quarts Sacrifice consists of 9 songs praising the merits of King Dinh, praying for national peace and prosperity, good crops, etc. For many years, the Nine-Quarts Sacrifice has been an important and indispensable ritual in the Hoa Lu Festival, attracting the attention of many people and tourists from all over the world to attend the festival.

Efforts to preserve and promote traditional cultural values of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, including the nine-curve sacrificial ritual that generations of people in Truong Yen commune have been performing, contribute to preserving the unique cultural features of the traditional sacrificial ritual for today and tomorrow. At the same time, educate the tradition of patriotism, preserve and promote the traditional culture and history of the nation.

According to recorded documents, the nine-song ceremony is a form of worshiping the King with nine songs to perform the ceremony. The nine songs are written in classical style, using both Chinese and Nom characters, sung in the style of Ca Tru, or singing the nine-song ceremony, with ceremonial music accompanying drums and clappers to keep the rhythm, including 218 verses divided into nine sections: Nguyen Hoa, Thai Hoa, Tho Hoa, Du Hoa, Ninh Hoa, Hoa Hoa, An Hoa, Thuan Hoa, Ung Hao, and Ban Chung Tan, summarizing all nine songs above.

Previously, the Nine-Curves Sacrifice was often performed at night, in the courtyard of the Temple of King Dinh Tien Hoang for 7 consecutive nights. Each ceremony lasted from 7 to 10 hours. Now, Hoa Lu Festival only opens for 3 days, so based on traditional rituals, the reconstruction script has omitted unimportant rituals so that the Nine-Curves Sacrifice only lasts for about 80-90 minutes. From 79 ancient rituals, it has been reduced to over 50 rituals while still ensuring solemnity and sacredness.

Bui Dieu-Minh Quang

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