Hung King’s Death Anniversary: A Journey from Folk Belief to National Holiday

In 2012, “Hung King Worship Belief in Phu Tho” was registered by UNESCO as an intangible cultural heritage of humanity and is the infinite pride of the Vietnamese ethnic community. Initial inventory results in 2005, announced by the Department of Grassroots Culture (Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism), showed that the whole country had 1,417 places to worship King Hungs and historical figures during the era when Hung Kings built the country, of which Phu Tho province has over 300 relics.

Tourists from all over make a pilgrimage to the Hung King’s Death Anniversary. (Photo: Tra My)

During the feudal era, the annual Hung King’s Anniversary was directly or indirectly organized by the State government at Hung King Temple. In the early 20th century, the Nguyen court assigned the Ministry of Rites to officially set the International Day-Hung King’s Anniversary every year. Thus, since 1917, Hung King’s Death Anniversary has become a “National Holiday” according to folk belief.

Since the August 1945 revolution, our Party and State have always paid attention to preserving and promoting the value of “Hung King Worship Belief” renovating and embellishing Hung King Temple and organizing Hung King’s Death Aniversary.

In 1946, Hung King’s Death Anniversary, the 10th day of the 3rd lunar month, was an official national holiday and allowed State employees to take holidays and enjoy full pay.

In 1962, Hung King Temple was classified as a National Monument (phase 1).

In 2001, the Government issued Decree No. 82/2001/ND-CP (November 6, 2001) on State ceremonies, including detailed regulations on ceremonies for the Hung King’s death anniversary.

In 2007, the National Assembly of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam passed a law amending and supplementing Article 73 of the Labor Code to allow employees to take time off from work with full pay on the annual Hung King’s death anniversary day.

In 2009, the Prime Minister issued Decision No. 1272/QDTTg to register Hung King Temple as a special national monument.

In 2012, UNESCO registered “Hung King Worship in Phu Tho, Vietnam” as a representative of the intangible cultural heritage of humanity.

In 2012, the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism signed the Decision to Announce the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage (phase 1). Accordingly, the intangible cultural heritage “Hung King Worship in Phu Tho” has been included in the National Intangible Cultural Heritage List.

The palanquin procession to Hung King Temple was organized by localities on the outskirts of the relic site.

Since the late twentieth century, the architectural works of Ha Temple, Trung Temple, Thuong Temple, Hung Vuong Mausoleum, Gieng Temple and Thien Quang Pagoda have been greatly restored. Architectural works of worship gathering spiritual cultural values to the place of origin were built: Great Au Co Temple on the top of Van Mountain (2004), Great Lac Long Quan National Ancestor Temple on Sim Mountain (2007); the relief has the image of Uncle Ho talking to officers and soldiers of the Pioneer Army at the five-intersection of Gieng Temple(2001; 2022). Thus, it can be seen that Hung King Temple is a place to practice “worship beliefs”. Worshiping the Hung King" is the earliest, largest and has existed sustainably throughout the history of building and defending the country of our nation. Through thousands of years of history, with the consent of the State and the people, they have protected, embellished and effectively promoted the cultural values of Hung Kings in the cause of building and protecting the beautiful and powerful country of Vietnam.

Pham Ba Khiem