Scence at Hung Temple on the national death anniversary day. Source: NhanDan

Legend has it said that Vietnamese ancestors from the North to the Centre for reclaiming land and settling down always brought with them 3 sedge bags which as mobile belongings. One bag was to hold seeds, other bag was to keep their sons and the rest was for terra-cotta pots and bowls.

Each of the sedge bag had 3 handles to firmly put over their shoulders. These bags were precursors of backpacks in the war time later. Those simple and open bags represented their desire to live in harmony and friendship, to share and help together, to look forward future but not forget their origin ever.

Whenever they reclaimed a plot of land, they set up a simple altar northwards to commemorate the land of their birth. That was the place where stood altars on the top of Hy Cuong Mountain in Phu Tho Province in commemoration of national forefather Hung King, national mother Au Co and national father Lac Long Quan. (The Vietnamese believe that they were born from a bunch of 100 eggs laid by Au Co Fairy who got married with Long Quan King of Dragon. After the birth, 50 children followed the mother to mountains while the other 50 children went with the father to sea. The 100 noble children then gave birth to generations of Vietnamese people nowadays).

Experiencing many historical ups and downs, a lot of great geographical changes and numerous wars, Vietnamese people still keep the belief of their noble origin. That’s the reason why they worship their ancestors and pass the following folk-song down orally:

Wherever you go, you will never forget the death anniversary day of the national ancestors on the 10^th of the third lunar month.

I am a carefree person. Yet, stimulated by an unknown motivation during many past years, I have adopted a habit of solemnly burning incenses all year round, particularly in the full moon days and in the first day of each lunar month, at an altar of my ancestors and at another northward alter in front yard. 

Fortunately, all collective detached houses of mine faces north. Legend has it said that Ho family of mine headed south from Quynh Doi Village, Quynh Luu District, Nghe An Province. Forefather of the family had left the north to Nghe An before.  

The story of my family is not the only case. Many other families whose altars of their virtuous ancestors spread all over the Centre of Vietnam originally come from the very first land of Lac Viet people along Hong River.

Names of many rivers such as Da, Cai reminded us of both woeful and majestic moments of eventful Vietnamese history made up by unfavoured but faithful Vietnamese nationalities.

When poor Vietnamese ancestors in the remote southern land contributed their diminutive savings and real estate to set up shrines to worship the national ancestors days and nights, desire for a united nation of Vietnamese people became sacred.

I had once visited the southern province of Ben Tre and was very surprised to find that 80% of population there originates from Quang Ngai, a province in the Centre of Vietnam. That’s mean their ancestors came from Nghe Tinh, a farer province northwards and even farer from Hong Delta. Wherever the Vietnamese live all over the country, we are all have same origin and same ancestors. We all have the same flesh and blood.

In my opinion, in the national death anniversary of Hung King, each localities in this S-shape nation should organize their own thurification ceremonies in spirit of ceremony at national Hung temple in the northern province of Phu Tho. The thurification ceremonies should be held in the most holy locations of the localities like Thien An Mountain in Quang Ngai Province, my hometown.

This year, the national death anniversary of Hung is on today (the 26^th April, 2007). Climbing Thien An Mountain today, facing to the North, thurifiers seems to see the top of Hy Cuong Mountain and Da River, colourful cloud over Hung Temple and the Mother who is watching over the country building by generations of Vietnamese descendants nationwide.

And we feels relief towards unsmooth coming days.

• Written by Thanh Thao
• Translated by To Uyen