On the occasion of the Lunar New Year, in the ancient Thang Long palace, there were often a number of rituals such as the raising ceremony, the raising ceremony, the summer festival, the opening of the seal, etc. In which, the Spring Festival of the Ox was an important ceremony held by the royal court. The family prepares meticulously, carried out on the day of Spring with the wish of favorable rain, good crops and a wish for a warm and full spring. In order to help visitors learn about the ancient royal rituals and preserve the unique intangible cultural heritage of Thang Long – Hanoi, the Thang Long – Hanoi Heritage Conservation Center has focused on researching Research and gradually recreate the royal rituals. The re-enactment of the Spring Ox ceremony on the occasion of the New Year of the Ox this year is an experiment based on the research results of royal rituals, with the desire to spread traditional cultural values ​​to the public and the young generation. , and is also a special activity to attract tourists during the Lunar New Year of the Ox 2021.

The model of the earth buffalo is reproduced in the spring ox ritual.

The ceremony of entering the spring of the ox, offering the land buffalo in the spring is a unique ritual, containing the good meanings of the spring day, with the following rites: procession of spring ox, advance of spring ox, giving spring ox and beating spring ox.

The ritual of entering the spring of the ox dates back to the Ly, Tran and Le Trung Hung dynasties and was solemnly celebrated by the court. The calendar of the reign of the Ch’an and the “Le Trieu Hoi Dian” both said that: Every November, Tu Thien Giam looks at the date of Lap Spring and declares how to make a spring ox, presenting the model for the court to hand over to the Ministry. Director of the Department of General Affairs. Specifically, there are 1 large earth buffalo, 1 large gill god and 1215 small buffalo and a small gill gourd statue. After the winter solstice, meeting the Dragon day, Thuong ordered the department to take land and water in the direction of the god Tu Duc, and use mulberry wood as a skeleton to make the gongs and spring ox. The dove has a body of 3 meters, 6 inches, 5 centimeters, representing 365 days, and the rod of the god is 2 meters long and 4 centimeters long, representing 24 weather periods in the year. The body of the ox is 4 meters tall, representing the 4 seasons (spring, summer, autumn, winter), from the head to the tail is 8 meters long, representing 8 periods, the tail is 1 meter long, and the tail is 2 inches, representing 12 months. About color. According to the records of a Western missionary named Father Te, who witnessed the Spring Festival of the Year of the Dragon (December 18, 1748), clay buffaloes are about 5-6 tall. Fingers are painted with different colors for the head, body and tail according to the rules. In painting, use 5 elements in ancient Chinese philosophy metal, wood, water, fire, earth corresponding to 5 colors (white, blue, black, red, yellow).

After completing the model of Xuan Nguu and Cau Mang god, the court organized a spring sacrifice at the altar. As usual, the altar was built in Dong Ha ward – east of Thang Long citadel corresponding to the direction of the temple. Spring. In the afternoon before Spring Festival, the god Gou Mang and Xuan Ox are brought to the altar to sacrifice. At midnight, the Phu doan mandarin, Phung Thien, and two district officers of Tho Xuong and Quang Duc districts and people of the trading wards process the Mang god and buffalo to Bach Ma temple. Go to the temple, buffalo left outside, procession Mang god in the middle of the street, around 4-5 am, the mandarins perform the ceremony. The sacrifice ceremony consists of 1 pig, 1 jar of wine, 1 sticky rice, betel nut, areca, incense, candles… After the ceremony, the god Mang is wrapped in a mat and buried in a clean place where the geographer has seen it.

The sacrifice ceremony ended, the buffalo statue was respectfully placed on the throne for the mandarins and people of the wards in the citadel to take them to the communal house to advance to the king. Wherever the procession went, the people on both sides of the ward brought firecrackers to burn to welcome the buffalo. Occasionally, officials holding mulberry branches take turns slapping the buffalo a few times, indicating to ward off bad luck and encourage plowing. The people in the capital follow the custom, every year on this day, they eagerly invite each other to attend the procession of the god. This is really a big festival of Thang Long. At the Dong Hoa gate of the Imperial Citadel, the group of people stopped, only the mandarin Phu Doan and his soldiers on duty continued to process the buffalo into the courtyard to advance to the king.

Early in the morning of Spring Festival, the courtyard is decorated with staff, flags, and music according to regulations. When the drum bell sounded, the mandarins and martial arts full of dignified costumes from Doan Mon gate entered the courtyard to attend the ceremony. The martial arts mandarins stood in the east and west of the dragon yard, and the king sat on the throne in the middle of the door of Kinh Thien Palace. After the mandarins performed the ceremony in front of the king in accordance with the court ceremony, the mandarin Phu Doan came to the center of the throne and knelt in front of the spring cow to perform the task of advancing the spring. The great mandarin said: “In early spring, the weather is good, the holiday should be congratulated” and then retreated to his position. The mandarins and martial arts in the courtyard bowed down together, after the ceremony, the king returned to the palace.

At the end of the Spring Festival, the 1215 Xuan Nguu and Cau Mang Gods (placed on a wooden tray with lacquered vermilion, 5 children each, covered with lemon yellow silk) respectfully bestowed upon the officials attending the ceremony first, the rest according to regulations that are distributed to ministries, palaces and temples in Thang Long citadel. The ritual of Ban Xuan ox for the mandarins is the only rite only available under the Le dynasty with the meaning of “sending off the cold winter air”, wishing for a year of favorable rain and wind, and a bountiful harvest.

Ritual of offering buffalo.

The re-enactment of the ox spring festival on the occasion of the New Year of the Ox this year is a special activity at the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long to serve visitors and contribute to preserving the cultural beauties of the nation. Due to the Covid-19 epidemic, the center’s activities have been reduced in size, not crowded, only the main rituals are kept.

During the Tan Suu Lunar New Year, the heritage site also takes place many traditional cultural activities, performing water puppetry to serve visitors.

Thang Long Heritage Conservation Center – Hanoi