Preserving heritage of worshiping Mother Goddesses of Three Realms in Hai Phong

Sacred spaces preserve heritage

During the month-long Great Mandarin Tuan Tranh Festival, held from June 15 to July 13 (the 1st to the 29th day of the 5th lunar month), the Vietnamese Center for Folk Belief and Cultural Practices, in coordination with the Ninh Giang Commune People’s Committee, organized an exchange on the practice of worshiping the Mother Goddesses of the Three Realms. The event brought together 24 artisans, spirit mediums, and temple custodians from Phu Tho, Son La, Bac Ninh, Hung Yen, Khanh Hoa, Quang Ninh, Ha Noi, and Hai Phong.

At the event, the melodies of chau van (ceremonial singing) were sometimes solemn and powerful, sometimes lively and melodious, and at other times leisurely or fast-paced, creating a distinctive picture of the folk art. Music, poetry, performance, visual arts, costumes, props, and belief came together in a unified whole. It is this combination that has sustained the vitality of the heritage for centuries.

As a young spirit medium, Trinh Cong Minh from Tan Ky Commune, Hai Phong, believes that the practice of worshiping the Mother Goddesses of the Three Realms is not only a spiritual ritual but also an environment for preserving chau van singing, traditional folk performing arts, traditional costumes, and standards of conduct that guide people toward kindness and gratitude to their predecessors.

Hai Phong is home to many representative spaces for practicing the heritage, including Nghe temple and An Bien communal house associated with female general Le Chan; Mau Vung temple dedicated to the Holy Mother Lieu Hanh; Sinh and Hoa temples associated with Saint Tran; and Tranh temple dedicated to Great Mandarin Tuan Tranh. The presence of many centers of worship has created favorable conditions for the heritage to be continuously preserved in community life.

Turning heritage into a resource for sustainable development

UNESCO inscribed the practice of worshiping the Mother Goddesses of the Three Realms of the Vietnamese people on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity not only for its spiritual value but also for its ability to connect communities, preserve folk knowledge, and nurture national cultural identity.

According to Meritorious Artisan Hoang Gia Bon, Head of the Hai Phong Mother Goddess Worship Club, the belief is not only part of spiritual life but also a unique cultural identity, reflecting harmony among ethnic groups and religions through various elements of folk culture such as costumes, music, chau van singing, and festivals.

For Hai Phong, the advantage of the practice of worshiping the Mother Goddesses lies not only in the number of relics but also in the diversity of the figures worshiped. From the Holy Mother Lieu Hanh and female general Le Chan to Saint Tran and Great Mandarin Tuan Tranh, each heritage site carries its own layers of history and culture, creating an attraction for both residents and visitors.

If properly developed, this will be a valuable resource for cultural tourism. Cultural exchange programs featuring the belief, chau van performances, introductions to traditional costumes, and experiences of rituals presented in a scientific and proper manner could become distinctive tourism products, helping extend visitors’ stays.

As Hai Phong implements Resolution No. 05 of the Municipal Party Committee on cultural development and building the Hai Phong people, while working toward the goal of making culture a driving force for socio-economic development, preserving the practice of worshiping the Mother Goddesses of the Three Realms has even greater strategic significance. The heritage not only enriches the spiritual life of the people but also creates a distinctive identity for the city on the cultural map.

THANH HOA