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| Historic: Bac Ninh Province received Nguyen Dynasty's replica of a woodblock print about Kinh Duong Vuong on the occasion of the Kinh's festival. — Photo baobacninh.com.vn |
BAC NINH (VNS) — A festival to honour Kinh Duong Vuong, the first king of the Vietnamese people, has been launched in Dai Dong Commune in the northern province of Bac Ninh.
Kinh Duong Vuong founded the Hong Bang Dynasty more than 4,000 years ago.
The festival aims to educate the youth about paying tribute to ancestors, promote national traditions and solidarity among Vietnamese people. It is also expected to honour the cultural and traditional beauty of the province.
On the opening day of the festival, the National Archives Centre IV, State Records Management and Archives Department of Viet Nam presented a replica of a woodblock of Nguyen Dynasty (1802-1945), which has some prints about Kinh Duong Vuong, to Bac Ninh's department of culture, sports and tourism and the local people's committee.
The presenting of the woodblock aims to preserve and promote the historical and cultural values of Kinh Duong Vuong temple and the royal tomb complex in the district.
Many traditional rituals and cultural activities will be held during the three-day festival from February 23 to 26, such as a palanquin procession, water puppet shows and a traditional sports competition.
Legend has it that Kinh Duong Vuong's son, Lac Long Quan, married Au Co who then gave birth to a pouch filled with 100 eggs. The eggs soon hatched and a hundred sons, believed to be the Vietnamese people's ancestors, were born.
Their eldest son was crowned king, who named the country Van Lang and established the capital in Phong Chau (today's Viet Tri City in the northern midland province of Phu Tho), beginning the reign of 18 Hung Kings.
The woodblocks represent an important part of the country's feudal history. During the Nguyen Dynasty, they were used to print information about social standards, articles on the lives and careers of the aristocracy, and historical events. They are original records of the time, making them very valuable. — VNS
OVietnam