How is the mandarin king in the ancient Hue court welcome other Tet people?

As an ancient capital, it is still preserved almost completely until now, Hue symbolizes the connection between the past and the present. This is the place where the Nguyen dynasty - the last feudal court and also the most perfect court in the history of our country, was chosen as the place of reign.

Because of this factor, the rituals and rituals here are regarded as the standard of rituals of the feudal period of Vietnam, especially the celebration of Tet holidays - the most important holiday of the year.

We go back in time, find out how the king and his people at Hue royal court celebrated the new year.

Flag flag into Hue on the Nam Giao ceremony on Tet holiday in 1935

It is the biggest holiday of the year, so Tet is also very well organized. Since the whole month before the holiday, the servant who had been down in the palace had to take care of the preparation of offerings and the decoration of flags and flowers everywhere in the palace.

Tet ceremonies begin from December with Ban Soc (calendar), Nghinh spring (welcome spring day), Feast of waking (cleaning the seal and scriptures), Cable enjoy (invite you First come back to celebrate New Year), the Festival of Destiny (build a tree) . However, the most important day is still the 1st day of the new year.

Nam Giao ceremony, King sitting palanquin - 1935. (Photo document of Nguyen Tan Loc).

The beginning of the 1st day is the king's high ceremony, the most important ritual. On that day, drums in Thai Hoa Palace will be beaten from the soup year (around 3-5 am).

The yellow dragon flag of the great festival will be dragged to Ky Dai, surrounded by numerous flags and colors, decorated with the colors of Dai Trieu, Ngo Mon and Ky Dai.

Good time, the king resides in the Citadel will wear imperial cells, wearing a long hat, holding Tran Khue boot on the palanquin to go to Thai Hoa electricity, celebrate the New Year festival.

Hue royal court music festival (Photo: doanhnhansaigon).

From Ngo Mon Gate , empty gongs and happy music to welcome the king. The 9th cannon was fired and exploded.

The king tied the jade belt sitting on the throne, below it were the ministers kneeling in the adoration yard. After the mandarins bowed and bowed five times, they would also offer manifestations (blessings) and shout out loudly, " We pray to the god of ten thousand and ten thousand monks . "

The minister will then read only the new year of the king, banquets and gifts for ranks. After the ceremony, according to the rules of those who come home. However, by the time of King Bao Dai, due to receiving Western culture, the king led officials and Western guests to Can Chanh Palace to invite people to have a glass of champagne.

The mandarins before the electricity in the ceremony of Nam Giao.

On the first day and the second king will give a banquet and give spring bonuses to officials and the royal prince like. New Year's party feasts are also prepared more luxuriously and luxuriously than usual days with lots of " oysters ".

The servant in the palace is preparing to party (Photo: doanhnhansaigon).

Banquet on Tet holiday in the Nguyen Dynasty is very diverse and rich, from aristocratic dishes to rustic foods.
Ancient Library The book recorded many types of dishes including seafood (fish, abalone, etc.), holding animals (deer, goats, pigs, chickens .), rice, sticky rice, tea, jam cake . or high-class dishes such as spring rolls, sea cucumbers, bird's nest.

The dishes in the ancient royal banquet were reproduced.

The king did not eat banquets with princes or officials but would eat alone. By the time of King Bao Dai's change, the king would eat with his wife and children.

The party in the palace is very flexible but usually only takes place for 2 days, then organizing entertainment games and trying the fortune at the beginning of the year such as pool games, painting contest, poem, chess people . .

(Photo - doanhnhansaigon).

After the 3rd day of the Lunar New Year, the court held a ceremony to fill the land. The King will come down to the 3-way plowing field to start the New Year's crop, praying for the people of the hundred to do well.

In addition to the above rituals and games , during the 7 days of Tet, the royal palace also organizes the procession of shallow gods; King's ceremony, Queen's wedding on the Perfume River.

The king took a dragon boat, the queen went to the boat to serve; The king violated the wish of the people in the capital. The great ceremony to end the Tet is the celebration ceremony (the festival of flags), usually held after the 11th day of the New Year.

(Photo - doanhnhansaigon).

It can be seen that the custom of eating Tet in the imperial palace of Hue is not heavy on material enjoyment, but more attention is paid to rituals and rituals.

It is because this ceremonial nature is still preserved through the generations that Hue today is also a region with many customary and most welcome ceremonies in the country.

It represents the precious, treasured and preserved culture of our people before the "westernization" trend is invading Vietnam today.