Bắc Giang historical festival recognised as national heritage

A palanquin procession is part of the spiritual ceremony at Xương Giang Festival. Photo baobacgiang.com.vn

BẮC GIANG — Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has added Xương Giang Festival in the northern province of Bắc Giang to the list of National Intangible Cultural Heritages.

The festival is a traditional historical and cultural event held annually in Bắc Giang City in the early spring, on January 6 and 7 of the lunar calendar, to commemorate the historical victory of Chi Lăng - Xương Giang in 1427.

A series of ceremonial spiritual practices and cultural festivities will be held during the festival. Processions and worshipping of saints are the main ceremonial spiritual celebrations, while the festivities comprise diverse cultural performances including singing, dancing and folk games.

The festival is among the 36 heritages that the ministry has announced recently to be recognised as national intangible cultural heritages.

The Chi Lăng - Xương Giang victory was renowned as a decisive moment of the Lam Sơn Uprising (1418-1427) led by the two national heroes of Lê Lợi and Nguyễn Trãi against the foreign invaders of Ming.

After 10 years of arduous and fierce fighting, the victory helped end 20 years of brutal domination by the Ming Dynasty, decisively opening national independence in the 15th century. Lê Lợi became king and named the country Đại Việt in 1428.

In 2019, the Xương Giang battle site in Bắc Giang City where the victory took place, was classified as a a special national monument in a decision by then Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc.

In 2020, the People's Committee of Bắc Giang Province decided to recognise the victory site as a tourist destination.

Folk music performance at the Xương Giang Festival. tayyentu.bacgiang.gov.vn

The Xương Giang Festival is a large scale event attracting the attention of local authorities and people not only around Xương Giang Citadel such as those from villages of Thành, Vẽ and Hàa Yên, but also throughout other wards in Bắc Giang City such as Dĩnh Kế, Lê Lợi, Hoàng Văn Thụ, Trần Nguyên Hãn, Đa Mai and Mỹ Độ.

However, the centre for main opening ceremonial activities is currently located at the special national relic site of Xương Giang Victory, in Xương Giang ward.

The festival is held to pay tribute and respect to national heroes, martyrs and people who fought and sacrificed for the homeland, and at the same aims enhance the strength of the great national unity.

It provides an opportunity to attract visitors to Bắc Giang Province, the land of a culture rich in dignity, a history of heroic revolutions, and friendly and hospitable people.

After more than two years of closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Xương Giang Festival opened early this year with many special activities.

After a palanquin procession as part of the spiritual ceremony including an incense offering, the cultural festivities started with gongs and drums performances. In particular, an epic art programme recreating the Xương Giang Victory with the theme "Xương Giang's Pride Forever" included four parts featuring the fierce battle and glorious victory of Xương Giang.

Through images, music and performances by artists from the Bắc Giang Province's Chèo Theatre, the event offered local people and tourists a lively scene about a heroic land of outstanding people with typical cultural features of the ancient Lạng Thương Residency and Kinh Bắc Town in the past as well as Bắc Giang today.