Lowering Neu pole and opening the seal to greet new year

Lowering Neu pole to star a new working year. Photo: Hue Monuments Conservation Center

In the past, the Neu pole lowering ceremony at the royal palace of the Nguyen Dynasty was performed to mark the end of the New Year holiday and prepare to enter a new working year. In accordance with the old rites, the Neu pole lowering ceremony is solemnly re-created by Hue Monuments Conservation Center, including the Neu offering rite, ceremonial music and lowering the Neu poles that were erected before the Lunar New Year in The Mieu Temple and Trieu Mieu Temple.

After the Neu pole lowering ceremony, the Seal opening ceremony was conducted to greet the new year. Seal opening ceremony is the opening rite for a working year of the ancient central administrative government with the hope that the whole year will be smooth and successful and the country will be peaceful and prosperous.

Kim an (the restored golden seal) was taken down from the top of the Neu pole with four words “Phu - Tho - Khang - Ninh”, which symbolized Prosperity, Longevity, Good health, and Peace. Ancient people perceived that these words were wishes for the peace, auspicious start and longevity for the country, and luck and prosperity for the people.

Kim an was stamped on the sheets on which the calligraphic words were carved, such as Phuc (Happiness), Loc (Prosperity), Tho (Longevity), Cat tuong (Good fortune), Binh an (Peace)… These calligraphic letters were given to visitors as wishes for good things and luck in the new year.

By Minh Hien