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| Reenacting a unique royal ritual of the Nguyen Dynasty |
As a traditional ritual with long-standing origins, the Thuong Tieu ceremony was held annually on the 23rd day of the twelfth month in the lunar calendar, signalling the arrival of the Lunar New Year. In the royal court’s traditional custom, the word “Tieu” in Thuong Tieu refers to the highest and most visible treetop, symbolizing the moment of transition between the old year and the new one. Setting up the Neu pole carries the meaning of bidding farewell to misfortune from the old year, praying for peace and good fortune in the new year, while also expressing aspirations for favorable weather and national peace and prosperity.
Following the traditional rites, the ceremony began with solemn rites at Trieu To Mieu. This was followed by a procession comprising soldiers, ritual music ensembles, banners and parasols, and court officials, who carried a Neu pole more than 15 meters tall. The procession moved from Hien Nhon Gate, passed through Ngo Mon, entered the area of Thai Hoa Palace, then stopped at The To Mieu, where the Neu pole was erected with similar ceremonial rites.
Within the ambiance of the Imperial Citadel, the solemn sounds of ritual music, combined with the orderly ceremonial procession, vividly recreated the Tet atmosphere of the Nguyen Dynasty Royal Palace. Many visitors expressed their delight at witnessing this distinctive court ritual firsthand, gaining deeper insight into the nation’s cultural life and traditional customs.
The Neu pole will remain standing until the seventh day of the first lunar month, when the royal court in the past would perform the Lowering the Neu pole ceremony, marking the end of the Tet holiday and the beginning of a new working year.
Today, the custom of setting up the Neu pole continues to be maintained in many localities nationwide as a fine traditional cultural practice. In Hue, the annual reenactment of the Thuong Tieu ceremony in the Imperial Citadel has become a distinctive cultural activity, contributing to the preservation and promotion of the nation’s intangible cultural heritage values.
Images from the Thuong Tieu ceremony:
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| This is not only a ritual bearing a strong royal imprint, but also one that deeply reflects the cultural values of the Vietnamese nation |
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| The Thuong Tieu ceremony is held to mark and announce the arrival of Tet |
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During the Nguyen Dynasty, the Neu pole ceremony was conducted in a formal and well-structured manner
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Images of the orderly ceremonial procession vividly recreate the Tet atmosphere of the Nguyen Dynasty Royal Palace (Photo: HH)
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| Hanging atop the Neu pole are a seal, a short sword, and a calligraphy brush, symbolizing the sealing of official documents and signalling the royal court’s rest during Tet |
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| The Neu pole is set up at The To Mieu (Photo: Hue Monuments Conservation Center) |
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| Visitors enthusiastically recording images at the ceremony |
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| Setting up the Neu pole symbolizes bidding farewell to misfortune of the old year and praying for peace and good fortune in the new year |