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Xa Tac Ritual Ceremony: Deferential and Humanistic

HNN.VN - On the morning of March 16 (February 14 in the Year of the Tiger), Hue Monuments Conservation Center organized the Xa Tac Ritual Ceremony at Xa Tac Esplanade (Thuan Hoa Ward, Hue City), in order to pray for the nation's peace, good weather, bountiful crops, and people's well-being.

Bringing royal rituals back to modern lifeSolemn Xa Tac Ceremony

Provincial leaders attending Xa Tac Ceremony

Set to be held annually, this year’s Xa Tac Ritual Ceremony took place solemnly and respectfully with a full set of rituals: Quan tay ritual (washing hands for cleaning all impurities), Thuong huong ritual (incense offering), Nghinh than ritual (inviting the gods to attend), Dien Ngoc bach ritual (offering white jade), Truyen chuc ritual (reading the oration), Hien tuoc ritual (wine offering)... The sacrificial items include three animal sacrifices, white silk, rice, fruits...

During the Nguyen Dynasty, Xa Tac Ceremony was one of the important royal rituals placed in the Dai tu (high rank), expressing a desire for harmonious living with nature. The ceremony honors human values, following the ethics of the Vietnamese people.

Since the first re-enactment in 2008, Xa Tac Ritual Ceremony has been held every year, becoming a unique traditional cultural feature imbued with the human values of Thua Thien Hue.

After the ceremonies, a large number of people came to offer incense at the Xa Tac Esplanade to pray for national peace, favorable weather, and happy and prosperous life...

Xa Tac Esplanade was built in 1806 under the reign of Emperor Gia Long and is one of the particularly important royal relics of Hue Ancient Capital. Under the Nguyen Dynasty, Xa Tac Esplanade was ranked among Nam Giao Esplanade and Ngu Mieu in the Imperial Citadel as one of the important worshipping places of the court and the royal family.

Below are some images captured at Xa Tac Ritual Ceremony that took place at dawn on March 16:

Held annually, Xa Tac Ritual Ceremony has become a unique traditional culture of Thua Thien Hue

The ceremony was carefully and solemnly prepared by the Hue Monuments Conservation Center

Offering tea

Musicians performing at the ceremony

Xa Tac Ritual Ceremony shows humanity and meets people's wishes for a happy and prosperous life

By Minh Hien - Bao Minh

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