| Description |
The Trò Chiềng Festival is held in Trinh Xa village, Yen Ninh commune, Yen Dinh district, Thanh Hoa province from the 10th to the 12th of the first lunar month, to commemorate the great contributions of Tam Công Trịnh Quốc Bảo - the village's tutelary god - the founder and teacher of Trò Chiềng, and to pray for a peaceful and happy new year. Trò Chiềng was originally an elephant war game (also known as elephant fighting), which later developed into a festival with 12 performances.
The founder of Trò Chiềng was Thanh Hoang Tam Cong Trinh Quoc Bao (998 - 1085). Thanh Hoang Tam Cong Trinh Quoc Bao also had the name Trịnh Bạn, a native of Định Xá village (Chiềng village). Trinh Quoc Bao was an official under the Ly dynasty, and had contributed to helping King Ly Thanh Tong defeat the Song army in the North and pacify the Champa invaders in the South, so he was given the title of Dong Phuong Hac Quang Dai Vuong.
The Trò Chiềng Festival is organized in 2 parts: The ceremony begins with the Phụng Nghinh worship ceremony, incense offering, and elephant procession from Trinh Xa communal house to the commune stadium to report to the village's tutelary god about a year of labor and production of the local people.
The festival takes place with 12 special performances such as: Golden neck procession, chicken neck procession, tutelary god procession, son-in-law selection, horse racing, elephant fighting, dragon fighting, carp transforming into dragon, Phung Hoan procession, fireworks... The toys are made of materials: bamboo, rattan, fabric... In which, elephant fighting is considered special and has become a cultural beauty of the people of Trinh Xa village. The fighting elephants are woven from bamboo and rattan, carried by 4 strong young men on 4 legs and a strong, experienced old farmer holds the stick to control the elephant's head for fighting. When "Thượng Soạn" gives the order, the 2 elephants will charge at each other, fighting with 2 tusks; The old custom stipulates that elephants will fight in 2 rounds, each round has 3 rounds, the one that is pushed back will lose. After the performance ends, all elephants, horses, and dragons will be transformed and announced to heaven and earth, to show gratitude for the merits of their ancestors and predecessors. The festival also takes place enthusiastically with competitions: making longan cakes, and banh la rang bua - traditional products of the locality.
After the performance ends, all elephants, horses, and dragons will be transformed and announced to heaven and earth, to show gratitude for the merits of their ancestors and predecessors. The Trò Chiềng Festival reenacts all aspects of life, working, fighting, playing... guiding people back to history, their roots, and a good life. The festival is a cultural activity, meeting the spiritual needs of the people, praying for the people's health, prosperity, and good crops; it is an opportunity for people to express their respect and gratitude to the gods and ancestors who have built and defended the country. This is a typical festival in the cultural life of the residents of the Mã River Delta. With its unique values and historical significance, the Tro Chieng Festival was recognized as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in 2017. |
