Festival honours Emperor Quang Trung

THUA THIEN-HUE — Visitors to the on-going Hue Festival relived the crowning ceremony of National Hero Nguyen Hue when the ancient rite was re-enacted last night in the ancient imperial city of Hue.
One of the most important events of the Hue Festival, the ceremony took place at the city’s Ban Mountain Relic Site, where the hero, known as Emperor Quang Trung held his coronation 220 years ago before heading north to defeat Chinese Qing invaders.
According to the ceremony’s director, Nguyen Quoc Hung, "the coronation of National Hero Nguyen Hue is a landmark of our history.
The event is an embodiment of our tradition: the struggle for independence, defending the country from invaders, and uniting the country. By re-enacting the rite, we hope visitors will have a chance to learn more about our history".
Different rituals were held during the 90-minute ceremony. While the Giao Dan ritual for sacrifice to Heaven and Earth took place on the mountain top, the coronation ceremony was held on the mountain side, while the warriors of Nguyen Hue’s army gathered together at the foot of the mountain.
More than 1,000 people, most from martial art centres and art troupes in Binh Dinh and Thua Thien-Hue provinces, acted as the warriors of the legendary Tay Son army, which was led by Nguyen Hue.
The army, divided into a navy, infantry and cavalry, together with weapons, fighting elephants and horses, have revived the atmosphere of an historical event.
To open the ritual, big cannons at the two mountainsides fired nine shots. Following this, Hero Nguyen Hue, played by the Meritorious Artist Nguyen Dinh Dung of the Hue Opera Theatre, announced his proclamation of coronation. The dancing troupe presented a jubilant kylin dance performance to wish the emperor well.
The ceremony also included the rites for dispatching the troops to war. Seeing the 1,000-warrior force to the battle were various performances including a flag and war drum parade, Binh Dinh martial arts, and military manoeuvres.

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