Northern Vietnam village parades ancient texts in tribute to scholarship
Residents of Duong Lieu Village in Xuan Hoa Commune on Hanoi’s outskirts marked the Lunar New Year of the Horse with a ritual that gently blends Confucian reverence with a strong sense of community identity.
THE HANOI TIMES — In Duong Lieu Village on Hanoi’s outskirts, drums and gongs echoed on February 23 as residents gathered for their annual manuscript procession, a ritual that showcases ancient texts and deep reverence for scholars.
Held on the 7th day of the first lunar month, the ceremony honors the generations of learned men who shaped the village’s academic legacy.
The procession carries treasured manuscripts from the Van Chi (Confucian Shrine) - the shrine dedicated to Confucius and esteemed teachers - to the communal temple, linking the village’s intellectual heritage with its spiritual life and affirming a long-standing respect for education.
Researchers note that the ceremony quietly blends faith and learning, uniting the communal temple’s spiritual guardianship with the Confucian shrine’s reverence for scholarship in a single symbolic procession.
Elders in traditional dress lead the parade as local officials carry the ancient manuscript in an ornate palanquin through narrow village lanes, while residents stand in silent respect.
More than a ritual object, the manuscript affirms the village’s respect for teachers and knowledge, and, despite rapid urbanization around Hanoi, the ceremony remains a public declaration of continuity and cultural roots.
Elders and local officials gather for the annual ancient manuscript procession in Duong Lieu Village. Photos: Cao Tung/ Hanoimoi
An incense offering ceremony honors ancestors who fostered the village’s scholarly tradition.
Commune leaders ceremonially receive the ancient manuscript from the Confucian shrine before the procession back begins.
The procession, carrying the ancient manuscript, proceeds toward Duong Lieu Village’s communal temple.
The procession advances through village streets in a solemn display of flags and palanquins.
The ceremonial manuscript is handed to representatives of the ritual committee for formal rites.
The ancient manuscript is placed inside the communal temple for the ceremonial rites.
For centuries, the annual ritual has stood as a living symbol of reverence for learning and ancestral heritage among communities along the Day River in Hanoi.
