The People’s Committee of Phuc Tho district has formulated a plan to organize the Commemoration Ceremony of the Hai Ba Trung Military Assembly and Insurrection Flag Offering. This event will take place over three days from October 4 to 6, 2024 (which corresponds to the lunar dates of September 2 to 4) at the Special National Monument of Hat Mon Temple (Hat Mon commune).
According to legend, in 40 AD, our country was under the oppressive rule of the Eastern Han dynasty. At that time, To Dinh, the governor of Giao Chi district, imposed harsh policies aimed at assimilating the Vietnamese people. In response, Trung Trac, along with her husband Thi Sach, devised a plan to resist the Eastern Han forces. However, upon learning of this, To Dinh ordered the assassination of Thi Sach, fueling Trung Trac’s deep anger.
The Commemoration Ceremony of the Hai Ba Trung Military Assembly and Insurrection Flag Offering will take place over three days from October 4 to 6, 2024. Illustration
Trung Trac and her sister, Trung Nhi, were born in the sacred land of Phong Chau and descended from the noble Lac Hong lineage. They could not stand by as the people suffered under tyranny. On September 4, 40 AD, the sisters raised the insurrection flag at the mouth of the Hat River, vowing to drive out the Eastern Han and restore independence to the nation. The Trung sisters sent proclamations across the land, rallying talented leaders and warriors to their cause. In a short time, they had gathered thousands of heroes and soldiers to join their ranks.
The insurrection led by the Trung sisters triumphed, capturing 65 fortresses and reuniting the country under one banner. The people enjoyed peace, and the Trung sisters proclaimed themselves queens, establishing their capital at Me Linh. History records that Hat Mon Temple is tied to three significant events in the lives of the Trung sisters: it was where they raised the flag of rebellion, where they returned to celebrate with their troops after victory, and finally, where they sacrificed themselves by plunging into the Hat River to preserve their honor as women of virtue. As a result, Hat Mon Temple holds a special place in preserving the most valuable historical and cultural memories of the Hai Ba Trung Uprising.
Inside the Hat Mon temple, inscriptions immortalize the oath of the Trung sisters as they called for the insurrection. The historical poem “Thien Nam Ngu Luc” records their vow: First, to cleanse our land of enemies/ Second, to restore the Hung lineage’s legacy/ Third, to avenge my husband’s wrongful death/ Fourth, to see this mission through to the end.
To honor the contributions of the Trung sisters, the people of Phuc Tho district have, for generations, held three major festivals each year at Hat Mon Temple: on March 6 (the Trung sisters’ death anniversary), September 4 (the insurrection flag offering), and the 24th day of the lunar twelfth month (the Moc Duc festival.
This year, Phuc Tho district has meticulously planned the Commemoration Ceremony of the Hai Ba Trung Military Assembly and Insurrection Flag Offering to ensure a grand yet traditional event. Spanning three days, the ceremony will feature numerous activities, including processions from local villages, offerings from historical relic sites, and ceremonial rites such as the village offering, the opening prayer, and the symbolic washing of three animals. The festivities will also include performances by community groups, cultural shows by political and social organizations, agencies, and clubs, particularly the traditional folk singing of Hat Mon commune.
On September 4 (lunar calendar), the main event will take place, marked by the Commemoration Ceremony of the Hai Ba Trung Military Assembly and Insurrection Flag Offering, alongside the formal announcement designating Hat Mon Temple as a national tourist site. Other activities will include exhibitions promoting traditional products, exemplary goods, and OCOP products from Phuc Tho district, a folk music and traditional song festival, sports competitions like tug-of-war and stick pushing, martial arts performances, and traditional games. The festival will also feature the procession of village deities from communes, towns, and the association of historical relics related to the Hai Ba Trung Uprising.
Beyond expressing gratitude to the Trung sisters, the Commemoration Ceremony of the Hai Ba Trung Military Assembly and Insurrection Flag Offering also provides Phuc Tho district an opportunity to enhance its cultural heritage, promote its rich traditions, and gradually establish itself as a tourism destination. This effort contributes to the socio-economic development of Phuc Tho district in particular and of Hanoi as a whole.
PT