(TTH Portals) - On June 28, 2024 (the 23rd day of the fifth lunar month), an offering ceremony was held at Am Hon shrine (73 Ong Ich Khiem street, Thuan Hoa ward, Hue city) by Hue Monuments Conservation Center. The event was aimed to commemorate and pray for residents and soldiers who lost their lives and struggled against the French colonial force during the Citadel Fall in 1885. The Standing member of the provincial Party Committee, Vice Permanent Chairman of the People's Committee of Thua Thien Hue province Nguyen Thanh Binh attended the offering ceremony.
Am Hon shrine was established by Nguyen dynasty 7 years after the Citadel Fall on the 23rd day of the fifth lunar month, 1885 to pay tribute to patriotic residents and soldiers who struggled against the French colonial force.
The offering ceremony was organized according to the imperial record under the reign of Emperor Thanh Thai. It consists of “Le quan tay”, “Le Thuong huong”; “Le So hien tuu” (first wine offering); “Le Doc chuc”; “Le Hanh A hien” (second wine offering); “Le Chung hien” (third wine offering); “Le Dang tra” (tea offering); “Phan hoa” va “Le tat” (closing part).
On the 23rd day of the fifth lunar month, Hue locals organized offering ceremony at Am Hon and other shrines located in Hue Imperial city. This ceremony is aimed to pray for the salvation of the souls. The ceremony is a spiritual activity and a cultural feature, showing locals’ humanitarian values.
The offering space was solemnly decorated
Am Hon shrine is located at 73 Ong Ich Khiem street, Thuan Hoa ward, Hue city. It is the place where people lost their lives on Hue Citadel Fall (the 23rd day of the fifth lunar month) was worshiped.
In 1894, Emperor Thanh Thai (1889-1907) had Am Hon shrine constructed. Every year, the offering ceremony was held on the 24th day of the fifth lunar month because the death anniversary of Empress Ta Thien Nhan, the wife of Emperor Minh Manh was held at Phung Tien palace on the 23rd day of the fifth lunar month.
The shrine was recognized as a province-level relic by the People’s Committee of Thua Thien Hue province in 2013. In 2023, it was conserved and renovated.
Since 2018, the offering ceremony was recreated by Hue Monuments Conservation Center on the 23rd day of the fifth lunar month to commemorate those lost their lives on the Citadel Fall.
The offering ceremony at Am hon shrine
The offering ceremony at Am hon shrine not only shows the respect to national rituals, but also reminds generations, particularly current and future generations of a meaningful historical lesson. This tradition is the core and power which creates Vietnamese national culture in general and local culture in particular.
Photos taken at the offering ceremony: