Vietnam’s tug-of-war games, ritual receive UNESCO’s certificate

Thứ ba - 09/04/2019 21:09 250 0

A ceremony was held inThach Ban ward, Hanoi’s Long Bien district on April 7 to receive a certificateof UNESCO recognition of the sitting tug-of-war games and rituals at local TranVu temple as part of the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Tug-of-war is typically held near a communal house or shrine, two teams on either end
of a rope try to tug it from the other - Photo: nhandan.com.vn

The ceremony took place within the annual traditionalfestival of Tran Vu temple.

On this occasion, Nguyen Van Se, who has greatly contributedto preserving the folk games and rituals, was presented with the President’sdecision recognising him as an outstanding artisan.

Apart from Vietnam, tug-of-war games and rituals of Cambodia,the Republic of Korea and the Philippines also won UNESCO recognition.

A Vietnamese delegation is scheduled to visit the RoK inmid-April to engage in exchanges with local tug-of-war teams.

Tug-of-war rituals and games are prevalent in therice-farming cultures of East Asia and Southeast Asia as a form for communitiesto pray for abundant harvests and prosperity. They mark the start of theagricultural cycle and often begin with commemorative rites to localdeities.

Typically held near a communal house or shrine, two teams oneither end of a rope try to tug it from the other. The practice isnon-competitive, strengthening community solidarity and identity, UNECO said onits website.

Source: VNA

Từ khóa: Vietnam’s tug-of-war games, ritual receive UNESCO’s certificate