Perhaps there are no words that can fully capture the beauty of the 12-lantern ritual ceremony of the Red Dao people in Lao Cai. If we were to use one word to describe this most significant ritual, we should see it through the lens of “heart”, a heart that originates from the “spiritual heart” in rituals and also stems from the “wholeheartedness” in the desire to demonstrate the maturity of Red Dao men in fulfilling their responsibilities to themselves, their community, and their nation.
The event commenced with a ceremony welcoming the guest of honor to preside over the official ceremony.
The teachers conduct purification ceremonies for the students prior to performing sacred rituals.
The dancing of turtles and bell dancing are elaborate performances carried out throughout the day and night during important ceremonial events.
“Within the cultural landscape of Vietnam, the Dao people stand out as a community with incredibly unique cultural characteristics. They maintain a distinct national cultural identity, embodying a pure cultural essence untouched by outside influences or mixing with any other elements.
The traditional hierarchy within the Dao community spans various levels, from the lowest rank of 3 lights to the highest rank of 12 lights, with each level holding significance in cultural meanings and reflecting a particular level of attainment. The ceremony of receiving the 12-light rank is the most significant and revered event, representing the pinnacle of spiritual and cultural importance within the Dao red ethnic group’s belief system.”
In Dao culture, the ritual master holds a significant role in the spiritual and cultural life of the community, being highly respected. Revered as the embodiment of divine spirit, the ritual master plays a crucial part in important ceremonies such as weddings, funerals, and initiation rites of the Dao people.
The ceremonial ritual of the 12 torches initiation among the Red Dao people signifies a significant milestone in the maturity of each man within the community. Those who undergo this initiation are considered adults and are entrusted with important responsibilities within the village. According to Dao beliefs, men, even the elderly, who have not undergone the 12 torches initiation are not considered adults as they have not been officially recognized, initiated into the faith, given a spiritual name…
The Dao people hold the 12 torches initiation ceremony in high regard, viewing it as a crucial rite of passage that must be completed during their lifetime, especially for men. They believe that only those who have undergone the initiation possess the necessary wisdom and virtue to discern right from wrong, and are acknowledged as descendants of the Ban Vuong. Each year, the Dao people carefully select an auspicious date for the ceremony, as well as determining the appropriate number of participants.
During the 12 torches initiation, there are 12 primary masters and assistant masters who oversee the ceremony, while the participants are referred to as disciples. Participation in the 12 torches initiation is not taken lightly, and those selected must be well-versed in the rituals, procedures, ceremonial sequences, and hymns recorded in the ancient Dao script. To achieve this, participants must undergo a lengthy journey of continuous learning and self-improvement.
The teachers conduct ceremonies guiding disciples to “journey to the spirit world” and return to meet their ancestors. This is considered the most significant ritual in the rite of initiation.
For the Dao people, receiving initiation not only signifies their physical maturity and their importance within the community, earning respect, but also strengthens them spiritually.
This ritual helps them orient themselves towards their roots, live by ethical principles, and understand the importance of living for the community. Those who are initiated will become senior priests, with the ability to lead important ceremonies for their village.
The master awarded seals to the students who had successfully completed all the rituals for obtaining the 12th level of enlightenment. The attire of the masters during the ceremony bore resemblance to that of the students and strongly reflected the cultural and religious traditions of the Dao ethnic group.
The marriage certificate ceremony symbolizes the maturity of the couples partaking in the credentialing event.
The ceremonial ritual of the 12-lantern procession not only exemplifies the unique cultural beauty of the Dao ethnic group, but also showcases their pride in carrying out traditional cultural ceremonies. The Dao people, as well as the Vietnamese ethnic community as a whole, hold the 12-lantern procession in high regard for its demonstration of noble human values and the moral principles of the ethnic group.
Participants of the ritual strictly abstain from committing harmful or immoral acts, and after the procession, they emerge as responsible individuals with a desire for personal growth and a commitment to contribute to the community. In particular, Dao men who pass through the ceremonial door demonstrate their maturity and qualification to shoulder the responsibilities of their lineage and community.
The ceremony of inaugurating musical instrument, the ceremony of worshipping the Altar of Kings takes place on the last day of the hierarchical ceremony. During this ceremony, both the recipients and the attendees are able to listen to the legends and origins of their own ethnic group.
The ceremonial attire of the Dao people not only serves as a significant cultural heritage of humanity but also contributes to preserving, maintaining, and promoting the beautiful cultural traits of the Vietnamese ethnic community.
Photograph by Kiều Anh Dũng
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