Thousands of people from all corners of the country flocked to thenorthern province of Hung Yen on March 21 to attend a festivalcommemorating Chu Dong Tu and Tien Dung, who have been honoured bygenerations for their immortal love.
The festival,which took place at Da Hoa temple, Binh Minh commune, Khoai Chaudistrict, forms part of activities in the National Tourism Year of theRed River Delta- Hai Phong 2013.
The highlight of theevent was an art performance with special songs and dances that depictthe predestined meeting of the couple.
Legend has it that ChuDong Tu, was born in Da Trach commune, Khoai Chau district, Hung Yenprovince. His parents died when he was very young. He lived by fishingand was so poor that didn’t even have a loincloth.
One day, whenhe saw the royal barge passing by with Princess Tien Dung, the daughterof the third Hung King, on board, he got very scared and hid himselfunder the sand. Unexpectedly, the princess decided to erect a tent up onthe shore so she could bathe. As the water trickled to the ground, itwashed away some of the sand, exposing Chu Dong Tu in all his nakedness.
Tien Dung, who believed that the encounter was arranged byHeaven, fell in love with Chu Dong Tu and immediately wanted to marryhim.
But Hung King opposed the marriage and intended to arrestChu Dong Tu to punish him. Both Chu Dong Tu and Tien Dung had to hidewith local people and to earn a living, they began a small business.After that, they met a Taoism hermit who taught them the superpower.When reaching the highest part of the path, they flew off to Heaven andwere canonised.
As the legend goes, Saint Chu Dong Tu was incontrol of things all along and was present on earth to save mankindfrom its suffering and teaches people to do business, fish and weave tohave a good life.
For his contributions, Chu Dong Tuhas been dubbed as one of four immortals of Vietnamese folk belief,along with Tan Vien (the God of the Mountain), Saint Giong and otherGoddess Lieu Hanh.-VNA
The festival,which took place at Da Hoa temple, Binh Minh commune, Khoai Chaudistrict, forms part of activities in the National Tourism Year of theRed River Delta- Hai Phong 2013.
The highlight of theevent was an art performance with special songs and dances that depictthe predestined meeting of the couple.
Legend has it that ChuDong Tu, was born in Da Trach commune, Khoai Chau district, Hung Yenprovince. His parents died when he was very young. He lived by fishingand was so poor that didn’t even have a loincloth.
One day, whenhe saw the royal barge passing by with Princess Tien Dung, the daughterof the third Hung King, on board, he got very scared and hid himselfunder the sand. Unexpectedly, the princess decided to erect a tent up onthe shore so she could bathe. As the water trickled to the ground, itwashed away some of the sand, exposing Chu Dong Tu in all his nakedness.
Tien Dung, who believed that the encounter was arranged byHeaven, fell in love with Chu Dong Tu and immediately wanted to marryhim.
But Hung King opposed the marriage and intended to arrestChu Dong Tu to punish him. Both Chu Dong Tu and Tien Dung had to hidewith local people and to earn a living, they began a small business.After that, they met a Taoism hermit who taught them the superpower.When reaching the highest part of the path, they flew off to Heaven andwere canonised.
As the legend goes, Saint Chu Dong Tu was incontrol of things all along and was present on earth to save mankindfrom its suffering and teaches people to do business, fish and weave tohave a good life.
For his contributions, Chu Dong Tuhas been dubbed as one of four immortals of Vietnamese folk belief,along with Tan Vien (the God of the Mountain), Saint Giong and otherGoddess Lieu Hanh.-VNA
