Steeped in an intricate tapestry of history and cultural significance, Vietnam emerges as a realm resplendent with a kaleidoscope of festivities and jubilations. Amidst this vibrant spectrum of celebrations, a resplendent gem illuminates the twelfth month of the Lunar Calendar, akin to January in the Gregorian Calendar, casting its enigmatic allure over the hearts of all. This is the month of Tet Tao Quan, an illustrious occasion steeped in profound reverence, encapsulating the very essence of Vietnamese religious beliefs.
Origins Woven in Myth and Tradition
The ancestral roots of Tet Tao Quan are firmly enmeshed in an age-old fable, one that unfurls like an ancient scroll, recounting the saga of “Two Men and a Woman” whose destinies would ultimately intertwine, birthing the venerated triad known as the Deities of Tao Quan.
A chapter in this timeless tale commences with the union of Trong Cao, the husband, and Thi Nhi, the wife. United in matrimony for a span that stretched beyond measure, their fervent desire for progeny remained unfulfilled, fanning the flames of discontent that burned ever brighter. A tempest of discord unfurled beneath their shared roof, until one fateful day, when Trong Cao, a tempest within himself, banished Thi Nhi from his domain. Thus exiled, she embarked upon a new chapter in her life, becoming the bride of Pham Lang.
The inexorable passage of time imbued Trong Cao with a clarity born of remorse, propelling him on a quest to reclaim the love he had forsaken. Along the arduous journey of his penance, he traversed realms, squandering his very fortune, metamorphosing into a pauper, his every possession a mere wisp of memory. Fate, in its capriciousness, conspired to reunite the estranged couple in the shadow of Thi Nhi’s new home. And so, beneath the golden hues of twilight, a poignant exchange unfolded, threads of nostalgia and conversation weaving together the tattered fragments of their shared past.
As the veils of evening embraced the land, Pham Lang’s return cast a shadow of impending revelation. Cognizant of the uncharted paths that lay ahead, Thi Nhi orchestrated a clandestine orchestration, beseeching Trong Cao to find refuge within the silken cocoon of a straw stack nestled in the verdant embrace of the backyard. An unwitting catalyst, Pham Lang kindled a blaze that devoured the stack, reducing the sanctuary to ashen whispers. Trong Cao’s earthly existence thus ebbed away, melding with the ephemeral tendrils of smoke and memory. Tragedy upon tragedy, Thi Nhi, ensnared within a web of sorrow, chose to forge her destiny alongside her lost love, plunging headlong into the roaring pyre. Grief rippled through Pham Lang, his soul shattered by the confluence of grief and remorse, beckoning him to join the ethereal realm that beckoned beyond the mortal veil.
In the domain of the heavens, Ngoc Hoang, the Jade Emperor, deemed these departed souls worthy of celestial honor, anointing them with the mantle of Tao Quan, the Deities of Kitchen, Land, House, and Market. These benevolent spirits, united in ethereal purpose, assumed guardianship over hearth and domicile, becoming custodians of prosperity and harmony. An annual pilgrimage was ordained – every 23rd day of December in the Lunar New Year, the Deities would ascend the celestial ladder to render their cosmic report and beseech for the bountiful blessings of the impending year. Their descent upon the eve of the New Year, a symphony of duty, an ode to benevolence, unfurled the chapter anew, destined to be retold with each passing annum.
A Contemporary Rite of Awe and Gratitude
Tet Tao Quan, a symphony of sacred gestures, unfolds as a grand overture, orchestrating a grandiloquent farewell for the trio of Deities as they embark upon their celestial voyage. A tapestry woven of tradition, faith, and familial devotion, this sacred rite permeates every corner of the Vietnamese homestead.
Upon the 23rd day of December, the matriarchs of households don their aprons, infusing the air with the scents of culinary alchemy. A sumptuous tableau emerges, an array of delicacies punctuating the tapestry of tradition – steamed sticky rice harvested afresh, and plain porridge, a canvas awaiting the artist’s touch. The family altar metamorphoses into a resplendent sanctum, adorned with the aromatic embrace of blossoms and fruits, a tangible testament to devotion and respect.
Three votive paper caps grace the altar – a resplendent sunbeam of gold crowning Mrs. Tao, and two somber obsidian exhalations shrouding the benevolent countenances of the Mr. Taos. In harmonious symmetry, a vessel cradling life teeters on the precipice of anticipation – a bowl of water, a cradle of existence, a domicile for a golden carp, a creature graced with life and purpose.
As the ceremonial curtains draw close, the ritual finds its denouement, its crescendo in the liberation of the golden carp. A symbol of reverence towards the animal kingdom and an expression of gratitude, this act of liberation is a whispered promise, a petition for the forthcoming year’s bounty. And, in a harmonious resonance of tradition and contemporary artistry, the visages of Tao Quan find their presence within the modern narrative, a testament to the enduring splendor of Tet Festival’s timeless tapestry.
In the embrace of Tet Tao Quan, Vietnam’s heart beats to the rhythm of devotion and renewal, an opulent symphony echoing across the tapestry of time.
