The re-enactment of the old Nguyen Dan ceremony under the Nguyen Dynasty was to introduce and promote the traditional beauty of the old royal Tet and the ancestors’ valuable cultural traits.

Nguyen Dan was a ceremony under the Nguyen Dynasty, held on the first day of the Lunar New Year with Dai trieu (the Grand Audience) at Thai Hoa Palace and Thuong trieu (the Casual Audience) at Can Chanh Palace.

Starting the ceremony was the ceremonial Grand Audience at Dai trieu courtyard and Thai Hoa palace. The king had left Can Chanh Palace to enter Dai Cung Mon (Gate to the Inner Court) and Thai Hoa Palace to be present at the ceremony... During the ceremony, the mandarins would congratulate the king and bestow the king's grace upon everyone on the occasion of the Lunar New Year with solemn rituals and court music performances.

After that, the king left Thai Hoa Palace for Can Chanh Palace to perform other Nguyen Dan rituals. Here, the king’s brothers, young princes, royal dukes would kneel to congratulate the king. A royal edict then followed to announce a royal banquet and spring celebrations ...

Finally, the royal banquets would take place at Can Chanh and Ta Vu, Huu Vu, Ta Dai Lau Vien, Huu Dai Lau Vien palaces.

The re-enactment of these rituals is hoped to promote both the tangible and intangible heritages, as well as introduce the traditional quintessence of the old royal Tet.

Bien Chung set of instruments (brass bells) were used in Dai nhac (court music performances for formal rituals involving the king) and Tieu nhac (general music performances)

Bien Khanh set of instruments (stone gongs) in Dai nhac and Tieu nhac were used in the ceremony

The king’s brothers, young princes, royal dukes would kneel to congratulate the king

The mandarins and royals attended the banquet at Can Chanh and Ta Vu, Huu Vu, Ta Dai Lau Vien, Huu Dai Lau Vien palaces.

The mandarins at Thai Hoa Palace

Dai Trieu ceremony (the Grand Audience) at Dai Trieu courtyard

The mandarins submitted congratulatory letters to the king

Panoramic view of Dai Trieu ceremony (the Grand Audience) at Dai Trieu courtyard

Announcing the royal edict for a banquet and follow-up spring celebrations

By Hue News