Tro Chieng is considered the most anticipated festival in ThanhHoa that has existed from the Ly dynasty so the locals have a saying: “Tro chieng, vat Boc, roi Si/Com dap ke Lo, com thike Lao” to highlight the significant meaning of the festival.
According to historical records, the founder of the festival is General Trinh Quoc Bao who served during the reign of King Ly Thanh Tong (1054 - 1072) and is credited for defeating the Chiem Thanh invaders. To prepare for the fight against the invaders who used elephant troops, the general ordered his soldiers to build bamboo elephants to practice with. During the battle, bamboo elephants which were glued with fireworks attached to them were burned, helping to defeat the invaders’ troops.
In the spring of 1068 when the country was peaceful, the king ordered the festival to begin to welcome spring and the martial arts game with bamboo elephants was reproduced. In 1085, General Trinh Quoc Bao retired and returned his homeland in Trinh Xa village in Yen Ninh commune, Yen Dinh district where he handed down the martial arts game to the villagers. However, the game wasn’t played again until 2007.
According to historical records, the founder of the festival is General Trinh Quoc Bao who served during the reign of King Ly Thanh Tong (1054 - 1072) and is credited for defeating the Chiem Thanh invaders. To prepare for the fight against the invaders who used elephant troops, the general ordered his soldiers to build bamboo elephants to practice with. During the battle, bamboo elephants which were glued with fireworks attached to them were burned, helping to defeat the invaders’ troops.
In the spring of 1068 when the country was peaceful, the king ordered the festival to begin to welcome spring and the martial arts game with bamboo elephants was reproduced. In 1085, General Trinh Quoc Bao retired and returned his homeland in Trinh Xa village in Yen Ninh commune, Yen Dinh district where he handed down the martial arts game to the villagers. However, the game wasn’t played again until 2007.
To start the Tro Chieng festival, the villager elderly conduct
a rite of informing the village patron saint about life of villagers of the past year.
The rite of processing the village patron saint’s altar to the festival’s playground
where the elephant fighting contest will take place.
12 teams gather at Nhat Communal House to process the village patron saint to the festival’s playground.
The procession parades around the village.
The Cheo singing team in the procession.
A ceremony of choosing a son –in-law.
The girl selects a farmer to get married. The couple is given presents.
A reproduction of boats of traders from Japan and the Netherlands to Chieng village to buy agricultural products.
A reproduction of Japanese traders buying silk in Chieng village.
A reproduction of Dutch traders buying rice in Chieng village.
Chieng village’s men disguise into traders from foreign countries to the villager to buy products.
A reproduction of the battle to feat over the ChiemThanh invaders.
An item at the festival’s playground.
The performance of men who beat a ball hang in the middle of the festival’s playground.
The team which beats the target more will become the winner.
An item of Teu climbing up a tree.
The item of dragon fighting.
In dragon fighting, the winner will have a carp in its head.
Elephant fighting.
Elephants attach each other by their horns.
The festival ends with a procession of the village patron saint’s altar to Nhat Communal House.
Now, the villagers in Trinh Xa annually hold the festival from January 10-12 of the lunar calendar on a large scale with many folk games and cultural activities, including an elephant fighting contest. During the contest, each team of four strong men will carry a bamboo elephant which is led by an elder farmer who has mastered the techniques of taming elephants. When the signal is given, the two teams have their elephants fight each other. According to the contest’s rules, the winner will beat the “target” on its rival’s head. After the contest, both elephants are burnt to show the villagers’ gratitude to General Trinh Quoc Bao and their ancestors.
By Thong Thien & Cong Dat
