In late December 2025, in Sung Su A hamlet, Bach Dich commune, Tuyen Quang province, the Tan clan organized such a ceremony for 26 Red Dao couples.
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Ritual offerings and ceremonial items for the title-granting ceremony are carefully prepared. |
For the Red Dao people, the title-granting ceremony not only marks social maturity, but also is a ritual of moral instruction imbued with deep spiritual meaning. Only after being granted a title, a man is officially recognized by ancestors and deities, and has a “spiritual name” to be acknowledged in the invisible world, and permitted to burn incense, worship ancestors, and participate in important family and clan rituals. This ceremony is also a prerequisite for a Red Dao man to fully assume his responsibilities as a husband, a father, and the spiritual pillar of the family.
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Shaman conducts rituals allowing recipients to officially participate in the ceremony. |
A distinctive feature of the title-granting ceremony of the Red Dao people compared to that of some other Dao groups is the lamp-receiving ritual. The lamp bestowed upon the initiate carries not only material significance but also symbolizes wisdom, moral principles, and guiding light. Receiving the lamp signifies acceptance of ancestral teachings, learning to distinguish right from wrong, and living according to ethical standards and traditional customs. From this moment onward, the initiate must discipline himself to live responsibly, refrain from violating laws, and contribute to maintaining harmony within the family and community.
In this ceremony, the Tan clan conduct the ritual with full adherence to traditional rites while adapting to contemporary living conditions. The ceremony is solemnly organized with key stages including the establishment of the ritual altar inside the house, offerings to ancestors and deities, the lamp-receiving ritual, the reading of moral teachings, and the conferral of certificates upon the recipients.
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Recipients enter the sacred space to listen to shamans impart laws, ancestral worship practices, and community conduct. |
Tan La Chem from Sung Su A hamlet shared his great honor to participate in the ceremony. “After the ceremony, I am more aware of my responsibility to preserve traditions, live an exemplary life, educate my children, and contribute to building a united and peaceful clan and village,” Chem said.
The ritual space vividly reflects Red Dao cultural identity, featuring traditional red-dominated costumes, worship paintings, ritual offerings, and ancient prayers performed with great solemnity. Each ritual act contains profound educational meaning, expressing the Red Dao group’s view of harmonious coexistence among humans, ancestors, and the spiritual realm.
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Shaman presents the lamp and read the certificate as recipients kneel to receive the acknowledgment of deities during the ceremony. |
According to Tan Phu U from B3 hamlet, the ceremony is an important affair of the entire clan, not just of one individual or one family. The Tan clan always reminds younger generations to strictly observe the ritual and uphold the moral values of the Red Dao people, so that even as life changes, the cultural roots of the clan and of the Red Dao people are preserved.
Today, the title-granting ceremony of the Red Dao people in Bach Dich commune continues to be maintained with its core values intact, ensuring sacredness while remaining suitable to practical conditions. The ritual not only affirms ethnic cultural identity, but also contributes to traditional education, strengthens community solidarity, and enriches the spiritual and cultural life of local residents.
Translated by Mai Huong