The Ceremony of Passing the Sacred Decree of Thầy Chúa on Phú Quý Island

Every year on the 4th day of the 4th lunar month, the villages on Phú Quý Island hold the Ceremony of Passing the Sacred Decree and the Procession of the Decree. This custom gathers participation from 9 out of the 10 villages across the island, to honor Princess Bàn Tranh and Thầy Nại — two key figures credited with founding the villages and protecting the island’s territorial borders.

The ceremony lasts for three days (May 18, 19, and 20) and includes many rituals such as: welcoming the Princess to the Dinh Thầy shrine, performing the ritual of greeting the deity, the artistic rite of conferring the decree, handing over the decree and the property of Bổn Điền to the Triều Dương village which will receive the duty, opening the traditional opera, and the royal honoring ceremony.

According to tradition, each village will receive the sacred decree to keep and worship for one year, after which it must be passed on to the next village, in a continuous cycle.

This custom of passing the sacred decree is not only a local religious ritual but also attracts hundreds of visitors from afar who come to offer incense and pay tribute to the ancestors’ merits. Through this, it strengthens the bonds between villages and neighbors, praying for a harmonious and prosperous life for the people, while together building, protecting, and developing the island district better and better.

Rate this post

Recent Posts