Subscribe Now

travelers today

Home » Travel Culture

Everything You Need To Know About This Vietnamese Religion That Worships Women

Travelers Today       By    MJ De Castro

Updated: Jul 06, 2018 10:18 AM EDT

Text Size: A A A

People in Vietnam worship a peculiar goddess, which they believe is a source of strength, spirituality, and inspiration, particularly among working-class families — Dao Mau, or Mother Goddess Worship.

Through time, the popularity of Dao Mau has decreased. However, its practices came back after its inscription as intangible cultural heritage by UNESCO two years ago. Travelers can see and experience this unique religion in the contemporary play entitled Four Palaces.

Director Viet Tu saw a hau dong performance in 2013 that inspired him to do a respectful stage version of the ceremony. People all over the world are awed by the performance of a trance-like hau dong practice held at Cong Nhan Theatre. The portrayal promises to bring back thousands of years of history in an hour.

Head of religious studies at the Vietnam Academy of Social Science Dr. Nguyen Ngoc Mai confirmed to CNN Travel that the worship of mother goddesses is truly popular in the country and that it has been around for a long time already.

Nguyen added that Vietnam is mostly an agricultural country, so the worship of agricultural goddesses is not unusual. Before being added into the UNESCO roster, the audience were mostly businessmen and farmers. Now, the audience includes people from all walks of life, whether it may be high-level officials or civil servants.

About The Religion

Dao Mau is devoted to female deities. It was established in the 16th century as a substitute for Confucianism.

According to Dr. Nguyen, in Confucianism, the role of women is subservient, submissive, or passive. Additionally, people do not give women the respect that they deserve. The females needed a symbol, so "Lieu Hanh" was introduced.

Lieu Hạnh is a leading Mother Goddess figure in Vietnam and is a representation of the intense desire for independence, freedom, and happiness of Vietnamese women. She is also referred to as the Mother of the World, a nymph who came down on Earth, lived as a person, and later on became a Buddhist nun.

About The Worship

In the worship, hau dong roughly means "to go into a trance" or "to mount the medium."

Hau dong was prohibited until 1987 and was considered as a superstitious ceremony during the Communist rule in Vietnam. When the government loosened its restrictions, it came back to Hanoi and other urban communities.

In the religious ceremony, the mediums, traditionally chosen by the goddesses at birth, and their assistants are adorned in a bright garb, make offers to Buddha, perform traditional dances, and ask the goddesses to possess their bodies.

People will know that the spirits have finally entered the chosen medium's body when her personality changes. Then, all words said by the medium and her actions are treated as the goddess'.

See Now: The U.S. had the highest number of Most Wanted properties, dominating the Hotels.com Loved By Guests Awards 2018

Tags
Religion, worship, Vietnam
© 2023 Traverlers Today, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Join Our Conversation

Subscribe to our newsletter

Receive the latest travel news, reviews, and more..

Most Popular

6 Tips For Traveling With Young Children

6 Tips For Traveling With Young Children

Planning for a trip takes some time, even if it's just you g

How Traveling Can Make You Happy

How Traveling Can Make You Happy

If you have never traveled before but are thinking of doing so then

Scottish Islands: The Best Places to Reside!

Scottish Islands: The Best Places to Reside!

So there are a few islands that can be found off the Sco

How to Plan a Multi-Destination Honeymoon During COVID

How to Plan a Multi-Destination Honeymoon During COVID

You need to know how to plan appropriately and

7 Tips for Amazing Campus Visits

7 Tips for Amazing Campus Visits

A campus visit's significance could not be overstated. After all, fo

4 Tips For Curating The Perfect Gallery Wall

4 Tips For Curating The Perfect Gallery Wall

Having a gallery wall brings plenty of benefits to your

Water Travel Options That Don’t Involve a Cruise

Water Travel Options That Don’t Involve a Cruise

There is something equally relaxing and invigorati

Photo by Erik Odiin on Unsplash

Things That Will Help Cost-Conscious Vacationers Save Money

There are several ways you can significan

Photo by Mikhail Nilov from Pexels

How to Make Vet Visits Affordable in 2022

If the situation is minor, you might be lucky and get away

Photo by Tim Samuel from Pexels

Know Your Florida Driving Rules

There is so much to do in the region, but we want to focus on some of

Photo by Ging Ang from Pexels

Holidaying in your own Country: Try these Fun Trips!

Many countries are opening their borders, but if

Photo by Jessica Lewis Creative from Pexels

The Best Tech Tools for Expats

Here’s a quick look at most versatile tech tools for expats on the m

Photo by Tobi from Pexels

How to Turn a Road Trip Into A Luxury Adventure

But a road trip doesn’t have to mean living on the

Australian Citizenship Test: Everything You Need to Know

Australian Citizenship Test: Everything You Need to Know

Do you want to become a citizen of Australia

Hair transplant Istanbul: Why is it so popular?

Hair Transplant Istanbul: Why is it so Popular?

Getting a hair transplant in Istanbul is affordable i

What’s Going on with Rental Cars Right Now?

What’s Going on with Rental Cars Right Now?

They are incredibly expensive, and they’re also in sh

Role of Professional companies in International Trade

Role of Professional companies in International Trade

International trade holds great importance in a

The 5 Best Wines from Germany

The 5 Best Wines from Germany

Riesling is Germany’s best-known wine, but the country makes other fi

Here's Why You Should Go Camping On Weekends

Here's Why You Should Go Camping On Weekends

There is nothing like the great outdoors –– natureâ€

The Best Tote Bags To Travel With in 2022

The Best Tote Bags To Travel With in 2022

Who knew you could pack your entire life away into one litt

7 Captivating Attractions for Kids in San Diego

7 Captivating Attractions for Kids in San Diego

San Diego is a magnificent place, and it would not be

travelers today

© 2023 TRAVELERS TODAY All rights reserved.

Subscribe to our newsletter
Real Time Analytics