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| Guide | Hue | Festivals | Row skiffs racing |
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ROW SKIFFS RACING FESTIVAL |
Skiff rowing is a popular festival organized at the
beginning of Spring, the origin of which was dated from
the 15th century. This custom of row skiff racing has its
origin in the praying for rain from the primitive time of
inhabitants mainly living on agriculture.
It's part of the ritual ceremony of praying for rain, for
fishing with the wish of getting and abundant crop. The
custom of yearly skiff racing on the Perfume river
organized by the imperial court on the occasion of every
coming spring, has also all the ritual worship before
ordering the race to begin. The chief of ceremony is a
high-ranking Mandarin.
The altar platform is set up right in the middle part (the
navel) around which all the rowing skiffs should turn
first, then carry on for the race. Usually the whole race
includes ten phases: the first one called "trao cung"
reserved for rituals, the eight following ones with money
prizes and the final one called "trao pha".
As a rule each phase comprises three rounds with six
turnabouts, with the exception on the "trao cung" which
consists only in one round for getting four tickets at
four stages.
As compliments to the four walks of life, the tickets are
named in this order: scholar, peasant, worker and trader.
All those tickets, after the race are put on the altar as
objects for worship to the village tutelary genie.
After the ceremony three rolls of drum signal the start.
In the race for tickets, the paddle can not be replaced.
Once all the rounds are accomplished and the target
reached, the regulations require that the chief rower
bring the paddle to the observer mandarin's table.
This competition in physical strength has become a very
attractive, resolute contention manifesting the talent,
the skillfulness and the experiences of the Thua Thien-Hue
people well versed in their job up to now.
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