What is “hầu đồng”? Understanding the essence of a folk belief

The red veil (khăn phủ diện) is not merely a ritual implement but a symbol imbued with profound spiritual significance within the Mother Goddess Belief of the Three Palaces (Đạo Mẫu Tam Phủ). Placed over the head of the medium (đồng nhân) prior to each trance performance (giá hầu), the veil marks a liminal moment—a […]

Hầu đồng is a form of possession in which deities of the Four Palaces descend into the medium, re-embodying the image of the Holy Mothers and Saints as they appear among humans, close to earthly life. Because of the cultural diversity across regions, we can clearly see the richness of forms, colors, and the meticulous […]

Within the Mother Goddess belief system, rituals and festivals are abundant and diverse, carrying unique characteristics that distinguish them from other religions and spiritual practices. However, the most central and representative is the ritual of Lên đồng (spirit possession, also called Hầu bóng), along with the festival system, such as “Father’s commemoration in the eighth […]

1. OriginDance is created to serve human needs and to reflect human life. Generally, dance in Vietnam has either folk or courtly origins, corresponding to the cultural and spiritual demands of the common people or of the aristocracy. Lên đồng dance derives from folk traditions and from the needs of the people. Vietnamese peasants historically had […]