Meeting only on the night of the 4th and 5th of the lunar new year, the Am Duong market in O village, Vo Cuong ward (Bac Ninh city) has become a form of cultural activities imbued with the colors of folk beliefs of the local people. this.
Besides the meaning of “buying and selling luck”, the Am Duong market also has a spiritual meaning, creating an opportunity for the dead and the living to meet, becoming a form of cultural activities imbued with folk beliefs. of the people of Kinh Bac.
According to preserved documents, in the year of the Tiger (AD 43), the Han Dynasty ordered Ma Vien to bring troops to fight Hai Ba Trung. The enemy troops fought to Vu Ninh town, Tien Du district (Bac Ninh province), then met Hai Ba Trung’s army and a dramatic battle occurred, many soldiers died. After the battle, the relatives of those soldiers returned to the old battlefield to remember their loved ones on the occasion following the Lunar New Year.
Gradually, people believe that the door to the underworld only opens once a year on the night of the 4th and 5th of the first lunar month for people under the moon to meet their relatives on earth. From there, the Yin Yang market was born.
The market starts meeting at the time of “lighting up” on an empty lot, next to a shrine with a sacred reputation in the area. This is a market without tents, do not use candle lights for lighting.
The market is not a place to buy and sell luck like many other markets. In the market, no one bargains, the seller does not count the money paid by the buyer. In the dark, only the shadows of people walking and whispering might be seen. People hardly pay much attention to “buying and selling at risk” like in some other markets. Market meeting is an opportunity for mortals to meet people of the underworld.
Although there are no tents, but in the market, there are many alcohol, products, incense, candles, areca, betel nut, salt, porridge, fruits…
Salted rice, lighters are packed into small bags to easily serve tourists from all over the world to “buy and sell luck” at the beginning of the year.
In the second year, the Yin Yang market was restored, and many people everywhere eagerly gathered to re-enjoy the cultural values of the ancients.
Black chicken, a special item at the Yin Yang market in O village.
According to the people of O village, the black chicken is a symbol of mysticism and spirituality. Only those who are really lucky can squeeze in and choose for themselves a black chicken to bring back from the market.
Not only old people burn votive paper for the sound people in Am Phu market, many young people experience buying votive paper by dropping paper money into the water and then turning it into gold for the helpless dead according to the old custom.
For the people of Kinh Bac, the market is imbued with the folklore of Kinh Bac. At the beginning of Spring, every year, people come to the fair just to pray for good luck; Risks and sorrows will be erased when entering the market with the hope that business will be favorable.
