The Hùng King Temple Festival is an important occasion for Vietnamese people to remember and honor their ancestors, expressing gratitude to those who founded and expanded the nation. But who were the 18 Hùng Kings, and which king is commemorated during this festival? Let’s explore these questions in the following article.
1 Who were the 18 Hùng Kings?
According to the Đại Việt sử lược (Historical Records of Đại Việt) and other historical documents, the Hùng Kings’ dynasty spanned 18 generations, comprising the following rulers:
1. Kinh Dương Vương (Húy Lộc Tục, also known as Lục Dục Vương): Born in 2919 BC, he ascended the throne at the age of 41 and reigned for 86 years, from 2879 BC to 2794 BC.
2. Lạc Long Quân (Húy Sùng Lãm, also known as Hùng Hiền Vương): Born in 2825 BC, he became king at the age of 33 and ruled for 269 years, from 2793 BC to 2525 BC.
3. Hùng Quốc Vương (Húy Hùng Lân): Born in 2570 BC, he ascended the throne at 18 and reigned for 272 years, from 2524 BC to 2253 BC.
4. Hùng Hoa Vương (Húy Bửu Lang): He became king in 2252 BC and ruled for 342 years, from 2254 BC to 1913 BC.
5. Hùng Hy Vương (Húy Bảo Lang): Born in 2030 BC, he ascended the throne at the age of 59 and reigned for 200 years, from 1912 BC to 1713 BC.
6. Hùng Hồn Vương (Húy Long Tiên Lang): Born in 1740 BC, he became king at 29 and ruled for 81 years, from 1712 BC to 1632 BC.
7. Hùng Chiêu Vương (Húy Quốc Lang): Born in 1768 BC, he ascended the throne at 18 and reigned for 200 years, from 1631 BC to 1432 BC.
8. Hùng Vỹ Vương (Húy Vân Lang): Born in 1469 BC, he became king at 39 and ruled for 100 years, from 1431 BC to 1332 BC.
9. Hùng Định Vương (Húy Chân Nhân Lang): Born in 1375 BC, he ascended the throne at the age of 45 and reigned for 80 years, from 1331 BC to 1252 BC.
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Who were the 18 Hùng Kings?
10. Hùng Uy Vương (Húy Hoàng Long Lang): He ruled for 90 years, from 1251 BC to 1162 BC.
11. Hùng Trinh Vương (Húy Hưng Đức Lang): Born in 1211 BC, he ascended the throne at 51 and reigned for 107 years, from 1161 BC to 1055 BC.
12. Hùng Vũ Vương (Húy Đức Hiền Lang): Born in 1105 BC, he became king at 52 and ruled for 86 years, from 1054 BC to 969 BC.
13. Hùng Việt Vương (Húy Tuấn Lang): Born in 982 BC, he ascended the throne at 23 and reigned for 115 years, from 968 BC to 854 BC.
14. Hùng Anh Vương (Húy Viên Lang): Born in 894 BC, he became king at 42 and ruled for 99 years, from 853 BC to 755 BC.
15. Hùng Triệu Vương (Húy Cảnh Chiêu Lang): Born in 748 BC, he ascended the throne at 35 and reigned for 94 years, from 754 BC to 661 BC.
16. Hùng Tạo Vương (Húy Đức Quân Lang): Born in 712 BC, he ruled for 92 years, from 660 BC to 569 BC.
17. Hùng Nghị Vương (Húy Bảo Quang Lang): Born in 576 BC, he became king at the young age of 9 and reigned for 160 years, from 568 BC to 409 BC.
18. Hùng Duệ Vương: Born in 421 BC, he ascended the throne at 14 and ruled for 150 years, from 408 BC to 258 BC.
2 Whom do we commemorate during the Hùng King Temple Festival?
According to historical legends and myths, the 18 Hùng Kings ruled for over 2,600 years. On average, each king’s reign lasted approximately 150 years. Some scholars explain this by suggesting that the 18 Hùng Kings were not 18 individual rulers but rather 18 different branches of the same family, with multiple kings ruling successively under the same royal title. Even the number 18 is symbolic, indicating the long duration of the Hùng Kings’ rule, as 18 is a multiple of 9, a sacred number for the Vietnamese people.
With so many Hùng Kings, one may wonder which king is specifically commemorated during the festival.
Legend has it that Kinh Dương Vương and his wife, Long Nữ, gave birth to Lạc Long Quân, who later married Âu Cơ and had a son named Hùng Vương.
Thus, Hùng Vương was the direct descendant of Kinh Dương Vương, and this royal title was passed down through successive generations of kings. Therefore, the festival primarily honors Kinh Dương Vương, the founding ancestor of the nation.
Whom do we commemorate during the Hùng King Temple Festival?
Historical records indicate that the tradition of honoring the Hùng Kings dates back 2,000 years. During the reign of An Dương Vương Thục Phán, a stone stele was erected on Nghĩa Lĩnh Mountain, inscribed with the following oath: “With the vast sky and earth as witness, may the land of Nam Việt endure forever, with its roots in the Hùng Vương Temple. May future generations protect the mausoleum of the Hùng Kings and safeguard the territory that the Hùng Kings have passed down. If we fail to keep this oath, may we be struck by lightning and smashed by thunderbolts.”
Subsequent rulers also acknowledged the crucial role of the Hùng Kings in establishing the nation. As a result, the Hùng King Temple Festival is an annual opportunity for the Vietnamese people to pay tribute to those who founded and built their country—the Hùng Kings as a collective.
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3 Where is the Hùng King Temple located?
The Hùng King Temple Historical Site is situated in Cổ Tích village, Hy Cương commune, Việt Trì city, Phú Thọ province. This site is dedicated to the worship of the Hùng Kings, the founders of the nation and ancestors of the Vietnamese people. The temple is located 7 kilometers north of Việt Trì city center and 90 kilometers from Hanoi. Visitors from Hanoi can reach the temple by road via National Highway 2 or by train on the Hanoi-Lào Cai route.
Where is the Hùng King Temple located?
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In conclusion, this article has provided insights into the 18 Hùng Kings and the location of their temple. The Hùng King Temple Festival is a time for all Vietnamese to remember and honor their ancestors who expanded the territory of Vietnam, taking pride in their dragon and fairy lineage. Be sure to check out more interesting information!
The 18 kings of the Hùng dynasty, who were they? Why is there only one commemoration day for the 18 kings?
Legend has it that the kings of the Hùng dynasty ruled over the kingdom of Văn Lang for 18 generations. So, who were these 18 generations?
