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[Photos] Tug-of-War Games Unite Vietnamese and Korean Communities

Tug-of-war rituals and games from Vietnam and the Republic of Korea (RoK) were included in UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2015.

Administrator

22 November, 2023

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Eight collectives practicing Tug-of-war Rituals and Games from Vietnam and Republic of Korea (RoK) came together in Hanoi to share, perform, and introduce their community’s heritage.

Republic of Korea

The event took place on November 18 at Tran Vu temple, Long Bien district, Hanoi, as part of the 2023 Hanoi Creative Design Festival.

The event is organized by the municipal Department of Culture and Sports in collaboration with the Cultural Heritage Association of Vietnam and Long Bien district from November 17-28.

[Photos] Tug-of-War Games Connects Vietnamese - Korean Communities

The performance of Vietnam – RoK Tug of War Rituals and Games drew participation from nearly 500 artisans and practitioners from Vietnam’s Lao Cai, Vinh Phuc, Bac Ninh, Hanoi and RoK’s Dangjin city.

Although each community and country has a different name and practice of tug-of-war rituals and games, they all aim to pray for good health for the people, good weather, and lush crops.

The common point of Vietnamese tug-of-war rituals and games with other countries around the world is a common thread. The rope is a symbol of community cohesion, a connection between people and nature, an extension of arms, a relay from one community to another.

The rope is a symbol of community cohesion, a connection between people and nature, an extension of arms, a relay from one community to another.

On November 17, representatives from Vietnamese museums, relic sites, and universities, along with members from the Gijisi tug‐of‐war preservation association in Dangjin city, held a seminar in Hanoi to share experiences in organizing educational activities to preserve and promote the value of traditional tug-of-war rituals and games.

Tug-of-war rituals and games from Vietnam, Cambodia, the Philippines, and RoK were added to UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2015.

Hannah Nguyen