The market is held under this banyan treeI didn't know that there exists a Yin Yang Market of the Dead at Xuan O Village in Viet Nam's northern city of Bac Ninh until I read about it in the Internet. It appears that the market was discontinued for sometime but will be resumed on Feb 17 and 18 (4th and 5th days of the first lunar month) next year.
The Yin-Yang Market used to be organised once a year at Xuan O Village, where living people can have a unique chance to meet the dead.
The market takes place at sunset on the 4th day of the first lunar month. When it turns dark, yang gives way to yin and heaven meets the earth. It ends before dawn.
The Yin-Yang Market used to be organised once a year at Xuan O Village, where living people can have a unique chance to meet the dead.
The market takes place at sunset on the 4th day of the first lunar month. When it turns dark, yang gives way to yin and heaven meets the earth. It ends before dawn.
It is there where the living gather at a big yard by an ancient banyan tree next to the village’s cemetery.
The main goods exchanged at the market are black cocks, fake money, incense, betel and areca nuts.
According to legend, the people used no light sources so that both buyers and sellers could not see one another. They exchanged in silence.
Because the market is joined by dead souls who flocked to buy things and exchange sorrows for happiness, participants didn’t talk and laugh loudly for fear that the souls would be scared, nor set any light as the black cocks might crow and turn the souls away.
At the entrance of the market, there was a basin of water for the market attendants to check whether money they received for the dead was real or fake.
The Yin-Yang market started following a war between the Trung Sisters’ troops and Chinese Han invaders that took place here around 40 AD. After the battle, families of soldiers killed at the battle went to that village to search for the souls of the dead bringing along with worshipping things here. Gradually, the Yin Yang Market came into being.
The main goods exchanged at the market are black cocks, fake money, incense, betel and areca nuts.
According to legend, the people used no light sources so that both buyers and sellers could not see one another. They exchanged in silence.
Because the market is joined by dead souls who flocked to buy things and exchange sorrows for happiness, participants didn’t talk and laugh loudly for fear that the souls would be scared, nor set any light as the black cocks might crow and turn the souls away.
At the entrance of the market, there was a basin of water for the market attendants to check whether money they received for the dead was real or fake.
The Yin-Yang market started following a war between the Trung Sisters’ troops and Chinese Han invaders that took place here around 40 AD. After the battle, families of soldiers killed at the battle went to that village to search for the souls of the dead bringing along with worshipping things here. Gradually, the Yin Yang Market came into being.
It would be interesting to find out more about the market once it reopens next year.
Source: Vietnam News/Asia News Network
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