Sacrifice ceremony of Red Dao people in Hoang Su Phi

The Dao ethnic minorities are mainly found along the border regions between Vietnam and China, as well as Vietnam and Laos, living predominantly in the mountainous provinces of northern Vietnam. In Ha Giang Province, the Dao people form the third largest ethnic group. They are widely recognized for their diligence, hard work, and relatively stable livelihoods, as well as for their strong ability to preserve their cultural identity almost intact through generations.

Among the most important cultural practices of the Dao people is the Cap Sac ceremony, a sacred ritual that plays a decisive role in the life of every Dao man.

What Is The Cap Sac Ceremony?

The Cap Sac ceremony is a traditional coming-of-age initiation ritual practiced mainly by the Red Dao (Dao Do) and the Dao with Long Tunics (Dao Ao Dai) in the Hoang Su Phi district. According to Dao spiritual philosophy, this ceremony is indispensable in a man’s life.

Only after completing the Cap Sac ceremony is a young man officially recognized as a full adult. From that moment on, he gains the spiritual right to worship ancestors, participate in important community rituals, and communicate with the spiritual world. Without Cap Sac, a Dao man is considered incomplete in both social and spiritual terms.

The ceremony can be held for boys from the age of 13 onwards. It usually takes place during the lunar months of November, December, or January, after the harvest season, when families are free from agricultural work. Preparations often begin many months, or even a year, in advance.

Among the Red Dao, the ceremony may be organized for up to 13 participants at the same time (or another odd number), usually at the house of a clan leader. In contrast, the Dao with Long Tunics typically organize the ceremony for only one person at a time, hosted at the family’s home.

In Hoang Su Phi, Cap Sac ceremonies are most commonly held in Dao villages such as Ho Thau, Thong Nguyen, Nam Ty, Nam Khoa, Nam Son, and Ban Luoc.

Preparations And Important Rituals

Cap Sac is one of the most sacred rituals in Dao culture and requires careful, long-term preparation. Families within the same lineage gather well in advance to select auspicious dates, ensuring that relatives and neighbors can attend without conflicts with farming activities.

Before the ceremony, the host family prepares offerings to invite the shamans (Thay Cung) and gathers all necessary supplies, including rice, meat, traditional alcohol, ceremonial costumes, and ritual items for the priests. During this period, strict rules must be followed: participants must avoid offensive language, conflicts, romantic relationships, and contact with women to maintain ritual purity.

At the ceremonial site, paintings depicting the Jade Emperor (Ngoc Hoang) and Dao deities are hung. Altars dedicated to ancestors and guardian spirits are carefully arranged. Decorative ritual papers symbolize heaven, earth, the community, and the Dao ethnic identity.

To enhance the festive atmosphere, young Dao women are often invited to sing traditional folk songs, especially Pao Dung chants, which are closely associated with the Cap Sac ceremony. These songs include antiphonal love songs exchanged between men and women, as well as songs expressing friendship, gratitude, family bonds, and joy. The lyrics are often improvised, reflecting the singers’ emotions and creativity.

The Role Of The Shamans

The shamans who conduct the Cap Sac ceremony are carefully selected and highly respected. They are responsible for determining the proper ritual dates and performing all spiritual rites. Each ceremony requires six shamans, each assigned specific duties for major and minor rituals.

Two ritual books are prepared: one is used during the ceremony, while the other is later given to the initiated young man as a spiritual guide. Before the ceremony begins, the shamans perform offerings to their own ancestors, asking for protection and support.

Throughout the ceremony, the shamans conduct ritual dances, prayers, offerings, and symbolic actions, guiding the young men through a series of spiritual trials and teachings.

The Ceremony In Practice

The Cap Sac ceremony begins with the ritual of presenting offerings to the ancestors. The host family sacrifices at least one pig (the number and size depending on the family’s wealth) as a sign of respect. The shamans then purify the ceremonial space before beating drums at the entrance to invite ancestral spirits to attend.

At the doorway, incense is burned, and sacred dances are performed to welcome the spirits into the house.

A complete Cap Sac ceremony lasts three days and three nights. The more participants involved, the greater the blessings and good fortune believed to be bestowed upon the host family. During the ceremony, the shamans formally report to the ancestors, explaining the purpose of the ritual.

The young men listen attentively to moral teachings that emphasize ethical behavior, respect, responsibility, and courage. Through prayers and symbolic rites, they are spiritually reborn as adults.

After completing the ceremony, the initiates gain high social and spiritual status within their family, lineage, and village. They are now eligible to take on important responsibilities and are regarded with pride and respect.

Levels Of The Cap Sac Ceremony

The Cap Sac ceremony consists of different levels:

First level: 3 candles and 36 symbolic soldiers
Second level: 7 candles and 72 symbolic soldiers
Highest level: 12 candles and 120 symbolic soldiers

In Hoang Su Phi, the seven-candle Cap Sac ceremony is the most commonly practiced among the Red Dao.

Cultural And Educational Significance

For parents, organizing a Cap Sac ceremony is a way to affirm that they have successfully raised their sons, while also expressing gratitude to the spirits of the forest, water, rice, and earth.

Beyond its religious elements, the Cap Sac ceremony carries profound educational values. It teaches young men to avoid wrongdoing, to respect ancestors, deities, nature, parents, friends, and the community, and to live with sincerity, humility, and courage. These moral lessons, deeply embedded in ritual symbolism, continue to shape the ethical foundation of Dao society.