10 Vietnamese documentary heritages honored by UNESCO

On May 8, 2024, within the framework of the 10th General Conference of the UNESCO Memory of the World Program Committee for Asia and the Pacific held in Mongolia, the dossier "The reliefs on nine bronze cauldrons in the Hue Imperial Palace" of Vietnam was officially inscribed in the UNESCO Asia-Pacific Documentary Heritage List. Thus, up to now, Vietnam has 10 documentary heritages honored by UNESCO, including 3 world documentary heritages and 7 documentary heritages in the Asia-Pacific region.

Woodblocks are wooden boards engraved with Han Nom characters in reverse to print books, commonly used in Vietnam during the feudal period. Nguyen Dynasty woodblocks are a special type of document in terms of form, content and production method; they are the originals of famous official documents and official histories of Vietnam compiled and printed mainly under the Nguyen Dynasty. Woodblocks were formed mainly by the technique of engraving Han Nom characters in reverse on wood to print books, commonly used during the feudal period and still preserved today.

Nguyen Dynasty woodblocks are preserved at National Archives Center IV.

The Nguyen Dynasty Woodblocks consist of 34,619 plates, divided into more than 100 books with many topics such as: history, geography, politics - society, military, law, culture - education, religion - ideology - philosophy, language - writing; literature and poetry. With special value in content and art of creation, the Nguyen Dynasty Woodblocks were recognized by UNESCO as a Documentary Heritage under the Memory of the World Program on July 31, 2009 and became the first World Documentary Heritage of Vietnam.

The 82 doctoral steles, corresponding to 82 examinations, dated from 1484 to 1780, record the names of those who passed the exams. These are the only original documents currently remaining in the Temple of Literature - Quoc Tu Giam, considered one of the invaluable cultural heritages left by our ancestors. They are also authentic documents, reflecting a vivid picture of the training and recruitment of talents in Vietnam, lasting more than 300 years under the Le - Mac dynasties.

The Doctor's Stele area is recognized by UNESCO as a World Documentary Heritage.

The system of 82 doctoral steles is also a unique work of art, reflecting the sculpture of many feudal dynasties in Vietnam. Each inscription on the stele is an exemplary piece of literature, expressing philosophical and historical thoughts, views on education, training and the use of talents. In March 2010, 82 doctoral steles at the Temple of Literature - Quoc Tu Giam were recognized by UNESCO as a World Documentary Heritage in the Asia-Pacific region. In July 2011, 82 doctoral steles were recognized as a World Documentary Heritage globally. In May 2012, the entire Temple of Literature - Quoc Tu Giam was recognized by the Government as a special national relic. In January 2015, 82 doctoral steles at the Temple of Literature - Quoc Tu Giam were recognized by the Government as a National Treasure.

The Nguyen Dynasty's Royal Records are a type of Han-Nom document, including administrative documents formed during the state management activities of the Nguyen Dynasty (1802 - 1945): Documents issued by the Emperors, documents submitted by agencies in the government system to the Emperor for approval in vermilion ink, and some diplomatic documents.

Exhibition "Nguyen Dynasty Records - Memories of a Dynasty".

This is the only remaining administrative document of a feudal dynasty, with outstanding value in content due to its rich information, reflecting the entire history, economic and social life, and people of Vietnam at that time. One of the outstanding values of the Nguyen Dynasty's Imperial Records is that they are particularly important documents that contribute to affirming Vietnam's sovereignty over the Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagos. The Nguyen Dynasty's Imperial Records are also the original source of historical documents for compiling official histories under the Nguyen Dynasty such as "Dai Nam Thuc Luc Chinh Bien", "Dai Nam Nhat Thong Chi", "Quoc Trieu Chinh Bien Toat Yeu"... In 2014, the Nguyen Dynasty's Imperial Records were recognized by UNESCO as a Documentary Heritage of the Asia-Pacific region. In 2017, UNESCO continued to recognize Vietnam's Imperial Records of the Nguyen Dynasty as a World Documentary Heritage.

The woodblocks of Vinh Nghiem Pagoda (Duc La village, Tri Yen commune, Yen Dung district, Bac Giang province) are of great significance in assessing the process of autonomy in the nation's ideology and culture; helping to study the development of the Vietnamese language and writing system, from mainly using Chinese characters to valuing and actively using Nom characters, the language of the Vietnamese people born in the 11th century.

The woodblocks are kept and displayed at Vinh Nghiem Pagoda.

The woodblocks of Vinh Nghiem Pagoda have unique documentary values and rich humanistic meanings, which are reflected in the fact that the Truc Lam Zen sect was founded by Tran Nhan Tong - an emperor who became a monk and is the first separate Buddhist sect in Vietnam, on the basis of selectively absorbing Buddhism from India and China. The woodblocks contain a rich and diverse amount of information about the history of Buddhism, the ideology of practicing and engaging in the world of the Truc Lam Zen sect, literature, customs and practices, and the development of woodblock printing and wood carving in Vietnam. With special scientific and historical values, on May 16, 2012, the set of 3,050 woodblocks at Vinh Nghiem Pagoda was recognized by UNESCO as a Documentary Heritage under the Memory of the World Program in the Asia-Pacific region.

The system of "Poetry and literature on Hue royal architecture" is the entire system of Chinese characters composed in the form of poems and prose, mainly carved on triple panels, panels or wooden walls in Hue architectural relics built during the Nguyen Dynasty (1802 - 1945). In particular, the "one poem, one painting" decorative style in Hue architecture was formed and developed brilliantly during this period, then became a typical example of the royal court in decorating royal architectural works from then on.

Poetry and literature are decorated on the roof of Thai Hoa Palace.

“Poetry on Hue Royal Architecture”, with nearly 3,000 decorative motifs of poetry and literature, is a precious heritage, not found anywhere else in the world; with rich and diverse content, expressed on many different materials such as wood, stone, bronze, enamel, porcelain inlay, gilded lacquer... This heritage clearly reflects a period of development of the history of decorative architectural art in Vietnam. “Poetry on Hue Royal Architecture” was recognized as a World Documentary Heritage by the Asia-Pacific Memory of the World Committee on May 19, 2016, at the 7th Conference held in Hue city.

The Phuc Giang School Woodblock is the only and oldest educational woodblock of a family that is still preserved in Vietnam from the 18th century to the early 20th century, at Phuc Giang School (in present-day Ha Tinh province). The woodblock was engraved with reverse Chinese characters to print 3 classic textbooks (including 12 volumes): Tinh ly toan yeu dai toan, Ngu kinh toan yeu dai toan and Thu vien quy le.

Not only are the original documents helping to research the education system, culture, economy, society... of Vietnam in the historical period of the mid-18th century, the woodblocks with their seals, family emblems, calligraphy, forms, languages, wood materials... are also valuable documents providing information in many fields: text studies, education, printing, fine arts... After many historical events and ups and downs, currently the entire woodblocks have only 394 sets kept and preserved at Nguyen Huy Tu Temple (Truong Luu commune, Can Loc district, Ha Tinh province). The entire woodblocks were compiled by 5 cultural celebrities of the Nguyen Huy family, including: Nguyen Huy Tuu, Nguyen Huy Oanh, Nguyen Huy Cu, Nguyen Huy Quynh and Nguyen Huy Tu. Most of these people participated in teaching at Quoc Tu Giam. Phuc Giang School Woodblocks were recognized as a World Documentary Heritage by the Asia-Pacific Regional Committee of the Memory of the World Program on May 19, 2016, at the 7th Conference held in Hue city.

This is an ancient book of the Nguyen Huy family (in Truong Loc commune, Can Loc district, Ha Tinh province), copied in 1887 from the original by Third Prize Winner Nguyen Huy Oanh. The original by Third Prize Winner Nguyen Huy Oanh was compiled in the years 1765 - 1768 under the reign of King Le Hien Tong, from documents of previous generations, and at the same time supplemented with details related to the trip in 1766 - 1767 when he was the Chief Envoy.

"Hoang Hoa Su Trinh Do" is a book describing the diplomatic activities of the Vietnamese embassy to China.

“Hoang Hoa Su Trinh Do” redraws the map of the diplomatic mission from the Vietnam - China border through the provinces, prefectures, districts, and post stations to the final destination of Tan Thanh district, Beijing; clearly notes the diplomatic process: Time and location of stops along the water and land routes on the way out and back; days of stay and activities of the diplomatic delegation; length of each post station, the entire length of the water and land route; structure and construction time of the palace gates of Yen Kinh; along with meticulous records of the terrain, mountains, landscapes, people, and diplomatic ceremonies when passing through the localities of China and Vietnam. “Hoang Hoa Su Trinh Do” is currently the only handwritten copy kept by the descendants of the Nguyen Huy family at their private home in Truong Luu village; is a rare and unique work, with multifaceted value: geography, history, politics, diplomacy, culture, customs, art... and contains many documents proving diplomatic activities between Vietnam and China from the mid-10th century to the 18th century.

This is a treasure trove of valuable documentary heritage in Chinese and Nom characters, with a large quantity, including 78 ghost steles (including 76 Chinese steles and 2 Nom steles). The content and style of expression are diverse, the form is unique, with many genres such as royal writing, inscriptions, praises, poems, epitaphs, names, parallel sentences... of kings, mandarins of the Nguyen Dynasty, eminent monks, and many generations of literati and writers who stopped to leave inscriptions on cliffs and caves at the Ngu Hanh Son scenic spot, from the first half of the 17th century to the 60s of the 20th century. Ghost steles are extremely valuable, accurate and unique documents, clearly showing the economic, cultural and social exchange and harmony between countries such as Japan - China - Vietnam in Vietnam from the 17th to the 19th century. These are unique and impressive works on stone, with many writing styles such as Chan, Hanh, Thao, Trien, Le...

Ma Nhai heritage at Ngu Hanh Son scenic spot (Da Nang).

“The stele of the ghost at Ngu Hanh Son, Da Nang” is the only original document that King Minh Mang wrote and had engraved on the cliffs and caves. This event is recorded in historical documents such as Dai Nam Nhat Thong Chi, Dai Nam Thuc Luc, Dai Nam Du Dia Chi Uoc Bien, etc. According to experts, this is a rare, unique, irreplaceable source of documentary heritage, which is of interest to domestic and foreign researchers because of its multifaceted values in history, religion, geography, literature, language, visual arts, culture and education. In particular, the stele of “Pho Da Son Linh Trung Phat” preserves “memories” of economic, cultural, political and social exchanges between Vietnam and other countries on the trans-regional maritime route as well as the role of Vietnamese women in international marriages in the 17th century. Contained in this source of documentary heritage is a system of values on many aspects such as history, art, culture and science. Each value is an affirmation of Vietnamese culture in the deep consciousness of the indigenous people.

“Han Nom documents of Truong Luu village, Ha Tinh (1689 - 1943)” is a unique handwritten collection, including 26 original royal decrees granted by the kings of the Le and Nguyen dynasties; 19 diplomas, 3 silk banners, written in Han and Nom characters from 1689 to 1943.

Han Nom text of Truong Luu village, Ha Tinh (1689 - 1943).

The original, unique, clear-origin documents and related events have been used as sources of materials for compiling books, and much information can be verified and compared through official historical documents of Vietnam such as "Dai Viet Su Ky Tuc Bien", "Kham Dinh Viet Su Thong Giam Cuong Muc"; as well as through research books such as Lich Trieu Hien Chuong Loai Chi by Phan Huy Chu, Nghe An Ky by Bui Duong Lich. The materials carrying the information are diverse, such as Do paper, special Do paper and silk, with beautiful and clear handwriting. "Han Nom documents of Truong Luu village" are rare documents on the culture and education of a village in Central Vietnam, which has been preserved through many events. These are original documents that help research the social relations and development history of the village in ancient times, especially in the period from the end of the 17th century to the mid-20th century.

The reliefs cast on nine bronze cauldrons in the Hue Royal Palace are the only positive copies, currently placed in front of the courtyard of The To Mieu in the Hue Royal Palace, including 162 images and Chinese characters cast by King Minh Mang in Hue in 1835 and completed in 1837. This is a unique and rare source of material that is of great interest to Vietnamese and foreign researchers because it carries valuable content about history, culture - education, geography, feng shui, medicine, and calligraphy. In particular, to promote the status of women under the feudal regime, King Minh Mang used the form of naming women on canals to mark their achievements, something that was very rare under the feudal regime.

The Nine Urns of the Nguyen Dynasty are nine bronze urns, placed in front of the courtyard of The Mieu Temple in Hue Imperial City.

Most notable is the bronze casting art and the craftsman's technique to create a unique and special work. In particular, due to the profound influence of Eastern culture on the concept of the number "9" and the casting of nine urns, it implies the unity and longevity of the dynasty. The reliefs on the nine bronze urns ensure their integrity, are historical "witnesses" to the ups and downs of the dynasty, and most importantly, this documentary heritage is expressed in the form of images and Chinese characters that remain intact and even the location of the nine urns has never been moved. "The reliefs on the nine bronze urns in the Hue Royal Palace" also preserves the values of the cultural and social exchange and contact between Vietnam and countries in the East Asia region. On May 8, 2024, the dossier "The reliefs on the nine bronze urns in the Hue Royal Palace" of Vietnam was officially inscribed in the UNESCO Asia-Pacific Documentary Heritage List. Previously, in 2012, the Prime Minister recognized nine Nguyen Dynasty urns as National Treasures. This set of nine urns is currently preserved and displayed at the Hue Royal Antiquities Museum under the Hue Monuments Conservation Center.