In recent years, many national treasures have been brought to the community in many different forms: Displays, exhibitions; creating miniature versions; applying technology to introduce and promote... However, out of 265 treasures, many artifacts are still "sleeping" in museums, relics, and private collections. There are even artifacts that have to endure rain and sun. This requires more attention and investment so that national treasures can be preserved and their value can be promoted in a sustainable way.
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Amitabha Buddha statue - National treasure at Dam Pagoda (Bac Ninh) with a miniature bronze version used as an object of worship, decoration, and souvenir. |
Various forms of promotion
Hanoi Museum is a place to preserve many National Treasures. Although the display has not been completed, all National Treasures are displayed and introduced in the central hall. In the middle of the space is the Co Loa bronze drum, surrounded by Treasures: Thanh Mai bronze bell, Bat Trang ceramic dragon pavilion, bronze plowshare collection... Displayed in the central hall, any visitor to the Museum can admire the National Treasures before coming to other displays and introductions. Since the end of 2022, Hanoi Museum has organized a special topic to introduce National Treasures in digital space (https://bthn3d.maiatech.com.vn/) . 24 artifacts belonging to four groups of National Treasures were photographed in 3D, with rich content, including a general introduction, images, clips, and related documents. The most special part is the 3D interaction. Viewers can rotate each artifact at any angle to observe as well as zoom in to see each detail.
Director of Hanoi Museum Nguyen Tien Da shared: "We are entering the digital age, everyone can easily access all kinds of information through their means. We consider this an opportunity not to be missed to promote the values of national treasures, thereby promoting Vietnamese culture, Thang Long-Hanoi culture". Applying technology, especially 3D technology, is deployed by many units such as: Vietnam Museum of History, Vietnam Museum of Fine Arts... Viewers only need a computer or smart device to be able to "visit" and explore the treasures.
This is just one of many ways to promote National Treasures. The Heritage Association - a group of architects and designers dedicated to heritage conservation - has taken the initiative to "miniature" some national Buddhist treasures, including the Amitabha statue of Phat Tich Pagoda and the stone pillar of Dam Pagoda (both in Bac Ninh) to make family worship items, decorations or souvenirs. Architect Tran Thanh Tung, founder of the Heritage Assembly Hall, said: "The Buddhist fine arts of the Ly Dynasty were of a very high level. But not everyone knows that. By making miniature versions, we hope to bring the beauty of Ly Dynasty culture and the value of National Treasures closer to the community. We make different versions, depending on economic conditions, so that anyone can "request" them, using silver, copper, and composite materials. Creating versions of National Treasures is not simply "miniaturization". We have to adjust the proportions so that when displaying the miniature versions, the artifacts still create the highest aesthetic impression". The plan to create souvenirs from National Treasures is supported by many scientists because this method brings dual value between culture and economy. In addition to the Heritage Assembly Hall, a number of other units also implement similar methods. However, not all units create products with high artistic quality.
2023 is also the first time that the entire set of National Treasures has been put on the calendar, produced by the Truth National Political Publishing House. The National Treasures calendar introduces images and information about 238 National Treasures (the number of recognized Treasures as of early 2022). Heritage lovers can admire the National Treasures 365 days a year. The Treasures are cleverly introduced along with the timelines of the year. From there, 365 days are a piece that helps create a panoramic picture of thousands of years of history of building and defending the country of the whole nation. Historian Duong Trung Quoc - Vice President, General Secretary of the Vietnam Historical Science Association, this is an encyclopedia of national treasures and the owner can keep each calendar page to put in a collection by theme, so that they are no longer "corpses of time" but will continue another life.
In addition, there are many other forms of promotion such as: Putting treasures on postage stamps, organizing thematic exhibitions...
To keep national treasures from "sleeping peacefully"
According to the provisions of the Law on Cultural Heritage, National Treasures need to be preserved under a special regime. However, in reality, while National Treasures under the management of central agencies, museums, and large relics are interested in building a preservation regime and promoting their values, in many localities, many National Treasures are not only little known but also suffer from "sun and dew" leading to degradation. A typical example of this is the stone pillar of Dam Pagoda (Bac Ninh). The stone pillar of Dam Pagoda is located in the Dai Lam Tu complex, a famous landscape of the Ly Dynasty, which has now become a ruin. After becoming a National Treasure, the stone pillar of Dam Pagoda has not yet received any preservation measures and time continues to cover it with moss and erode the artifact. In fact, in 2022, people arbitrarily attached "foreign objects" to this National Treasure, by creating an altar at the base of the stone pillar. Authorities were forced to intervene to dismantle it. Artifacts in relics with many visitors face another problem: human impact. The Temple of Literature (Hanoi) often faces the problem of "rubbing the turtle's head". Meanwhile, the statue of Huyen Thien Tran Vu at Quan Thanh Temple is rubbed by people with money until the Saint's feet are smooth before rubbing it on his face...
For outdoor national treasures where conditions do not allow for the construction of houses to protect them from rain and sun, scientists have suggested that the management agency consider the conservation of the Long Sang at Dinh Tien Hoang Temple (Hoa Lu District, Ninh Binh Province). After consulting with scientists, the Ninh Binh Provincial Department of Culture decided to cover them with nano instead of placing them in a "glass cage" or building a roof. This method allows visitors to still see the treasures with their own eyes without additional architectural items affecting the space of the temple. In addition to the artifacts exposed to the sun and dew, many artifacts are "sleeping" in museums and relic sites due to lack of proper attention.
In order for National Treasures to be preserved sustainably for the future and their values to be spread to the public, units and individuals responsible for managing or owning the artifacts need to develop plans for preservation, exploitation, and promotion of their values right from the time of preparing the dossier for recognition of National Treasures. Associate Professor Dang Van Bai, Vice Chairman of the National Cultural Heritage Council, shared: "Once a dossier has been prepared for the State to recognize an artifact as a National Treasure, the managing units must be aware. But most of them are chasing after the title, only wanting to be recognized as a National Treasure, while the responsibilities that come with the law have not been seriously implemented." With the special historical and cultural values of National Treasures, if we do not preserve and exploit them properly, we are at fault both in the past and in the future.
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