Nghe Temple's metal artifacts recognized as national treasures

(CLO) The set of Nghe Temple artifacts kept at Hai Phong Museum has just been recognized by the Prime Minister as a national treasure.

On January 2, Ms. Tran Thi Hoang Mai, Director of the Department of Culture and Sports of Hai Phong City, said that the set of Nghe Temple artifacts had just been recognized by the Prime Minister as a national treasure.

The set of 16 artifacts includes: 1 pair of bracelets; 1 gold leaf; 1 betel leaf, 3 areca nuts; 1 string of beads; 1 fan; 2 lip balms; 3 buttons; 1 pair of large rings; 2 pairs of small rings... All are made of gold, selected to have a gold content ratio of 92 to 98%. Among the 16 artifacts, many are intact, some are slightly damaged.

A pair of golden plaques with the words “Duc bao trung hung” and “Trang Huy thuong dang than”. Photo: LDO

The artifacts in the set of goldsmiths are all exquisitely handcrafted - showing that the craftsman was a skilled goldsmith with high techniques and meticulously selected materials.

The set of metal objects was offered by the people to Nghe Temple, where the Holy Mother Le Chan is worshiped. Currently, the set of metal objects is kept at Hai Phong Museum.

According to Hai Phong Museum, the Nghe Temple metal set was crafted during the Nguyen Dynasty, early 20th century, with the following characteristics: Long-bodied winding dragon motifs, four-season motifs delicately carved on the body of the golden lip wax box, which are also popular images in Nguyen Dynasty fine arts...

The words: "Trang Huy Thuong Dang Than"; "Duc Bao Trung Hung" engraved on the artifacts also appear in the royal decree and stone stele currently kept at Nghe Temple, showing the respect, gratitude and admiration of the local community for Holy Mother Le Chan.

The set of metal artifacts is an original, unique, and valuable artifact that has never appeared in any relics or museums in Vietnam.

The artifacts in the set of metal products are exquisitely crafted. Photo: Hai Phong Museum

The set of Nghe Temple metal products also contains many spiritual and cultural values, historical and cultural values, and is a typical representative of the style of creating jewelry and statues during the Nguyen Dynasty, demonstrating the pinnacle of development of ancient goldsmithing techniques.

The Nghe Temple metal artifacts were first introduced to the public in the Special Exhibition: "National Treasures - An Bien Collection" at Hai Phong Museum in May 2024, attracting the attention of a large number of people.

Saint Mother Le Chan was the pioneer who founded the ancient An Bien hamlet (present-day Hai Phong). In the minds of Hai Phong people, female general Le Chan was honored as the Saint Mother. Nghe Temple is a sacred religious relic of Hai Phong City. Therefore, the set of goldsmiths' items at Nghe Temple represents the folk belief - the worship of Saint Mother Le Chan in Hai Phong and the pinnacle of goldsmithing art in the early 20th century.

The Vu

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/bo-kim-pham-den-nghe-o-hai-phong-la-bao-vat-quoc-gia-post328775.html