Royal literature on Hue royal architecture recognised as documentary heritage at the Memory of the World Committee for Asia and the Pacific (MOWCAP)’s 7th General meeting in 2016 (Photo: VNA)
As a land rich in history and cultural heritage, the central province of Thua Thien–Hue is home to the country’s richest Han (Chinese script) and Nom (Vietnamese ideographic script) heritage system in the country. The province has made significant efforts to preserve and promote this valuable heritage, thus contributing to its goal of becoming a distinctive cultural centre and a unique heritage city in Vietnam.
Efforts to collect valuable historical documents
Thua Thien-Hue is preserving a large number of Han-Nom documents from royal decrees, official appointments, certificates, commands and writings of kings, to rare texts in the fields of culture, law, administration, land, population, genealogy, and local customs. These documents date back to the Le, and Tay Son dynasties, the Nguyen Lords period, and the Nguyen dynasty.
Han-Nom documents in Thua Thien-Hue are mainly royal decrees, official appointments, certificates, commands and writings of kings, to rare texts in the fields of culture, law, administration, land, population, genealogy, and local customs. (Photo: VNA)
Some of these precious items are crucial “pieces” in the multi-coloured history and culture of the ancient capital of Hue. However, due to many upheavals in history and harsh weather conditions, the Han-Nom heritage in Thua Thien–Hue, especially paper documents, has suffered significant loss, damage, and deterioration.
Hoang Thi Kim Oanh, Director of the provincial library, said that since 2009, the library has collaborated with the General Sciences Library of Ho Chi Minh City in collecting, digitising, and enhancing the value of Han-Nom documents across the province.
To date, nearly 418,000 pages of documents have been digitised and preserved. They include many rare and heavily damaged documents that have been restored, researched, and processed, to enhance their value. These efforts have contributed significantly to the preservation of the Han-Nom heritage – a valuable resource for research into the culture, history, economy, and politics of the Thuan Hoa region in particular and the country as a whole.
Over-88,000-USD project on preserving Nguyen Dynasty woodblocks, funded by the United States Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation (AFCP) (Photo: VNA)
The provincial library has conducted surveys, collections, and digitisation of Han-Nom documents across 187 villages, 923 clans, and 18 palaces.
Additionally, the library has organised numerous exhibitions showcasing rare Han-Nom documents, including royal decrees, official appointments, and other texts that have been digitised and restored.
Notably, it has published several valuable works, including “Thu muc de yeu sac phong trieu Nguyen o Thua Thien – Hue” (Bibliography of Nguyen Dynasty Royal Decrees in Thua Thien – Hue) in 2018; “Sac phong, Che phong, Chieu duoi thoi Nguyen tai tinh Thua Thien – Hue (tuyen chon)” (Selected Royal Decrees, Official Appointments, and Edicts under the Nguyen Dynasty in Thua Thien – Hue) in 2020; “Bang cap quan chuc Trieu Nguyen tai tinh Thua Thien – Hue ” (Qualifications of Nguyen Dynasty Officials in Thua Thien – Hue) in 2021; and “Van thu – don tu Han Nom cac lang tai tinh Thua Thien – Hue” (Han-Nom Administrative Documents of Villages in Thua Thien – Hue) in 2022. Furthermore, the library has processed and catalogued 5,211 documents into the Emiclib software, making them readily available for researchers and the public.
Preserving the value of Han-Nom heritage
The Han-Nom heritage is an important message in
written language that connects the past with the present, offering future generations a chance to delve into the historical and cultural roots of the nation.
According to experts, the Han-Nom heritage system in Thua Thien–Hue faces the risk of damage due to weather conditions and inadequate preservation methods. While the number of researchers specialising in Han and Nom is dwindling, and younger generations find it challenging to access these documents, training experts in this field is difficult and requires a long process.
In addition to the documents stored and preserved in various offices, those found within local communities, clans, and private collections are also diverse and rich. Therefore, it is crucial to intensify efforts in collecting, digitising, and processing these materials to fully explore and enhance the value of the heritage. These documents are invaluable in preserving cultural and historical heritage.
While nearly half a million pages of Han-Nom documents have been collected and digitised, this is still insufficient given the vast amount of documents preserved in villages and private homes.
Researcher Nguyen Xuan Hoa
The province should also develop a programme to transcribe, evaluate, and select valuable documents for translation and introduction, Hoa stated.
He proposed the cultural sector consider establishing a project aimed at better utilising these Han-Nom resources, and work towards setting up a Han-Nom documentation centre in the long term to meet academic, research, and promotional needs for the Han-Nom heritage.
Director of the provincial Department of Culture and Sports Phan Thanh Hai
Phan Thanh Hai, Director of the provincial Department of Culture and Sports, requested the provincial library to proactively collect, digitise, and make the most use of Han-Nom documents. He suggested that the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, along with the provincial People’s Committee, invest in building modern library infrastructure with advanced facilities and technology, training library staff and developing a contingent of Han-Nom experts to enhance research and promotion of this unique heritage.
Vietnam’s Han-Nom heritage is found not only in Hue but also in places around the world, thus a specific strategy and appropriate investment are necessary to “bring home” these valuable items, Hai stressed./.
Vietnamese antique with Han Nom characters auctioned in France.
