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May 17, 2016 / 15:50

An exhibition on Vietnam's Memories of the world opens

Four documentary heritages found in Vietnam, recognised by the UNESCO Memory of the World Committee for Asia and the Pacific, are being displayed at an exhibition for the first time in the central province of Thua Thien - Hue.

Thua Thien - Hue province opened an exhibition inside the Hue imperial citadel on May 16 to display a collection of UNESCO world documentary heritages found in Vietnam. 
The exhibition dislays the UNESCO world documentary heritages found in Vietnam, including woodblocks and royal documents of the Nguyen Dynasty, doctoral steles at the Temple of Literature, and woodblocks found in Vinh Nghiem pagoda in the northern province of Bac Giang.

 
A version of woodblocks and royal documents of the Nguyen Dynasty on dislay at the exhibition.
A version of woodblocks and royal documents of the Nguyen Dynasty on dislay at the exhibition.
The woodblocks used for rudimentary printing in the Nguyen Dynasty (1802-1945) recorded the official literature and history of the feudal era. It also marked the development of wood-block carving and the printing profession in the country. 
The Nguyen era’s royal documents number nearly 200,000 pages, including those on laws, decrees, edicts and instructions for resolving problems in various fields. Among these valuable documents are also those that affirm Vietnam's sacred sovereignty over the Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagos. 
The 82 stone steles at Hanoi’s Temple of Literature were inscribed with the names of 2,313 doctorate holders who passed the court examinations in the Le-Mac dynasties (1442-1779). 
Made in the early 14th century by monks at Vinh Nghiem pagoda, more than 3,000 woodblocks provide a wide range of information on the formation, development and ideology of Truc Lam Zen Buddhism, founded by King Tran Nhan Tong in the 11th century.

 
At the exhibition.
At the exhibition.
In addition, the exhibition introduces other potential submissions for UNESCO’s accreditation as world documentary heritage, including poems carved on Hue citadel’s architectures and Hue Buddhist woodblocks. 
UNESCO launched the Memory of the World Programme in 1992, aims to prevent the risk of humankind’s invaluable documents falling into obscurity and to encourage countries worldwide to preserve and promote their tangible heritages. 
The exhibition is part of activities to celebrate the 7th Conference of Memory of the World Committee for Asia and the Pacific 2016, which will be held in Hue City from May 18-20, and mark International Museum Day, May 18.