Hanoi exhibition unveils imperial golden seals and books

"From the day of the naval war to the present, soldiers have gone to the battlefield and endured cold and heat throughout the year. I look south and think of you. It's been rainy and windy lately. If I still feel cold in the palace, how can you stand the fog and wind on the battlefield?

This is King Tu Duc's writing in the imperial records of the 12th year (1859) of Tu Duc's reign, showing the king's concern for the generals and soldiers on the battlefield.

These texts were translated into Vietnamese and English by the National Archives Center I and the Hue Monuments Conservation Center and displayed to the public.

An exhibition of documents selected from the collection of the Imperial Archives of the 

Nguyen Dynasty - World Documentary Heritage is underway in Hanoi as part of activities to celebrate Vietnam's Cultural Heritage Day (November 23).

The exhibition features hundreds of pages of documents and exhibits, many of which are being made public for the first time. Photos: Ngo Minh/The Hanoi Times

Entitled "Nguyen Dynasty's Imperial Archives - Memory of a Dynasty," the event is jointly organized by the National Archives Centre No.1 under the National Department of Records and Archives and the Hue Monuments Conservation Centre of the central province of Thua Thien-Hue.

According to Hoang Viet Trung, director of the Hue Monuments Conservation Centre, the exhibition aims to popularize documentary heritage and raise public awareness of its importance.

Nguyen Dynasty Imperial Documents are administrative documents issued by the kings of the Nguyen Dynasty (1802-1945).

In the past, the documents were the original data sources for researching the history books and rule books of the Nguyen Dynasty. Today, they are reliable historical sources to help researchers further study and understand the history of the Nguyen Dynasty in politics, economy, and diplomacy.

They reflect all social aspects under the reign of the Nguyen kings, including Vietnam's sovereignty over the seas and islands.

The surviving documents of the Nguyen dynasty include more than 86,000 original documents from 11 dynasties with the autographs of ten kings.

The documents were officially inscribed by UNESCO in 2017 as one of the 78 pieces of world documentary heritage.

The exhibition is open from Monday to Sunday from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm at the Exhibition Hall, 3rd floor, National Archives Center No.1, Cau Giay District, Hanoi.

Below are some photos of the exhibition:

The woodblocks of the Nguyen dynasty, inscribed on the World Heritage List in 2009.

The art installation and visual technology display are designed to provide viewers with a vivid experience.

Golden Book, issued in 1819, recorded the enthronement of King Minh Mang.

Golden seal Menh Duc Chi Bao from the reign of King Gia Long (1802-1819).

Visitors can also experience firsthand to learn more useful and interesting historical information.

Thang Long Imperial Citadel in the past.

Imperial archives reveal King Tu Duc's concern for soldiers on the battlefield.