Nghe An: Over 41,500 pages of Han Nom documents digitized.

(Baonghean.vn) - This figure was mentioned at the training course on the preservation and restoration of Han Nom documents organized by the Relic Management Board - Department of Culture & Sports on August 22-23.

Nghe An is one of the provinces with a very rich source of Sino-Vietnamese heritage, both in form and content, such as: imperial decrees, official documents, certificates, orders, woodblock prints, couplets, etc. These Sino-Vietnamese documents are scattered in temples, ancestral halls, village communal houses, and communities, and are considered an extremely important source of historical data, containing many historical values ​​of the province.

The process of digitizing Sino-Vietnamese documents is underway. Photo: Thanh Quynh

However, currently, the Han Nom heritage in the province is facing many challenges in its preservation and promotion. The majority of Han Nom heritage, expressed on organic materials such as dó paper, wood, cloth, silk, and leaves, is largely decaying, and the content of the documents is therefore lost. Many documents are severely damaged, such as those at Thanh Liet Temple, Cho Hen Pagoda, Ha Temple - Quynh Vinh, and Ban Tho Temple - Quynh Trang (Quynh Luu)...

Meanwhile, some localities have not yet fully grasped the urgency and importance of the work of restoring, preserving, and repairing documents when they are lost or damaged… therefore, the coordination and implementation of this work is still slow and not thorough.

Therefore, the opening of training courses on the preservation, restoration, and digitization of Sino-Vietnamese documents has been and is being actively implemented by the Provincial Relics Management Board in coordination with various levels, sectors, and localities.

Experts from the Ho Chi Minh City Library provide guidance on how to clean and prevent mold growth on Sino-Vietnamese documents. Photo: Thanh Quynh

During the training course on the preservation and restoration of Sino-Vietnamese documents, experts provided specific guidance on methods for cleaning and treating mold on documents made from traditional Vietnamese paper.

In particular, detailed instructions were given to the trainees on cleaning and improving the environment of the document storage area.

Through the training course, participants also learned how to use the necessary equipment to deal with mold, dampness, and common damage to documents.

Trainees participating in the training course were instructed on how to preserve historical documents. Photo: Thanh Quynh

In addition, training on digitization was also provided to trainees. It is known that in 2017, the digitization of Han Nom documents was carried out in 27 communes with over 7,200 pages of documents, bringing the total number of digitized pages to 41,543 across 139 communes in the province. These are noteworthy achievements contributing to the preservation and restoration of valuable Han Nom documents in Nghe An province.

Thanh Quynh