Antique collectors

(Baonghean) - As time flows by, life gradually changes, everything takes on a new, brighter, and more vibrant color. There are wide, sprawling roads, luxurious and modern urban areas, and skyscrapers in the city. Having lived in Nghe Tinh for more than half my life, I feel the movement in every rhythm of change. However, perhaps because I am always nostalgic and fond of the old, I have dedicated my life to the profession of "searching for ancient artifacts."

After graduating from the Library Science Department of the University of Culture, I returned to work at the Provincial Library. Initially, I worked as a librarian, handling books, managing the reader's room, and building grassroots movements, etc. Gradually, I became involved in and dedicated myself to local history, collecting documents, and writing books about the local area. This work led me to my passion for collecting antiques and gathering important data about the historical periods of Nghe Tinh province.

Mr. Dao Tam Tinh stands beside the artifacts in the exhibition room. Photo: PT

Once, while reading a document, I learned that France was the largest center for ancient Vietnamese coins, and that the Vietnamese Currency Museum was located in the National Library in Paris. This information made me ponder. Why weren't these ancient coins found in Vietnam or any other country in Indochina? How could we preserve these rare coins right here in our own country? And so I decided to embark on a new journey to answer these questions: to search for ancient coins.

I went to scrap metal dealers, inquiring and collecting tarnished, rusty coins. Initially, things weren't easy, as ancient coins are quite rare now, and people don't seem to care much about preserving them. But when I found a coin, I was overjoyed, and all my fatigue seemed to disappear. At night, I would sit by the lamp, examining them until late, trying to understand the meaning and content of the characters inscribed on them. Reading books wasn't enough, and searching the internet still didn't clarify things, so I took the ancient coins to some scholars proficient in Chinese characters. Indeed, after they deciphered the characters, I understood that each coin contained a treasure trove of rich history and culture. Not only were the characters diverse, but each historical period and material had different printing styles, shapes, and sizes. They were associated with specific kings, dynasties, and dates, revealing the vicissitudes of history. From then on, I became fascinated, fascinated, and eager to find even more ancient artifacts. From bronze teapots from the Tran Dynasty, ceramic vases from the Phung Nguyen period, stone axes dating back thousands or tens of thousands of years, to ancient texts still preserved in folklore, whenever I heard of something, I would go there to find it. My meager civil servant salary wasn't enough for me to buy many valuable items, but sometimes, seeing ancient artifacts at risk of being lost, I would sell my personal belongings to raise money to redeem them. My wife and children would often gently remind me why I would spend real money on items that no longer had any practical value, but to me, these items held immense value, not only for my research but also as repositories, voices, and the very soul of our nation's past.

Many ancient books still exist in folklore, preserved by descendants as ancestral heirlooms. Among them is a copy of the Tale of Kieu written in Nom script, found in a family in Thanh Xuan commune (Thanh Chuong district). Or valuable documents such as the set of woodblock prints donated to the provincial library by Mr. Tran Hieng in Cong Thanh commune (Yen Thanh district). These are extremely precious artifacts, revealing important sources of information for historians to revive the nation's history.

I used to visit villages, meet the elderly, search for relics based on their stories, and inquire about surviving artifacts. I traveled far and wide, visiting antique shops in hopes of acquiring these items. That period lasted almost thirty years. Now, having retired, I have more time to explore and research the artifacts I have collected. My collection includes coins of various types from the time of Emperor Dinh Tien Hoang to Emperor Bao Dai, banknotes from the time of the Indochina Bank and later the State Bank of Vietnam, and many other artifacts… The more I research and discover, the more new findings I find in these ancient artifacts compel me to record them so that future generations can understand and learn about history. So I wrote books, writing about local history, customs, and the daily culture of the Vietnamese people, particularly the people of Nghe Tinh, through different periods. Books such as "Authors of Nghe Tinh", "Famous Scholars of Kieu", "Couplets of Nghe An", "Shadows of Poets", "Le Dynasty Canals - History and Legend", "Searching in the Cultural Heritage of Nghe An",... are the intellectual offspring that I have carefully selected and researched throughout the years I have immersed myself in history.

In my free time, I participate in activities of the Lam River Ancient Cultural Heritage Association and visit the antique exchange market usually held on Sunday mornings in Vinh City. There, I meet people who share the same interest, admire antiques from many different dynasties, collected from various provinces and cities across the country. Because this passion is ingrained in my blood, the moments of learning a little more about these antiques are incredibly joyful and wonderful.

Every time I enter the small room where I display my artifacts, the history and daily life of our nation in the past come alive, vividly clear in my mind. I still secretly wish I could build an antique museum so that future generations can appreciate the preciousness of small copper coins, see the uniqueness of President Ho Chi Minh's "Financial Coins," and admire the rich and exquisite patterns on ancient artifacts. For now, however, enjoying a cup of tea with the elderly each day, discussing antiques, and marveling at the cultural identity of Vietnam in the past is enough to satisfy my longing and provide a peaceful respite in my old age.

Phuong Thao

(Recorded based on the account of Mr. Dao Tam Tinh, former Director of the Nghe An Library)