Quang Ngai preserves the bones of the "whale god".

Quang Ngai province has decided to invest 15 billion VND to restore and preserve two whale skeletons, also known as "Ong" whales, a species of whale that can grow to over 20 meters in length.

Authorities in Ly Son island district are currently inspecting two whale skeletons that have been preserved and worshipped by the local people at Tan Mausoleum in An Vinh commune. Experts believe these whale skeletons are among the largest in Southeast Asia, measuring over 20 meters in length, with each rib nearly 10 meters long and each vertebra measuring the length of an arm's span.

An art company will be primarily responsible for restoring these two whale skeletons. Following this, Ly Son Island district will build an exhibition hall next to Tan Mausoleum, along with several supporting facilities, at a total cost of approximately 15 billion VND.

After the whale skeleton was recovered from Lang Tan, An Vinh commune, Ly Son island district, authorities proceeded with the initial assembly. The skeleton is over 20 meters long. Photo: Tri Tin.

Dr. Nguyen Dang Vu, Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Quang Ngai province, said: "Ly Son Island is not only known as a living treasure trove of information about Hoang Sa and Truong Sa, but also as the 'museum' preserving the most whale bones in the country. Dozens of shrines on the island are dedicated to worshipping this species of whale according to the folk religious rituals of the coastal region. This can be considered a unique whale bone museum closely associated with the journey of reclaiming and building Ly Son island district over the past hundreds of years."

Dr. Vu noted that among dozens of whale shrines (folklorically known as "Ông Cá" - "Mr. Whale"), Tan Shrine (also known as the Ocean Shrine) in An Vinh commune houses the largest and oldest whale skeletons. Currently, Tan Shrine has been classified as a national historical and cultural relic by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. Due to the lack of resources for restoration and preservation, fishermen in Ly Son island district voluntarily donate money each year to build a warehouse and assign people to guard and preserve these giant whale skeletons.

According to Mr. Tran Ngoc Nguyen, Chairman of the People's Committee of Ly Son Island District, the restoration of the whale skeleton not only aims to preserve, protect, and promote cultural values ​​related to the Hoang Sa naval fleet, but also contributes to educating patriotic traditions and raising public awareness and responsibility in protecting Vietnam's territorial sovereignty in the East Sea.

According to Express-M