Continue to step up inspections to remove "strange artifacts" from relics

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has just issued an official dispatch requesting localities to continue to inspect and examine, and resolutely remove "strange artifacts" from relics.

On January 19, 2016, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism issued Official Dispatch No. 154/BVHTTDL-MTNATL to the Departments of Culture, Sports and Tourism of provinces/cities; Departments of Culture and Sports of provinces/cities on continuing to implement Official Dispatch No. 2662/BVHTTDL-MTNATL dated August 8, 2014 on "Do not use symbols, products, mascots that are not suitable to Vietnamese customs and traditions" to create a healthy aesthetic environment for the community, preserve traditions and comply with current laws.

Relocating foreign stone lions out of the communal house in Trach Xa craft village (Hoa Lam commune, Ung Hoa district, Hanoi)

Accordingly, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism requests the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism; Department of Culture and Sports of provinces/cities to continue to inspect and check, resolutely remove from the relics artifacts that are not in the relics' ranking list, strictly implement the Law on Cultural Heritage, Decree No. 158/2013/ND-CP on Regulations on administrative sanctions in the fields of Culture, Sports, Tourism and Advertising.

The Ministry also requested functional units of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism; Department of Culture and Sports of provinces/cities to strengthen coordination with media agencies to promote propaganda and mobilization so that all organizations and individuals can raise awareness in preserving and promoting national cultural identity, not using foreign products, symbols, and mascots that are not suitable to Vietnamese customs and traditions.

The Ministry requests the Departments of Culture, Sports and Tourism; Departments of Culture and Sports of provinces/cities to send reports on the implementation of Official Dispatch No. 2662/BVHTTDL-MTNATL (from August 2014 to December 2015) to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism before January 30, 2016. The report must include a list of symbols, exotic mascots, and objects displayed in violation of regulations at ranked relics that have not been relocated; clearly stating the problems encountered during the implementation. The report must be sent to the Department of Fine Arts, Photography and Exhibition, 38 Cao Ba Quat, Ba Dinh, Hanoi. Email:[email protected]; Phone: 04. 37342261.

Implementation status of Official Dispatch 2662 after more than 1 year of implementation

Faced with the current situation of using and displaying artifacts and mascots that are not in accordance with Vietnamese cultural traditions in public spaces and some relics. On August 8, 2014, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism issued Official Dispatch No. 2662/BVHTTDL-MTNATL on "Do not use symbols, products, and mascots that are not in accordance with Vietnamese customs and traditions".

After more than 01 year of implementing Official Dispatch No. 2662/BVHTTDL-MTNATL, the replacement and relocation of inappropriate mascots has received consensus from society and press and media agencies, contributing to changing the awareness of the masses in using products, symbols, and mascots when displaying and offering, as well as raising awareness in learning about history, culture, aesthetics and laws related to preserving, conserving and promoting cultural heritage values.

In the photo, the two red circled points are where the pair of stone lions used to be placed in the Dong Mieu Temple. According to Mr. Hoang Ngu, 73 years old, currently the custodian of the Dong Mieu Temple, the pair of lions were moved on November 1 (ie September 9 of the lunar calendar). Mr. Ngu also hopes to receive specific instructions from the government on how to handle it, because if they were thrown away or destroyed, it would be a waste.

In many localities across the country, the community has voluntarily relocated and removed inappropriately displayed products, symbols, mascots... in relics, in compliance with the Law on Cultural Heritage. State management agencies at the central and local levels have actively implemented reviews, propaganda, inspections, and checks on the implementation of the Law on Cultural Heritage in relics.

The production and trade of symbolic products and mascots in traditional craft villages have undergone many dramatic changes. In craft villages, craftsmen have been conscious of learning about traditional culture, not producing and supplying the domestic market with products, symbols and mascots following foreign models. Many manufacturing establishments have researched and created aesthetic products that are consistent with Vietnamese traditions. Many units and individuals have enthusiastically participated in the work of collecting, researching and creating products, symbols and mascots that carry Vietnamese cultural identity.

According to VOV.VN