Awarding the title of World Documentary Heritage to Nguyen Dynasty Woodblocks
After nearly 3 years of submitting to UNESCO, the Nguyen Dynasty Woodblocks have been honored with the title of World Documentary Heritage. This title was just presented to the State Records and Archives Department by Ms. Catherine Muller Martin, Chief Representative of UNESCO in Vietnam, on the morning of December 16.
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The woodblocks are a valuable repository of 152 books covering many different topics such as history, geography, politics - society, military, law, education, literature and poetry...
During the feudal period, woodblocks were considered national treasures and only those with responsibility and authority working at the National History Institute were allowed to access and use them. Each set of books was only engraved and printed upon the King's order.
Woodblock documents have many rare works: Dai Nam Thuc Luc, Dai Nam Nhat Thong Chi, Kham Dinh Viet Su Thong Giam Cuong Muc, Kham Dinh Dai Nam Hoi Dien Su Le... In addition, there are works of Ngu Che Van and Ngu Che Thi composed by famous emperors such as Minh Mang, Thieu Tri, Tu Duc.
Three years after the State Records and Archives Department submitted the dossier "Nguyen Dynasty Woodblocks" to UNESCO to register as a World Documentary Heritage under the UNESCO Memory of the World Program, on July 31, this dossier was officially recognized by UNESCO in the list of 35 World Documentary Heritages in 2009. This is the first time that Vietnam's documentary heritage has received this title.
According to VnMedia
