UNESCO inscribes two more Vietnamese documentary heritages
VGP - The Inscriptions on the Stelae of Pho Hien in Hung Yen province and Ma Nhai inscriptions on Non Nuoc Mountain in Ninh Binh province have been inscribed on UNESCO’s Memory of the World Asia-Pacific Regional Register.
The Inscriptions on the Stelae of Pho Hien in the northern province of Hung Yen - Photo: The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism
The above decision was made at the 11th General Meeting of the Memory of the World Committee for Asia and the Pacific (MOWCAP), held in Jakarta, Indonesia, on November 5.
The Pho Hien stone steles collection consists of 41 steles bearing inscriptions in Chinese and Nom scripts, dating from the 17th century to the early 20th century. They are preserved at historical sites within the special national relic complex of Pho Hien in Hung Yen province.
The steles are valuable original sources documenting the formation and development of Pho Hien, once an important international trading port in Viet Nam and the regional trade network. They provide evidence of the port's commercial activities, social life and cultural exchanges, helping researchers better understand its role in the history of regional trade.
Meanwhile, the Non Nuoc Mountain is currently home to 43 cliffside stone steles (known as ma nhai, or inscriptions carved directly onto natural rock surfaces) dating from the 14th to the 20th centuries. Written in Chinese characters, Nom (Vietnamese demotic script) and modern Vietnamese script, the inscriptions include poems, literary works, historical accounts and royal writings by monarchs, scholars, prominent figures and poets from different periods.
One of the most notable works is the inscription of Duc Thuy Son Linh Te Thap Ky (Record of Linh Te Pagoda on Duc Thuy Mountain), written by Truong Han Sieu and carved in 1343. The collection offers insights into the literary traditions, history and cultural life of Vietnam across several centuries.
Together, the two collections enrich knowledge of the history and culture of the Asia-Pacific region. Their inscription on the register also highlights the importance of original documentary sources in historical research and in promoting understanding among different cultures.
With the latest addition, Viet Nam now has 13 documentary heritage entries under UNESCO's Memory of the World Program, including four on the International Register and nine on the Asia-Pacific Regional Register./.