VietNamNet Bridge – Nearly 200 documents and artifacts are displayed in the Vietnamese Buddhist Cultural Heritage exhibition at the National History Museum, No. 25 Tong Dan Street, Hanoi.
The exhibits include paintings, Buddha statues, architectural materials, worshiping objects, inscriptions … that are grouped in ages: the Ly – Tran dynasties, Preliminary Le – Mac dynasties, Le Trung Hung – Tay Son dynsties and the Nguyen Dynasty.
In particular, among the objects on display is the Canh Thinh bronze drum (1800) – one of 11 national treasures that were recently recognized. Some other remarkable exhibits are the Dong Duong Buddha head, the Buddha statues of the Oc Eo culture, and decorative items of the Phat Tich temple.
Dr. Vu Quoc Hien, deputy director of the National History Museum, says that the exhibition gives people the opportunity to contact with the well-preserved, intact artifacts that are in “excellent spirit.” This is especially evident on the Buddha statues. Most ancient Buddha statues in Vietnamese temples are repainted so they have a different color. Consequently, the preservation of the National Museum of History will give the viewers a more real look on heritage.
The exhibits help visitors have a general understanding of the origin and the development history of Buddhism in Vietnam.
The exhibition will last until August 2013.
The statue featuring Shakyamuni Buddha entered nirvana is made of wood, lacquer trimmed with gold in the Le Trung Hung dynasty, the 17th-18th century, is preserved in the Chem temple, Tu Liem district, Hanoi.
Bronze bell of the Tran Dynasty, the 13th-14th century, kept at Van Ban Temple, Do Son, Hai Phong.
Buddhist tower model (right) and a decorative brick made of earthenware from the Dinh – Pre-Le Dynasty in the 10th -11th centuries.
Canh Thinh bronze drum, the Tay Son dynasty in 1800, from Nanh temple, Ninh Hiep, Hanoi – a national treasure.
Bronze instrument of the Nguyen Dynasty, the 19th century at Huong Son Pagoda in My Duc district, Hanoi.
Adida Buddha statue made of gilded wood, from the Nguyen Dynasty of the 19th century.
Bodhisattvas head made of sand stone from the Champa culture of the 10th century, kept in Tra Kieu, Duy Xuyen, Quang Nam province.
Kinnarl statue made of sand stone from the Ly Dynasty in 1066, at Phat Tich Pagoda, Bac Ninh.
Monkey statue made of sandstone, which date back to the 12th century, kept in Y Yen, Nam Dinh.
Lion relief made of sand stone, from the Ly Dynasty, 1057, kept at Phat Tich Pagoda, Bac Ninh.
Infonet