More than 1,000 artifacts uncovered during the excavation and restoration of towers in the world heritage site of My Son sanctuary in the central province of Quang Nam have been digitalised thanks to the assistance of experts from Italy and India.
Visitors at the My Son Sanctuary (Source: VNA)
Italian experts have worked with
technicians from the management board of the heritage site to digitalise the
artifacts, including statues, bricks and other objects used for the
construction of towers.
Head of the management board Phan Ho
said the digitalisation is one of the notable outcomes of international
cooperation efforts to protect the world heritage site.
Apart from the assistance of the Italian Government, experts from India have
been providing support to upgrade the towers, during which they discovered an
underground road and many valuable objects, he added.
All newly-found artifacts will be digitalised to make it easier for
preservation and restoration, he said.
My Son Sanctuary is located in a hilly landscape in Duy Phu commune, Duy Xuyen
district, about 70km southwest of central Da Nang city and 40km from Hoi An
city – another UNESCO heritage site in Quang Nam.
It comprises eight groups of 71 monuments built throughout the 7th -13th
centuries. The first construction of My Son dated back to the 4th century
under the reign of Bhadravarman for the worship of God Shiva-Bhadresvara. But
later on, the temple was destroyed.
At the beginning of the 7th century, King Sambhuvarman had it rebuilt and
rebaptised Sambhu-Bhadresvara. Each new monarch came to My Son after his
accession to the throne for the ceremony of purification and to present
offerings and erect new monuments, which explains why My Son is the only place
where Cham art flourished without interruption from the 7th to 13th century.
Source: VNA
Gongs hold a special place in the cultural and spiritual life of the Muong ethnic people in Hoa Binh province. More than musical instruments, they are an indispensable part of community rituals and collective memory, echoing through generations as a spiritual thread linking the past, present, and future.
Preserving and promoting the cultural values of the Muong ethnic group has become an urgent task in the current context, as many traditional values face the risk of fading away. This effort requires not only protecting the cultural identity but also eliminating outdated customs and developing a modern cultural lifestyle, contributing to sustainable values for the Muong community in Hoa Binh province.
The Muong ethnic culture, deeply rooted in Vietnam’s mountainous north, continues to be preserved and revitalised by dedicated individuals and communities determined to safeguard their ancestral identity.
The Muong group is one of the largest ethnic minorities in Vietnam, primarily found in Hoa Binh province. The Muong people in Hoa Binh boast a rich and diverse cultural treasure that reflects the unique identity of this ethnic group. Accounting for over 63% of the province's population, they have created and preserved numerous distinctive cultural values, contributing to their unique identity. Their cultural heritage is an invaluable asset, at the heart of their national identity, and represents a vibrant spiritual life that must be preserved and promoted in today’s modern world.
For generations, the ethnic communities of Hoa Binh province, particularly the Muong people, have preserved vibrant festivals deeply intertwined with the region’s geography, nature, and social traditions. These celebrations enrich Hoa Binh’s spiritual life and cultural identity, reflecting both folk beliefs and the intermingling of ethnic customs. Many of these festivals have endured the test of time, passed down through generations and continuing to thrive today. Among them, the Khai Ha (Going Down to the Field) festival stands out as one of the most significant events of the Muong ethnic group.
Muong calendar, known as sach doi, is an ancient folk knowledge system developed through observations of the movement of the pleiades star. This unique calendar consists of 12 bamboo sticks, each representing a lunar month. Specific days within each month are marked with distinct symbols, guiding locals in determining auspicious and inauspicious days for important activities.
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