Echoes of a Thousand Years

In the central exhibition room of Lao Cai Provincial Museum, facility 1 in Yen Bai ward, the 1:1 scale model of the Hop Minh bronze jar is placed in a prominent position. Under the soft light, just enough to highlight each delicate pattern. Few people know that behind it is a long, up-and-down journey from the accidental discovery in the ground to the years of careful preservation and storage in the archive and display.

Recounting with all his emotions and pride, Doctor of History Nguyen Van Quang - Chairman of the Historical Science Association of Lao Cai province, former Director of Yen Bai Provincial Museum said: In 1995, when I was still Director of the Provincial Museum, I heard that the militia of Hop Minh commune (now Au Lau ward) discovered a strange metal object while digging a defensive fortification at Choi hill. Unexpectedly, it was an antique dating back thousands of years. Because they did not recognize its value, they found human bones inside so they dug another hole next to it to rebury it. When the commune government got the information, the artifact was transferred for temporary preservation. At that time, traveling was very difficult, worried that the artifact might be damaged, I used my own money, took a motorbike taxi to the place to promptly check and receive the artifact.

Doctor of History Nguyen Van Quang - Chairman of the Historical Science Association of Lao Cai province, former director of Yen Bai Provincial Museum proudly introduced the image of Hop Minh bronze jar printed and introduced by the Vietnam Museum of History.

From that fortuitous moment, the journey to awaken the value of the antique began. In June 1995, the jar was handed over to the Provincial Museum and was studied, measured, photographed, and meticulously documented before being carefully placed in storage. Every detail, from the copper rust patches to the small cracks on the jar's body, was recorded and analyzed by specialized staff.

Ceremony of handing over artifacts to the Provincial Museum in 1995. Photo: **Document**

Experts believe that the jar is a typical artifact that mainly functions as a coffin because inside the jar are intact remains of a child about 5-6 years old, along with burial objects including a "T" shaped dagger, a bronze axe, a piece of bronze plate with legs, a bronze bell and a flat polished jade earring.

The remains and accompanying burial objects are currently on display at the Dong Son culture area, 2nd floor, Lao Cai Provincial Museum.

Historian Dr. Nguyen Van Quang added: The Hop Minh bronze jar is an especially rare artifact, dating back about 2,000 - 2,500 years, belonging to the Dong Son culture; reflecting the bronze casting technique and rich spiritual life of the ancient Red River residents. If the Dao Thinh bronze jar is the largest jar in Vietnam, then in my opinion, the Hop Minh bronze jar is the most beautiful jar. The decorative patterns on the jar are vivid and unique. The jar has two symmetrical decorative rings, with flying bird patterns and running four-legged animal patterns, representing heaven and earth. In the middle are two large decorative rings, describing festivals on land and festivals on rivers; a subtle combination of human life activities on the same jar.

Hop Minh bronze jar is about 2,000 - 2,500 years old.

In the following years, the Hop Minh bronze jar was kept as a particularly valuable artifact in the provincial museum's warehouse. However, there was a time when the preservation process was interrupted when thieves broke in and stole it. Thanks to the quick intervention of the police force, after only one month, the treasure was recovered intact and returned to the museum for continued preservation and honor worthy of its historical value.

Master of Archaeology Nguyen Tien Hoa - Deputy Head of the Professional Department, Lao Cai Provincial Museum shared: “In 2013, the Hop Minh bronze jar was recognized as a National Treasure. Since then, the work of preserving, displaying and researching artifacts has been given more attention. To have a 1:1 scale display model, the team of experts had to spend a lot of time working continuously, from measuring, restoring, creating molds to perfecting each detail of the pattern.

The 1:1 scale model of Hop Minh bronze jar is solemnly displayed on the first floor of the Provincial Museum. The motifs on the jar's body are stylized and used as a highlight of the surrounding space.

Now, the Hop Minh bronze jar is solemnly displayed in the central position on the first floor of the Lao Cai Provincial Museum Exhibition House. The motifs on the jar's body are also stylized, used as a decorative highlight for the space, helping visitors easily observe, study and feel the beauty of the heritage.

Visiting the Museum, Nguyen Hoang My - an 8A student at Quang Trung Secondary School, Yen Bai Ward said: I had seen the image of the Hop Minh bronze jar in books, but when I saw it with my own eyes, each line and pattern appeared very vividly. I felt more clearly the historical value and felt proud that my homeland had such a precious treasure. I admired the ancient Vietnamese even more because more than two thousand years ago they had the sophisticated technique of casting a single block of bronze, creating beautiful and balanced patterns.

Images and documents about the jar also appear in many thematic exhibitions, contributing to more widely introducing the value of the antique to the public inside and outside the province. Lao Cai Provincial Museum also applies information technology in explanations in many languages. In particular, on the virtual museum system, the Hop Minh bronze jar is scanned in 3D, 360 degrees so that visitors can rotate left, right, up and down in the surrounding dimensions, clearly see the cracks or see the detailed dimensions. Thanks to that, people from far away or international tourists can easily access the province's heritage treasure. This is also a specific step in the digital transformation process of the local culture and information sector, bringing cultural values out of the traditional exhibition framework, spreading more strongly in contemporary life.

From the depths of the earth to the current exhibition space is a journey woven with the passion, respect and pride of many generations. Over the years, the Hop Minh bronze jar has been both a brilliant symbol of the Dong Son civilization and an echo of the past sent to the present, reminding everyone of the responsibility to preserve heritage, of the love and aspiration to preserve Vietnamese cultural values that last forever.

Source: https://baolaocai.vn/am-vang-tieng-vong-ngan-nam-post883993.html