The Governor's Seal is being preserved by the Quang Binh General Museum after being received from Mr. Vo Phi Tan's family in An Ninh commune, Quang Ninh district more than 40 years ago. In 2018, the seal was recognized by the Prime Minister as a national treasure.
The only 500-year-old treasure of Quang Binh. Photo: Vo Thanh
Accidentally found a seal in a bomb crater.
Mr. Vo Phi Tan, 83 years old, said that in 1980, before joining the army, his son went to a bomb crater in the field and found a black metal block. Seeing its strange shape, Mr. Tan cleaned it and displayed it in his house. Many people thought that the metal block made of black bronze, engraved with Chinese characters, was a valuable antique and asked to buy it, but were refused.
Curious about what the block on display was made of, Mr. Tan allowed a buyer to cut off a corner and bring it to Hue for verification. Hearing that Mr. Tan's family was keeping antiques, the cultural sector of Binh Tri Thien province came to investigate and determined that this was an ancient seal.
Mr. Vo Phi Tan recounts the moment he picked up the seal. Photo: Vo Thanh
"At that time, I wanted to keep the seal on display at home. No one asked to buy it. When I heard from the authorities that the seal was an antique and would be displayed at the museum, I donated it for everyone to admire," Mr. Tan said, adding that he would go to the Quang Binh Museum to admire the treasured seal again.
According to the treasure recognition file, the seal weighs 3.6 kg, is made of bronze, 11 cm long, 11 cm wide, and 9 cm high. On top is a handle shaped like a kneeling lion, the lion's body is 6.5 cm high and 9.5 cm long. One corner of the seal is chipped.
The upper surface of the seal is engraved with the words "Hong Thuan Luc Nien Thap Nhat Nguyet Thap Luc Nhat Tao" (the seal was cast on November 16, the 6th year of Hong Thuan, or 1515 under the reign of King Le Tuong Duc) and "Phung Menh Tuan Phu Do Tuong Quan An".
India proves the expansion of territory to the South
The title of Governor General was established during the early Le Dynasty. According to historical records, after defeating the Ming army with the Lam Son uprising, Le Loi established the early Le Dynasty. Existing for 100 years (1428-1527), in addition to protecting the northern border from the invasion of the Ming Dynasty, the Le kings expanded the border to the south.
Under King Le Thanh Tong, the king trained the army, directly commanded the expansions to the South and West, and won victories against Champa (the Central region). Instead of sending troops back to Thang Long like previous dynasties, King Le Thanh Tong secured the new land by establishing plantations for poor people from the North to come and live with the indigenous people.
Below the seal of the Governor General. Photo: Vo Thanh
The king also sent officials to govern the new land, granting them the title of Governor General. Governor was the head of a province or a part of a larger province, with administrative, financial, and military leadership of the province. Governor General was a military position that existed from the Ly and Tran dynasties and lasted until the early Le dynasty.
The title of Governor on the seal is accompanied by the word "Phung Menh" which means the seal is given to a general or official who is temporarily sent to carry out official duties, to patrol important places, and to comfort the people. This is an unstable title and is rarely used. History books do not specifically record who the court bestowed the title of Governor or General, only stating that in January 1515, King Le Tuong Duc appointed Thuy Quan Cong Ngo Binh and Nguyen Quan Cong Trinh Duy San as generals to suppress uprisings.
Ms. Le Thi Hoai Huong, Director of Quang Binh General Museum, said that the Tuan Phu Do Tuong Quan seal is the only one found belonging to the Tuan Phu Do Tuong Quan during the early Le Dynasty. It is currently the province's only treasure, carefully kept in the museum's warehouse. In the near future, when there is a standard display cabinet, the seal will be displayed for people to admire.
Vo Thanh
Comment (0)