Special topic: Solutions to preserve and promote the value of the special national relic of Non Nuoc mountain and the system of steles at the relic

Comrades Tong Quang Thin, Member of the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee, Permanent Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Tuan Cuong, Director of the Institute of Han Nom Studies; Prof. Dr. Dinh Khac Thuan, former Deputy Editor-in-Chief of the Han Nom Journal (Institute of Han Nom Studies); and Nguyen Manh Cuong, Director of the Department of Culture and Sports, co-chaired the workshop.

During the thematic session, scientists and researchers focused on exchanging and discussing several issues in clarifying the historical, cultural, and documentary value of the system of stone inscriptions at the Non Nuoc Mountain historical site, as well as the current work of preserving the site.

Special Topic: Solutions for Preserving and Promoting the Value of Non Nuoc Mountain National Special Monument and the System of Stele Inscriptions at the Monument — Associate Professor Pham Thi Thuy Vinh, from the Institute of Han Nom Studies, presented her paper at the conference.

In the presentation "Perceptions of the surrounding environment of Duc Thuy Mountain through some rock inscriptions," Associate Professor Pham Thi Thuy Vinh (Institute of Han Nom Studies) stated: It is rare to find a natural site that also contains and preserves a wealth of written cultural heritage from many dynasties and centuries, spanning a considerable period from the 14th to the early 20th century, like Non Nuoc Mountain. The complex of rock inscriptions on Non Nuoc Mountain is rich, spanning four dynasties and six centuries. The rock inscription heritage of Duc Thuy Mountain fully deserves to be proposed for UNESCO recognition as a World Memory Documentary Heritage.

The presentation "The Non Nuoc Mountain National Special Monument in the Millennium Heritage City of Ninh Binh" by Lieutenant General Le Phuc Nguyen, former Editor-in-Chief of the People's Army Newspaper, focused on solutions for preserving and enhancing the landscape of Non Nuoc Mountain and researching and disseminating the value of the existing system of stone inscriptions on the mountain; conducting comprehensive research to assess the historical, cultural, and religious values of the monument complex; connecting Non Nuoc Mountain with other monuments in the "Four Great Mountains" group of Ninh Binh city, forming a tour to explore the "Four Great Mountains" within the city... At the same time, it expressed the hope that Ninh Binh province would utilize and maximize its advantages in natural landscapes and cultural heritage in the development of the Millennium Heritage City.

The presentation "Application of Information Technology and Artificial Intelligence in Solutions for Preserving the System of Steles and Inscriptions on Non Nuoc Mountain" by Major General Nguyen Van Bac, Colonel Nguyen Huu Tuan, and others proposed solutions for preserving and storing information on the system of steles and inscriptions on Non Nuoc Mountain, aiming to enhance access and research capabilities for scientists, researchers, and the public, and raise awareness of the historical and cultural value of the system of steles and inscriptions on Non Nuoc Mountain.

In his concluding remarks at the conference, Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Tuan Cuong, Director of the Institute of Han Nom Studies and co-chair of the conference organizing committee, stated: The conference worked diligently and effectively, with 12 presentations, 3 rounds of discussion, and other scientific reports. The conference clarified the history and formation process of Non Nuoc Mountain, as well as its role and importance in the construction and protection of the ancient capital of Hoa Lu – a place that still preserves many historical landmarks and scenic sites, especially the treasure trove of Han Nom poetry and literature. This highlighted the unique and distinctive features of the stone inscriptions on Non Nuoc Mountain, which need to be studied, exploited, and communicated to promote the value of this historical and cultural treasure.

The workshop also particularly emphasized the planning, restoration, and preservation of the Han Nom heritage treasure at Non Nuoc Mountain; and its integration with the Trang An scenic area tourism route. Opinions focused on collecting, accurately cataloging, and compiling a book on Non Nuoc Mountain or the Non Nuoc Mountain scenic area in Ninh Binh with three main contents (history of the Non Nuoc Mountain area, poetry and literature at the Non Nuoc Mountain area, and local poetry and literature about Non Nuoc Mountain). The aim is to preserve and promote the value of one of the poetic museums of medieval literature.

The discussions and opinions also suggested the need to digitize 2D or 3D the Han Nom documents on Non Nuoc Mountain to preserve tradition and promote the value of the Non Nuoc Mountain heritage treasure. Ninh Binh province should consider developing a separate project to preserve Non Nuoc Mountain in a way that lives up to the praise of our ancestors, further promoting the value of the heritage and scenic spot within the tourism chain of Ninh Binh province. The project should build a Non Nuoc Mountain complex including Non Nuoc Mountain and other adjacent relics (such as Canh Dieu Mountain, Van River...), moving towards planning the Non Nuoc Mountain scenic site complex as a heritage site of rock inscriptions, meeting the criteria for submitting a dossier to UNESCO for recognition and inscription as a documentary heritage.

In his closing remarks at the workshop, Comrade Tong Quang Thin, Member of the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee and Permanent Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, affirmed that the workshop had completed its planned agenda. The presentations were rich, vibrant, and highly scientific, meeting the overall objectives and requirements of the workshop, clarifying the historical, cultural, and documentary values of the system of stelae at the site, and contributing to highlighting the outstanding value of the Non Nuoc Mountain Special National Monument.

Based on the feedback received at the Conference, the Organizing Committee compiled and edited the papers and speeches into the Conference Proceedings as a scientific document for research purposes, serving the conservation and promotion of cultural heritage and historical documents of Ninh Binh province. Simultaneously, it serves as a source of information to help research institutions and state management agencies conduct research, provide advice, and propose specific, highly feasible solutions for implementing socio-economic development tasks in the locality, refining policies and guidelines, and supporting the leadership, direction, management, and planning of socio-economic development in the province.

Based on the content of the seminar, Ninh Binh province will continue to promote propaganda, promotion, and education to raise awareness of preserving and developing the historical, cultural, and documentary values of the Non Nuoc Mountain National Special Monument in particular, and the historical and cultural traditions of the land and people of Hoa Lu Ancient Capital in general. This will awaken patriotic traditions, national pride and self-respect, love for the homeland, and promote the spirit of great unity, encouraging emulation in building and developing a prosperous and beautiful Ninh Binh, contributing to the overall development of the nation.

At the same time, the results of the Workshop and the research findings of experts and scientists, with many solutions presented in the papers, will be necessary prerequisites to create an objective scientific basis for policy planning and implementation of the Management, Conservation, and Promotion Plan for the Non Nuoc Mountain Special National Monument in Ninh Binh City, Ninh Binh Province, for the period 2021-2025; the development of a plan for the preservation, restoration, and rehabilitation of the Non Nuoc Mountain Special National Monument; and the preparation of a nomination dossier for the inscription of the system of stelae at the Non Nuoc Mountain monument in Ninh Binh Province on the UNESCO Documentary Heritage List; contributing to the goal of building Ninh Binh into a centrally-governed city with the characteristics of a millennium heritage city according to the Ninh Binh Provincial Planning approved by the Prime Minister.

Bui Dieu-Hong Van-Minh Quang

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