Cultural heritage of the East

Hai Duong is a land with a rich history and culture, preserving many unique tangible and intangible cultural heritages, including many unique cultural heritages related to the Tran Dynasty.

Hiep An brown flower ceramic jar, 45 cm high, weighs 20 kg, made of white clay, covered with ivory yellow glaze, painted with brown glaze, light gray ceramic body.

In order to innovate the promotion of outstanding global cultural heritage values of Yen Tu relic and landscape complex during the process of Quang Ninh, Hai Duong and Bac Giang provinces building a dossier to submit to UNESCO for recognition of the Yen Tu - Vinh Nghiem - Con Son, Kiep Bac relic and landscape complex as a world heritage, honoring the Tran dynasty in the cause of defending the Fatherland, on October 19, 2024, at Hai Duong Provincial Museum, the Organizing Committee of the 2024 Con Son - Kiep Bac Autumn Festival organized a thematic exhibition "Cultural heritage of the Tran dynasty on Hai Duong land". The exhibition content includes 2 themes: "Hai Duong cultural heritage in the Yen Tu dossier submitted to UNESCO for recognition as a world heritage" and "Typical antiquities of the Tran dynasty and archaeological discoveries of the 13th - 14th centuries".

The exhibition introduces 200 documents, images, artifacts, and antiquities with an overview of historical and cultural relics, archaeological discovery and excavation sites, typical artifacts and antiquities of the Tran Dynasty in Hai Duong; about typical cultural heritages of the Tran Dynasty that still exist. At the same time, it affirms the important position of the ancient Eastern land in the process of national history. The exhibition contributes to propagating and promoting the outstanding values and proving the authenticity of the Con Son - Kiep Bac Special National Relic Site, Thanh Mai Pagoda, Kinh Chu - Nham Duong Relic Complex in the system of historical and cultural relics of the Tran Dynasty nominated for World Cultural Heritage; contributing to raising the sense of responsibility of cadres, people, especially the young generation in preserving, protecting and promoting the value of traditional cultural heritage.

On this occasion, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Hai Duong province coordinated with the Association of Eastern Antiquities to organize a special exhibition "The Quintessence of Eastern Antiquities" and announced the Prime Minister's Decision to recognize the Tran Dynasty Brown Flower Ceramic Jar as a National Treasure. The Tran Dynasty Brown Flower Ceramic Jar was discovered in Hiep An Commune, Kinh Mon Town, Hai Duong Province in 1981. This is an original, unique artifact with a unique form and a unique, rare work of art; it is a symbol of the peak development of Tran Dynasty ceramic art, reflecting part of the ideological, religious, belief and aesthetic values of the era. In the same period and method of production, in Quang Ninh (along with Hai Duong, formerly known as Hai Dong Road), there are also 2 National Treasures: the An Sinh brown flower ceramic jar and the Tran Dynasty brown flower ceramic jar.

An Sinh brown ceramic vase is believed to be used in Tran Lieu's palace. — An Sinh brown flower ceramic jars have many similarities with Hiep An brown flower ceramic jars in terms of manufacturing techniques as well as patterns.

Mr. Nguyen Thanh Trung, Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Hai Duong province, said: It can be affirmed that the ancient cultural tradition has become a source of pride, a source of strong vitality and resilience of the land and people here in the work of building and defending the country today. Over time, Hai Duong has preserved and maintained many unique tangible and intangible cultural heritages with 3,199 historical and cultural relics, more than 800 traditional festivals, hundreds of traditional occupations... In particular, with 129 historical, cultural and artistic relics and 26/50 archaeological sites discovered and excavated related to the Tran Dynasty - Tran Dynasty cultural heritage in Hai Duong has become an important part of the cultural identity of the ancient Eastern Land. These cultural heritage values have been and are being respected, preserved and effectively promoted by generations of Hai Duong people in contemporary life.

The system of historical and cultural relics of the Tran Dynasty in Hai Duong in general and the Con Son - Kiep Bac, Kinh Chu - Nham Duong special national relics and Thanh Mai pagoda in particular are inseparable components of the Yen Tu - Vinh Nghiem - Con Son, Kiep Bac complex in the dossier submitted to UNESCO for recognition as a world heritage site. This is not only a wonderful natural area with the harmonious combination of rivers and mountains, but also the birthplace of the Truc Lam Zen Buddhist sect founded by King Tran Nhan Tong, playing an important role in the history of national construction.

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