Stele inscriptions are a cultural phenomenon arising from human social life and are one of the forms of information in ancient and medieval times. Stele inscriptions appeared quite early, starting in China, and then spreading to countries such as Korea, Vietnam, and Japan (countries that used hieroglyphic writing and square blocks). Essentially, stele inscriptions were used to record major historical events, cultural events, political events, etc.
A unique documentary heritage.
According to cultural researchers, stone inscriptions are a significant part of the Sino-Vietnamese documentary heritage of historical sites. In Sino-Vietnamese transliteration, "bi" means a large stone slab inscribed with characters to record events, people, things to remember, or to record a personal memory or event with a significant impact on the community. Inscriptions carved on cliffs or in caves are called rock inscriptions, while those erected on stone slabs are called stone steles.
Dr. Hoang Van Pao, Chairman of the Provincial Cultural Heritage Association, said: Stone steles are documents for studying history, ethnology, geography, historical linguistics, sociology, customs and beliefs, historical geography, fine arts... This is a special type of cultural heritage, an authentic and reliable historical document, a source of research on many aspects of the history of each ethnic group and locality. The structure of the stele includes a title; the inscription; and the final section recording the time the stele was erected.
According to incomplete statistics from the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the province currently has more than 60 stone inscriptions preserved at the provincial museum and religious sites. Stone inscriptions in Lang Son are divided into two types: block-shaped inscriptions and rock inscriptions. Of these, rock inscriptions account for two-thirds of the total number of inscriptions in the province due to Lang Son's mountainous terrain and karst caves. These rock inscriptions were all composed by Confucian scholars such as Than Duc Tai, Vi Duc Thang, Ngo Thi Si, Le Huu Dung, Ngo Thi Nham, Ngo Thi Vi, etc. Each inscription is a famous literary work, praising the country's landscape, and celebrating the courage and tolerance of the border people in their labor and production. Notably, the renowned figure Ngo Thi Sy wrote the poem "Eight Scenic Views of the Garrison" inscribed on the rock face at Tien Pagoda (Luong Van Tri Ward) in the 40th year of Canh Hung (1779), and many other poems at Nhi Thanh Cave, Tam Thanh Pagoda (Tam Thanh Ward)...
Besides rock inscriptions, block-shaped steles are works carved on stone slabs, clearly showcasing the sculptural talent and ideas of the ancients.
Most notably, the Thuy Mon Dinh stele was recognized as a national treasure by the Prime Minister in 2015. This stele was erected in 1670, during the reign of King Le Huyen Tong, by the military commander Nguyen Dinh Loc. The inscription contains invaluable information about the name "Vietnam" and national territorial sovereignty, and is one of the few ancient documents containing the words "Vietnam" dating back to before 1804. In addition, Lang Son also has two steles dating from the Chinh Hoa period (1680 and 1683) at Trung Thien Pagoda (Na Duong commune) and Ta Phu Temple (Ky Lua ward), praising the contributions of Generals Vi Duc Thang and Than Cong Tai, who played a key role in securing the border and developing the region's economy.
Preserve for generations to come.
Stele inscriptions are a precious historical treasure, a vivid testament to the nation-building and defense efforts of our ancestors. Recognizing this, over the years, the provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism has implemented numerous measures to preserve and promote this unique cultural heritage for future generations.
Mr. Luu Ba Mac, Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said: "In recent times, the department has intensified its propaganda efforts to raise public awareness about preserving and protecting the valuable historical and cultural heritage of the province's stone inscription system. We also closely coordinate with relevant agencies to effectively implement solutions for the preservation and restoration of stone inscriptions in particular and historical sites in general, in conjunction with tourism development. In addition, the department is also striving to digitize the stone inscriptions to support research."
Accordingly, in recent times, specialized agencies and units have made efforts to preserve and promote the value of this collection of stone inscriptions. Notably, the Lang Son Provincial Museum has collected and stored 62 rubbings of stone inscriptions in its archives. To serve the needs of visitors, the Provincial Museum has also translated the inscriptions into the Vietnamese Quốc ngữ script. These translations are placed at the historical sites, helping visitors easily read, understand, and appreciate the historical and cultural value of each inscription.
Mr. Nong Duc Kien, Director of the Provincial Museum, said: "In order to promote the value of artifacts and epigraphic documents, we have directed specialized departments to strengthen the work of collecting and preserving them, and at the same time, displaying and introducing the value of these artifacts and documents to a wide range of visitors. In particular, for the national treasure, the Thuy Mon Dinh stele, currently kept in the exhibition hall, we have also built a pedestal and installed a protective glass panel."
Simultaneously, digitization at historical sites has also been emphasized… From 2022 to the present, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism has coordinated with relevant units to digitize the entire cultural heritage database in the province, containing 3,440 artifacts, documents, and materials, including information on the system of stele inscriptions, which has been fully updated on the software.
Furthermore, because stone inscriptions, especially those found on cliff faces, are often located in natural environments and directly exposed to the elements, the management and permanent staff of these sites proactively conduct periodic inspections, clean moss and grime, and protect the surfaces of the inscriptions. These efforts not only contribute to extending the lifespan of the artifacts but also preserve the valuable messages passed down from our ancestors.
Speaking with us, Ms. Hoang Thi Kim Anh, Head of the permanent office of Tien Pagoda - Tien Well relic site in Luong Van Tri ward, where many valuable rock inscriptions are preserved, expressed: "We consider protecting these rock walls as protecting the history of our ancestors. We regularly inspect, clean, and educate tourists about the meaning of these rock inscriptions, so that everyone understands and joins hands in protecting them."
Stone inscriptions are not just inanimate blocks of stone, but witnesses of time, crucial links that allow us to understand, connect, and write a complete history of this border region. Preserving and promoting the value of these inscriptions is not only the responsibility of the government at all levels but also of the entire community, so that these "pages of history" in stone may endure through time.
Source: https://baolangson.vn/doc-dao-nhung-pho-su-bang-da-5055327.html
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