Promoting the value of the Nguyen Dynasty woodblock documents.

The Nguyen Dynasty woodblock documentary heritage is preserved in a modern, specialized storage facility.

The woodblocks of the Nguyen Dynasty are an exceptionally rare and valuable heritage, possessing not only historical value but also artistic merit. Therefore, they were recognized by UNESCO as a Documentary Heritage under the Memory of the World Programme in 2009. This was Vietnam's first World Documentary Heritage.

With this invaluable source of documentation, in 2016, the Prime Minister approved the project "Preservation and promotion of the value of the Nguyen Dynasty woodblock documents - World Documentary Heritage".

A particularly rare heritage

The collection of Nguyen Dynasty woodblocks, currently preserved at the National Archives Center IV (Cam Ly Ward, Da Lat City, Lam Dong Province), comprises 33,976 blocks, tentatively divided into over 100 books covering various topics such as history, geography, politics and society, military, law, culture and education, religion, ideology and philosophy, language and writing, and literature.

This is a reliable and relatively intact source of historical data for research and comparison, serving the study of Vietnamese history in many fields. According to Nguyen Xuan Hung, Director of the National Archives Center IV, the Nguyen Dynasty woodblocks are a special type of document in terms of form, content, and production method; they are the original copies of famous official texts and histories of Vietnam, compiled and printed primarily during the Nguyen Dynasty. The woodblocks were mainly created using the technique of carving Han Nom characters in reverse on wood to print books, a technique widely used during the feudal period and still preserved today.

Woodblock documents are meticulously compiled and engraved chronicles; accessing these valuable documents reveals the ingenuity of the Vietnamese people. Having spoken with Professor Nguyen Thanh Chau, former lecturer in Han-Nom studies at Da Lat University, I learned that the most common wood used for woodblocks is persimmon wood. This wood is tough, soft, and smooth, resistant to cracking and warping, so the engraved characters remain stable. The Dai Nam Nhat Thong Chi (Comprehensive Gazetteer of Dai Nam) also records that woodblocks were made from the Nha Dong tree, commonly known as Song Mat, whose white, bright wood grain resembles ivory. Therefore, after several hundred years, these woodblocks are still in relatively good condition.

The woodblocks of the Nguyen Dynasty include many inscribed with standard Chinese characters (simple, straightforward characters), many in cursive Chinese characters (calligraphic Chinese characters), and many in the form of diagrams, maps, paintings, and motifs. The characters on the woodblocks are very small, with many strokes, and some are very finely detailed. Despite having survived for hundreds of years, the characters on the paper remain sharp when printed.

Many experts believe that woodblocks are not only valuable documents but also showcase masterful printing techniques. According to Han-Nom teacher Nguyen Thanh Chau, the pinnacle of woodblock production techniques during the Nguyen Dynasty was the art of meticulously depicting every detail of patterns, motifs, maps, diagrams, and the emperor's seal. Woodblocks clearly possess very high artistic value.

Among the vast collection of nearly 34,000 woodblock documents, the National Archives Center IV currently preserves valuable books printed from the Nguyen Dynasty woodblock collection, such as: Dai Viet Su Ky Toan Thu (Complete History of Dai Viet), Dai Nam Thuc Luc (Chronicles of Dai Nam), Kham Dinh Dai Nam Hoi Dien Su Le (Imperial Compilation of Dai Nam's Regulations), Minh Menh Chinh Yeu (Essentials of Minh Menh), Dai Nam Nhat Thong Chi (Unified Gazetteer of Dai Nam)... All are preserved by a modern, specialized "storage within storage" system.

Spreading the value of woodblock documents.

Over the years, the National Archives Center IV has become an attractive destination for domestic and international tourists on their journey to explore and experience Da Lat, the city of a thousand flowers. Along with visiting the "first villa" on the plateau, built in 1958, visitors can also explore and learn about the Nguyen Dynasty woodblock documentary heritage preserved, displayed, and presented here.

According to Nguyen Xuan Hung, Director of the National Archives Center IV, the center officially opened its archival document exhibition area in 2007. Two years later, they compiled the book "Woodblock Prints of the Nguyen Dynasty - An Overview" in both e-book and print formats to publish and introduce woodblock documents to researchers both domestically and internationally.

Based on this foundation, the center continues to compile and publish numerous books and documentaries based on the value of woodblocks, such as the two books "The Examinations of Thang Long-Hanoi through Woodblock Documents of the Nguyen Dynasty," "Woodblocks of the Nguyen Dynasty - The Edict on Relocating the Capital and Some Masterpieces," and the book "Comprehensive Collection of Meritorious Officials of the Nguyen Dynasty through Woodblock Documents - World Documentary Heritage"...; and organizes thematic exhibitions "World Documentary Heritage of Imperial Archives and Woodblocks - Historical Values from Memory" and "The Nguyen Dynasty and the Compilation of National History" using glass paintings to serve the public for viewing and learning. Over the years, the center has organized many activities to publicize, exhibit, and introduce the value of the heritage and bring woodblock documents closer to the public.

Today, with the development of science and technology, the National Archives Center IV has promoted the application of AI, contributing to improving the efficiency of archival work and strongly disseminating the value of documents to the public. Currently, the center uses 3D Mapping technology to create interactive image blocks in three-dimensional space.

In the "Nguyen Dynasty Woodblock Printing Space," by touching the screen, visitors see vivid images of woodblock documents and can watch the compilation and printing process through hologram projection technology. Viewers can also admire famous woodblock prints with VR 360 virtual reality technology… "Technology has brought documentary and historical heritage closer to the public, making it very vivid and captivating," shared visitor Le Thi Ha from Hanoi.

However, AI applications require strict adherence to certain principles, such as compliance with the 2024 Archives Law and regulations on cybersecurity, state secrets, intellectual property, and personal data protection. Simultaneously, solutions are needed to protect digital documents and AI-processed data from unauthorized access, cyberattacks, and data loss; and to ensure the integrity, accuracy, and objectivity of documents to prevent the risk of AI misinterpretation.

According to Mr. Hung, in order to make AI a powerful tool in archiving, it is necessary to build and perfect a synchronized legal framework and technical standards; strategically invest in technology infrastructure and data platforms; and, most importantly, develop high-quality human resources.

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