Affirmation of the value of the Ma Nhai Ngu Hanh Son Stele System
Discussion within the framework of the 2025 Ngu Hanh Son Quan The Am Festival.
The program attracted many researchers, historical and cultural experts in Da Nang city. There were 2 main groups of topics that were evaluated, discussed and researched by the delegates.
Topic 1 with the content "The influence of Buddhism in the documentary heritage of Ma Nhai Stele at Ngu Hanh Son" received a close assessment by Dr. Nguyen Hoang Than with the presentation "Some issues about Ma Nhai Stele at Ngu Hanh Son related to Buddhism".
The content of the discussion clarifies that the Ngu Hanh Son stele is an authentic historical document, contributing significantly to the study of the history of the formation and development of Buddhism in Quang Nam - Da Nang.
At the same time, it reflects the profound and lofty thoughts, philosophies, and meditation verses of Buddhism.
Scientific seminar "The influence of Buddhism in the documentary heritage of the Ma Nhai Stele at the Ngu Hanh Son scenic spot"
The content of the paper in "The fragrance of Buddhism in stele poems" by Master Dinh Thi Toan listed and analyzed some stele poems in Ngu Hanh Son stele poems.
Affirming that "The stele with poems on Ngu Hanh Son is a special cultural phenomenon, a heritage that needs to be properly evaluated and cared for".
Besides, the paper "Buddhism in Ngu Hanh Son during the Nguyen Dynasty (19th century)" by Dr. Le Xuan Thong and Dr. Nguyen The Ha helps readers have a more comprehensive and systematic view of Ngu Hanh Son Buddhism in the last feudal dynasty in Vietnam.
According to the authors, in the 19th century, Buddhism at Ngu Hanh Son received especially positive treatment from the Nguyen Dynasty.
The article also affirms that Buddhism in Ngu Hanh Son has many outstanding monks with high morals and virtues, who have made great contributions to the development of Buddhism in Quang Nam, quickly bringing Quang Nam Buddhism into the orbit of innovation of the country's Buddhism in the first decades of the 20th century.
With the topic 2 being “The work of preserving and promoting the value of Ma Nhai Stele at Ngu Hanh Son scenic spot”, 6 papers were presented. Including: “Special issue of Dieu Am - inheriting the literary tradition from Ma Nhai Ngu Hanh Son” (Monk Thich Hue Vinh).
“Preserving and promoting the value of the heritage of stone documents in the case of 82 Doctoral steles (1484-1780) at the Temple of Literature - Quoc Tu Giam” (Dr. Nguyen Van Tu - Deputy Director of the Center for Scientific and Cultural Activities of the Temple of Literature - Quoc Tu Giam).
“The multi-value nature of Ngu Hanh Son Scenic Spot” (Master Vo Van Thang); “The typical values of Ngu Hanh Son Scenic Spot” (researcher Ho Xuan Tinh);
“The process and experience of building a heritage dossier of the Ma Nhai Stele at Ngu Hanh Son Scenic Area” (Ms. Phan Thi Xuan Mai); “Some issues on preserving Ma Nhai at Ngu Hanh Son - Da Nang” (Ms. Ngo Duc Chi).
In the discussion "Special issue of Dieu Am - inheriting the literary tradition from Ma Nhai Ngu Hanh Son", Venerable Thich Hue Vinh reviewed the formation and development process of the special issue Dieu Am from 1985 with the name "Noi Co" to the special issue "Dieu Am" today.
Throughout those 40 years, the content of Dieu Am always carried a strong Buddhist and national cultural identity, inheriting the literary source from Ma Nhai Ngu Hanh Son.
As Deputy Director of the Center for Cultural and Scientific Activities of the Temple of Literature - Quoc Tu Giam, Dr. Nguyen Van Tu provided valuable information on the conservation and promotion of the value of the World Documentary Heritage - 82 Doctoral Steles at the Temple of Literature - Quoc Tu Giam.
Dr. Nguyen Van Tu Propose some solutions and problems for the sustainable conservation of stone documentary heritage.
These valuable experiences need to be studied and applied to the conservation of the Ma Nhai Ngu Hanh Son stele in the coming time.
In the paper "Some issues on preserving ma nhay in Ngu Hanh Son - Da Nang", MSc. Ngo Duc Chi stated:
The density of the appearance of inscriptions is closely related to the migration history of many different ethnic groups, mainly Vietnamese and Chinese migration to the South.
Experts are printing the Ngu Hanh Son waterfall model (photo courtesy of Da Nang Museum)
The Ma Nhai in Ngu Hanh Son - Da Nang is the most obvious example in the Central region. At the same time, the author also points out the negative impacts and threats to the quality of the Ma Nhai, and the urgent conservation issue.
Two papers by MSc. Vo Van Thang and researcher Ho Xuan Tinh provide a comprehensive and systematic view of the multi-value nature of the Ngu Hanh Son scenic spot.
Analyze and clarify the cultural, historical and natural values of the heritage, which carries contemporary cultural values and vitality, while also opening up greater expectations for a World Cultural Heritage - Ngu Hanh Son Scenic Complex.
There are many legal bases to facilitate the protection and promotion. heritage
The seminar also aims to plan policies, build projects and plans to preserve and promote the value of the Ma Nhai Stele at Ngu Hanh Son Scenic Area.
Researcher Ho Xuan Tinh - Da Nang Cultural Heritage Association stated that the Ngu Hanh Son ma nhay was carved on limestone cliffs. Over a long period of time, affected by the weather, many places were eroded and the letters were no longer clear.
“To preserve and pass on this ma nhay system, we must apply both manual methods and modern technology.
It is necessary to redefine the faded letters, use skilled sculptors to chisel and restore the letters on the cliff, then apply nano technology to create a surface coating, helping the inscriptions to resist the erosion of rainwater and mold...
We must continue to promote the value of the Quan The Am Festival in connecting Buddhism with national culture.
This is a festival with strong religious colors, at the same time having folk and popular characteristics... meeting the religious needs of the people.
Preserving cultural values will effectively contribute to building national unity and developing effective spiritual tourism products.
Along with the work of preserving and promoting cultural heritage, it is necessary to have a plan to invite experts to conduct in-depth research on nature, including landscape, geology, and geomorphology of the Ngu Hanh Son area.
"Organize a workshop to identify the unique values of Ngu Hanh Son and get opinions to build a World Heritage dossier to submit to UNESCO" - researcher Ho Xuan Tinh commented.
Ghosts on the entrance to Tang Chon cave, Ngu Hanh Son scenic spot. Photo courtesy of Da Nang Museum)
Master Vo Van Thang - Historical Science Association of Da Nang City commented on the values of cultural relics preserved by humans in the Ngu Hanh Son mountain clusters, and at the same time gave key points to preserve and promote these values:
“Preserving and promoting the value of Ngu Hanh Son currently has very basic advantages.
On July 11, 2023, the Prime Minister issued Decision No. 822/QD-TTg approving the Plan for preservation, restoration and rehabilitation of the Ngu Hanh Son National Special Scenic Site.
This is an important legal basis for the Da Nang city government and grassroots levels to take specific measures to preserve and promote the values of the Ngu Hanh Son scenic spot.
During the planning implementation process, it is necessary to pay attention to limiting negative impacts during exploitation for people's lives, commerce and tourism.
Furthermore, there should be solutions to restore the fauna and flora ecosystem of the limestone-marble mountain cluster, which has been rapidly destroyed in recent decades.
It is known that at the beginning of this year, the People's Committee of Da Nang city issued a document directing the preparation of a dossier to request UNESCO to recognize the Ngu Hanh Son Scenic Area as a World Cultural Heritage Site.
We think that the implementation of the registration dossier with UNESCO is an opportunity to conduct research on the values of the Ngu Hanh Son landscape.
Especially the values related to geology and archaeology, which have not had the conditions and legal basis to implement for a long time.
The process of documenting will be meaningful in creating opportunities for scientists and managers to share knowledge and experience in heritage conservation.
And it will certainly bring positive impacts, contributing to the preservation of Ngu Hanh Son, a heritage with mixed and multi-value properties."
Ms. Phan Thi Xuan Mai - Head of Cultural Heritage Management Department, Da Nang Museum informed: Currently, Vietnam has 10 international documentary heritages recognized by UNESCO.
Including 3 World Documentary Heritages: Nguyen Dynasty Woodblocks, Nguyen Dynasty Royal Records and Le Mac Dynasty Doctoral Steles at the Temple of Literature - Quoc Tu Giam, Hanoi.
7 Asia-Pacific regional documentary heritages are the Buddhist scripture woodblocks of Vinh Nghiem pagoda, Poetry and literature on Hue royal architecture, and the woodblocks of Phuc Giang school (Ha Tinh).
Hoang Hoa Su Trinh Do (Map of the Chinese embassy trip in the 18th century), Han Nom documents of Truong Luu village, Ha Tinh (1689-1943), Ma Nhai stele at Ngu Hanh Son scenic spot, Da Nang and reliefs cast on nine bronze cauldrons at Hue Imperial Palace.
“In 2017 and 2019, the People's Committee of Ngu Hanh Son district and the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Da Nang coordinated with the Lieu Quan Hue Buddhist Cultural Center to organize two scientific seminars on "Buddhist Heritage of Ngu Hanh Son" and "Ancient Books and Han Nom Inscriptions of Ngu Hanh Son".
The seminar aims to announce new research results of special value and typical values about Ma Nhai stele at Ngu Hanh Son scenic spot.
These are "wake-up bells" for the cultural sector to better recognize the importance, value and current state of degradation of this documentary heritage system, so that urgent conservation measures can be taken.
At the same time, based on the positive comments and assessments of experts, the issue of building a dossier to submit to UNESCO for recognition as a documentary heritage was raised.
That is the most important foundation for Da Nang city to confidently and determinedly build a profile," said Ms. Xuan Mai.
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