Donating 2 Ao Dai of Queen Mother Tu Cung to Hue Monuments Conservation Center

On May 20, at the Hue Royal Antiquities Museum, the Hue Monuments Conservation Center solemnly received two rare traditional ao dai owned by the Queen Mother Tu Cung (Dear Lady Tu Cung) - which were authorized by Ms. Cong Ton Nu Kim Chi (currently living in the United States) to be presented to Mr. Pham Xuan Cuong.

Two valuable artifacts include: a red silk ao dai with patterns and sleeves tied in the typical royal style, and a silk ao dai with brocade, all buttons missing, and the fabric rotten in some places.

Mr. Pham Xuan Cuong (a descendant of the Nguyen Dynasty royal family) was authorized by Mrs. Cong Ton Nu Kim Chi to present two rare Ao Dai artifacts to Hue.

According to the information from the record confirming the origin of the two dresses of Duc Tu Cung, Mrs. Cong Ton Nu Kim Chi - daughter of Mr. Ung Le, granddaughter of An Phuoc Quan Vuong Hong Kien - the 10th prince of King Thieu Tri, a descendant of the Nguyen Dynasty royal family, in the 1960s, Mrs. Tu Cung (mother of King Bao Dai, the last king of the Nguyen Dynasty) gave these two dresses to an adopted sister of Mrs. Kim Chi, a Vietnamese woman of French origin as a souvenir.

In 1963, this adopted sister returned to France and brought two dresses with her. In 1995, Ms. Kim Chi received these two dresses back while living in France, and then brought the two dresses with her when she settled in the United States.

Leaders of the Hue Monuments Conservation Center signed the minutes of handover and receipt of two ao dai of Our Lady of the Palace.

With the desire to return these two precious relics to Hue, Ms. Kim Chi decided to authorize Mr. Pham Xuan Cuong (a close relative of the Nguyen Dynasty royal family, grandson of Mr. Buu Di) to represent her in donating the two shirts to the Hue Monuments Conservation Center for preservation and conservation.

At the reception of the two artifacts, Mr. Hoang Viet Trung, Director of the Hue Monuments Conservation Center, expressed his respect for the acts of Mrs. Cong Ton Nu Kim Chi and Mr. Pham Xuan Cuong. The two dresses of Queen Mother Tu Cung are relics of special historical and cultural value, not only reflecting the style of royal costumes of the Nguyen Dynasty but also being evidence of personal elements, closely associated with the life of a historical figure.

Director of Hue Monuments Conservation Center Hoang Viet Trung expressed his respect for the gesture of Ms. Cong Ton Nu Kim Chi.

Mr. Hoang Viet Trung added that recently, the attention of many units and individuals has contributed to the repatriation of valuable antiques and artifacts of the Nguyen Dynasty to the ancient capital of Hue, contributing to the preservation, preservation of culture and promotion of values, spreading to the community.

"The donation and return of the artifacts to Hue this time not only enriches the archives but also demonstrates the royal descendants' appreciation of the heritage. The center will preserve, restore and display the two artifacts at their true value, so that the public can better understand the history of the Nguyen Dynasty in general and Queen Mother Tu Cung in particular," said Mr. Trung.

Immediately after the reception ceremony, the two ao dai of the Queen Mother Tu Cung were put on display in a glass cabinet by the Hue Royal Antiquities Museum for visitors to admire.

The day after the reception ceremony, the two ao dai of the Empress Dowager were displayed at the Hue Royal Antiquities Museum, which is preserving more than 11,000 Nguyen Dynasty artifacts, for visitors to visit and admire.

Source: https://nhandan.vn/trao-tang-2-chiec-ao-dai-cua-hoang-thai-hau-tu-cung-cho-trung-tam-bao-ton-di-tich-co-do-hue-post881085.html