Bảo tàng lịch sử Quốc gia

Particularly, in the Ly – Tran Dynasty, Buddhism became the national religion, affected thought, education, literature and arts of people in the country.

The Vietnamese Buddhist cultural heritage shows not only the characteristic of the Vietnamese culture but the cultural exchange in the region. Each pagoda is a famous landscape or an art museum. Parts of pagodas’ architecture, statues, pictures and objects for worship are wonderful artworks. So, the Vietnamese Buddhist cultural heritage has made worthy contributions to the Vietnamese culture. In the Decision to recognize national treasures, signed by the Prime Minister on October 2012, there are six of thirty artifacts that belong to Buddhist cultural heritage.

To show the characteristics of the Vietnamese cultural heritage, conserve and develop the Vietnamese culture, The Vietnam National Museum of History (VNMH) opens a special exhibiton, titled “Vietnamese Buddhist Cultural Heritage” (the collection of the VNMH). The exhibition introduces 200 documents and artifacts, include: pictures, Buddha statues, decoration on pagodas and stupas and objects for worship, musical instruments, etc. The materials are displayed in 5 periods:

1. The Vietnamese Buddhist cultural heritage in 10 centuries CE

In original, Buddhism came to Vietnam from India through maritime trade road. In Giao Chi, the mission of Indian Buddhist Monks developed that made a motivation to establish the Buddhism Center Luy Lau, the greatest and oldest Buddhism Center of Vietnam.

From the 2^nd century AD, Luy Lau was a famous place where Indian Monks, such as: Ksudra, Mahajivaka and Khuong Tang Hoi, researched, traslated and spreaded Buddhism. In the center, Buddhism harmonized to regional agricultural beliefs to build an ideological doctrine system that the Legend of Mother Man Nuong Buddha and the worship of Four Goddesses (Goddess of Cloud, Goddess of Rain, Goddess of Thunder and Goddess of Lightning) are examples. Today we can find traces of the belief in Luy Lau – Thuan Thanh (Bac Ninh province) and the Northern delta.

Buddha statue. Wood. Oc Eo culture, the 4^th – 6^th century

From the 10^th century, the Ngo, Dinh and Pre-Le Dynasties set the independence for the country. At that time, Northern Mahayana Buddhism was taking an important role in the social life. This was an origin of the development of Buddhism as a national religion. In Hoa Lu, the old capital of Vietnam under the reign of Dinh Dynasty, there were many famous pagodas that were built with special architectures, such as: Ba Ngo pagoda, Thien Ton pagoda, Nhat Tru pagoda, etc. There are old relics that remains till today, including Buddhist scriptures on stones and Buddhist scriptures carved on stone pillars.

Buddha head statue. Sandstone. The 9^th century. Dong Duong, Thang Binh, Quang Tri province

In ancient Champa Kingdom, located in the Center of Vietnam, the 9^th – 10^th centuries (under the rule of King Indravarman II) was the period that Buddhism flourished with the appearance of Dong Duong Buddhist Institute (in Dong Duong village, Thang Binh district, Quang Nam province). Dong Duong Buddhist Institute was considered a Buddhist holy place of both ancient Champa Kingdom and South East Asia region. Many sculptures here represent a style in carving statues that called Dong Duong style. Dong Duong contributed to the Vietnamese Buddhist cultural heritages complex buildings and an unique sculpture style that showed characteristics of people in Champa. Two sculptures of Dong Duong Buddhist Institute that remain till today are the Buddha bronze statue and the Tara Bodhisattva bronze statue. The two statues have been recognized to be Vietnam National Treasures by the Prime Minister.

In Oc Eo culture, located in the South of Vietnam, Buddhism and Hindu were introduced in the early time. The remains of Buddhist culture were found in many relics and imprint on wood and stone statues. The expression of Buddha statues were very indulgent, the bodies were engraved with flexible looks. Through the sculptures, we know about the period from the 5^th century to the 7^th century that Buddhism flourished. The earliest Buddha statue is a wood statue which was found in Loi My, Dong Thap Muoi, dated back to the 4^th – 6^th centuries and has been one of 30 national treasures that was recognized in October, 2012.

Artifacts belong to the stage are Buddha statues, Bodhisattva statues, found in Dong Duong Buddhist Institue; Buddha wood and stone statues from Oc Eo culture; bronze bell, decorative tiles depict three Buddhas in the 9^th – 10^th centuries, model of Buddhist stupa, decorative materials which have Buddha patterns on (the Dinh – Pre-Le Dynasties), the blue-white patterns porcerlain dish from the Nguyen Dynasty depicts the scene “Phap Thuan Monk welcomes Ly Giac of the Song Dynasty in 987”.

2. The Vietnamese Buddhist cultural heritage in the Ly – Tran Dynasties (the 11^th – 14^th centuries)

In the Ly – Tran Dynasties, Buddhism flourished and became the national religion. The religion affected many fields of social life and was a motivation that made the society developed. In the stage, there is one kind of meditation, called Truc Lam Zen, appeared. The Zen, established by King Tran Nhan Tong, showed the independence of the nation.

Kinnari statue. Standstone. The Ly Dynasty, 1066. Phat Tich pagoda, Bac Ninh province. Architectural decorations

Many pagodas were built, included national pagodas, such as: Bao Thien pagoda, Dam pagoda, Phat Tich pagoda, Long Doi pagoda, Boi Khe pagoda and Pho Minh pagoda. Buddhism of the period not only showed the Vietnamese indentity but received the elements of Champa culture that figures of Apsara, Garuda, Kinnari, Kim Cuong and musicians are evidences.

Bell. Bronze. The Tran Dynasty, the 13^th – 14^th centuries. Van Ban pagoda, Do Son, Hai Phong

The artifacts belong to the stage include the objects found in Phat Tich pagoda, such as: pedestals, Kim Cuong statue, Kinnari statues, Great Monks statues, monks ceramic statues, bell of Van Ban pagoda (Hai Phong), the wooden door of Pho Minh pagoda (Nam Dinh), model of Buddha stupas, monkey statues (the symbol of Tam Khong).

3. The Vietnamese Buddhist cultural heritage in the Early Le – Mac Dynasties (the 15^th – 16^th centuries)

In the Early Le Dynasty, Confucianism became a main ideology and a base to build the politics and society. However, Buddhism was still alive that a part of the Vietnamese residents believed in. Some rituals in worshipping Four Goddess had been held. And some important pagodas were restored, such as: Bao Thien pagoda, Thay pagoda and Hue Quang stupa, etc. Traces of Buddhist art in the Early Le Dynasty remains a little bit in Hue Quang stupa and the base of Ly Than Tong statue in Thay pagoda.

Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva statue. Gilded lacquer. The Mac Dynasty, the 16^th century

In the Mac Dynasty, Confucianism was still a main ideology but Buddhism was not limited so it revived. Hundreds of pagodas and stupas were restored and rebuilt. Molding bells and painting statues were concentrated that remains valuable heritages to today, such as: Guan Yin Bodhisattva statue with hundreds arms and eyes in Hoi Ha pagoda (Vinh Phuc province) and Dao Xuyen (Hanoi); stone reliefs depicted Kings, Queens and Princesses of the Mac Dynasty who contributed money to build pagodas; candlesticks and thuribles that have incriptions on, showing dates, authors and pagodas where they belong to.

Thurible. Blue-grey glazed ceramic. The Mac Dynasty, the 16^th century. Made by Dang Huyen Thong

Artifacts in the period that the museum would like to introduce include: Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva statue, candlesticks and thuribles made by Dang Huyen Thong (Hai Duong) and Do Xuan Vi (Bat Trang) to dedicate to Quan Am pagoda (Hung Yen) and Dai Bi pagoda (Thai Binh); and Buddhist scriptures boards to print Buddhist scriptures in Linh Tien temple (Hoai Duc, Hanoi).

4. The Vietnamese Buddhist cultural heritage in the Le Trung Hung – Tay Son Dynasties (the 17^th – 18^th centuries)

In the stage, many pagodas were restored or rebuilt, such as: Keo pagoda (Thai Binh), But Thap pagoda (Bac Ninh), Mia pagoda, Kim Lien pagoda, Tay Phuong pagoda and Boc pagoda (Hanoi), etc. Besides, the Buddhist cultural heritage in the period remains many sculptures, such as: the statue of Avalokitesvara with hundreds of arms and eyes in But Thap pagoda (Bac Ninh), Me So pagoda (Hung Yen); Tuyet Son statue in Tram Gian pagoda (Ha Noi); statues in Tay Phuong pagoda, for example: Three great Buddha statues, Di Da Tam Ton statues, Tuyet Son statue, Kim Cuong statue, the Nine grades lotus stupa in But Thap pagoda (Bac Ninh) and Cap Nhat pagoda and Giam pagoda (Hai Duong), etc. Especially, the statue of Avalokitesvara with hundreds of arms and eyes in But Thap pagoda and Canh Thinh bronze drum in the Tay Son Dynasty, kept in the Vietnam National Museum of History, are two national treasures, recognized in October 2012 by the Prime Minister.

Statue of Shakyamuni preaching the Buddhist scriptures. Gilded wood. The Le Trung Hung Dynasty, the 17^th – 18^th century

The artifacts introduced include: Canh Thinh bronze drum, Buddha statue, Shakyamuni statue, Manjushri Bodhisattva statue, Bodhidharma statue, Avalokitesvara sitting on the lotus base, baby Shakyamuni plated wooden statue, Kim Cuong ceramic statue and some worship objects as candlesticks and thuribles, etc.

Canh Thinh bronze drum. Bronze. The Tay Son Dynasty, 1800. Nanh pagoda, Ninh Hiep, Hanoi. Vietnam National treasures

5. The Vietnamese Buddhist cultural heritage in the Nguyen Dynasty (the 19^th – 20^th centuries)

The Nguyen Dynasty maitained a large number of Buddhist cultural heritages that have been remained to today. Thousands of pagodas from the Northern to Southern of Vietnam were restored, bells were molded and statues were painted and many Buddhist scriptures were printed and Buddhist wooden pictures were carved. From the Gia Long Dynasty to the Duy Tan Dynasty, Hue became the economic and political center so Buddhism and pagodas developed. Beside restoring ancient pagodas as Thien Mu pagoda, Thanh Duyen pagoda, the Nguyen Kings encouraged people to build new pagodas, such as: Linh Huu pagoda, Giac Hoang pagoda and Dieu De pagoda, etc.

Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva statue. Enamel ceramic, the Nguyen Dynasty, the 19^th century

Artifacts are displayed in the period, include: Buddha statues, Amitabha, Sakyamuni, baby Shakyamuni, Buddhist pictures and objects for worshipping, etc.

The special exhibition “Vietnamese Buddhist cultural heritage” (collection of the Vietnam National museum of History) opens from February to August 2013 at the exhibition room of the Vietnam National museum of History, No. 25 Tong Dan Street, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi, Vietnam.

The Vietnam National Museum of History would like to inform visitors!

Quoc Huu

Mai An (translated)