One year ago, Quang Ninh had 2 first artifacts recognized as national treasures. On the last days of Dec. 2019, the province has good news that 3 more artifacts, namely multi-color painted round bow stand, Tran Dynasty’s bronze bucket, and Quang Chinh bronze drum, to be inscribed on the list of national treasures. They have been approved by the National Cultural Heritage Council and are considered by the Prime Minister for approval.
Multi-color painted round bow stand
In general, the multi-color enamel painted round bow stand looks like a lotus.
There are now 4 templates of enamel painted round bow stand dated back Early Le Dynasty. Two of them are in Vietnam and the rest are preserved abroad. They are all different from the templates preserved in Quang Ninh Museum.
Specifically, the template displayed at Idemitsu Arts Museum in Tokyo, Japan differentiated with the one in Quang Ninh Museum in terms of shape, patterns, and color. Accordingly, the patterns are more simple and lack of metallic gold color.
The same goes with private collection of Mr. Nguyen Van Dong in Ho Chi Minh City. The patterns within the bowl just describe landscape without any meanings or philosophy. But the image of “a carp turns into a dragon” on the multi-color painted round bow stand in Quang Ninh Museum demonstrateslayers of philosophy, thereby reflecting the spiritual and cultural life at that time. In Early Le Dynasty, Confucianism and leaning were highly appreciated. The image of “a carp turns into a dragon” shows not only the spirit of overcoming difficulties but also typical symbol of successful contestants.
The differences also lie in the colors. Mr. Nguyen Van Dong’s template was painted just blue and metallic gold. The template in Quang Ninh Museum painted many colors, namely blue, red brown, green, and metallic gold, which demonstrates potters’ creativeness and skills.
Rare and unique bronze artifacts
Among three artifacts recommended for the list of national treasures, the round bow stand was pottery product, the rest were casted bronze. The bronze bucket dated Tran Dynasty is considered rare and valuable artifact because after the fall of Tran Dynasty, it’s hardly to discover the dynasty’s bronze artifacts (except for bronze coins). Along with the material, the casting technique is another outstanding feature about the bronze bucket.
The bucket posses Tran Dynasty’s typical decorative patterns, namely apricot flowers, lotus, and lemon flowers. The patterns on the bucket feature both royal and theocratic meaning via the symbol of a dragon; traditional Buddhism meanings of the Tran and Le dynasties via the symbol of lotus; and folklore meanings via the stories engraved on the bucket.
Basing on the shape, size, decorative pattern, especially strongly-attached handles researchers say that the bucket was used in ritual activities organized by Tran Dynasty’ royal families and even in later historical periods.
Multi-color painted round bow stand and the Tran Dynasty’s bronze bucket were collected by Quang Ninh Museum under the project of “Collecting and Displaying artifacts at Quang Ninh Museum” in 2018, Quang Chinh bronze drum dated back Dong Son Culture, from 4th – 3rd centuries BC. It was discovered in June 1983 on a low tea hill in Quang Chinh Commune, Hai Ha District.
Although Quang Chinh bronze drum features typical Dong Son Culture’s drums, it is unlike any drums which have been excavated. The vibrant patterns on Quang Chinh bronze drum are mainly curving lines while the patterns on other drums are straight lines and light curving.
The bird patterns on Quang Chinh bronze drum also differentiates from other ancient drums. The 4 birds on Quang Chinh bronze drum flies clockwise meanwhile birds on the others counter-clockwise.
Translated by Quynh Trang
