How to protect national treasures in Hai Duong?

Both "therapy" and "monitoring"

Among the more than 800 antiques on display at the exhibition "The Quintessence of Antiques of the Eastern Region - Hai Duong for the First Time" organized by the Provincial Museum, viewers paid special attention to two national treasures: the Huu Chung bronze drum and the Hiep An brown-flowered ceramic jar from the Tran Dynasty. These are two rare treasures with profound cultural and historical values, recognized by the Prime Minister as national treasures in 2015 and 2024 respectively.

These two treasures are kept at the Hai Duong Provincial Museum. Ms. Nguyen Thi Lien, Deputy Director of the Provincial Museum, said that the two treasures are carefully preserved, kept in glass cabinets, away from dust and dirt. The area where the treasures are kept is guaranteed to be safe. The museum has "treated" the two treasures, helping to prolong their lifespan and avoid being affected by time.

In 2016, the Nine-Piece Lotus Tower at Dong Ngo Pagoda, Tien Tien Commune (Hai Duong City) recognized by the Prime Minister as a national treasure.

According to Ms. Pham Thi Hue, a cultural and information officer of Tien Tien commune, monks and Buddhists regularly clean the Nine-Plate Lotus Tower, so it is always clean. The building that preserves the Nine-Plate Tower is made of wood, so the pagoda has placed fire extinguishers and surveillance cameras outside the building.

“Being so carefully preserved, after more than 330 years, the tower's lines have not faded over time,” said Ms. Hue.

Still difficult

Hai Duong currently has 11 national treasures including: the Three Worlds Buddha statue set, the wooden block of Tram Gian pagoda, the Hiep An brown-flowered ceramic jar, the Kinh Chu cave stele system, the Thanh Mai Vien Thong tower stele, the Sung Thien pagoda stele, the Nine-grade Lotus stele of Dong Ngo pagoda, the Nine-grade Lotus stele of Giam pagoda, the Huu Chung bronze drum, the Con Son Tu Phuc pagoda stele, and the Thanh Hu Dong stele. The materials used to make these treasures are wood, stone, ceramic, bronze, etc. Many treasures are very delicately crafted, have existed for hundreds of years, and still retain their own unique sophistication and characteristics.

However, in the process of preserving these national treasures, localities are facing many difficulties.

Mr. Le Thanh Hai, Vice Chairman of Nhat Tan Commune People's Committee, Head of Dau Pagoda Relic Management Board, Nhat Tan Commune (Gia Loc) said that due to the impact of time, many words on the Sung Thien Tu stele have faded and are no longer clearly visible. Many researchers who want to understand the meaning of the words on the stele have to use the technique of printing the words on white paper before being able to read them.

Mrs. Tran Thi Bat, the caretaker of Dau Pagoda, worries: "If there is no solution, these words will fade over time and become very difficult to read. Those who want to research the pagoda will no longer have any documents."

Although there have been many protective solutions, because it is made of wood, the wooden building that houses the Nine Lotuses at Dong Ngo Pagoda has been infested with termites. Many places are punctured. To repair these items requires large funds, high technology, strict procedures, and long time.

In addition to the above difficulties, currently the areas protecting some national treasures do not have a fire prevention and fighting system, no surveillance cameras, and limited security personnel...

Recently, the 800-year-old Pho Quang Pagoda (Xuan Lung Commune, Lam Thao District, Phu Tho) caught fire. The stone Buddhist altar, recognized as a national treasure in 2021, was damaged, with some places cracked after the fire. This shows that if not carefully protected, national treasures, regardless of the material they are made of, can be damaged. Not to mention the great value of national treasures, if not carefully protected, they can be lost at any time.

Many localities and facilities where these treasures are kept want more attention so that national treasures can last forever.