What does the Department of Heritage say about the risk of important Nguyen Dynasty gold seals being sold abroad?

On the morning of March 24, Mr. Tran Dinh Thanh, Deputy Director of the Department of Cultural Heritage, answered questions related to the "Hoang De Chi Bao" gold seal. Mr. Thanh said: "Currently, we cannot provide specific information because we have to fulfill the commitment between the parties and carry out procedures to repatriate the gold seal in accordance with the legal regulations of France as well as Vietnam."

Mr. Thanh emphasized that April and June 2023 will be very important in relation to the repatriation of the "Emperor's Treasure" golden seal.

Previously, on October 19, 2022, the website of the Millon auction house (founded in 1928, headquartered in Paris, France) posted information that it would auction 329 antiques, including 2 antiques of the Nguyen Dynasty. One of the two antiques was identified as the "Hoang De Chi Bao" gold seal cast in 1823 during the reign of King Minh Mang (1820-1841).

On October 31, 2022, the Vietnamese representative and the Millon auction house agreed to temporarily postpone the auction of the "Emperor's Treasure" gold seal.

Afterwards, the "Hoang De Chi Bao" gold seal was purchased directly from Millon Auction House by Mr. Nguyen The Hong, Chairman of Bac Ninh Antiques Association, for more than 153 billion VND. The negotiation to buy "Hoang De Chi Bao" was successful. Mr. Nguyen The Hong is coordinating with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to repatriate the gold seal.

Regarding the possibility that the "Hoang De Chi Bao" gold seal will be sold abroad again because it is under private ownership, Mr. Tran Dinh Thanh affirmed that this is very unlikely to happen.

Mr. Thanh said: Circular 19/2012 of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism stipulates the list of relics and antiquities that cannot be taken abroad, including relics and antiquities made of materials with typical historical, cultural and scientific values ​​from the historical periods of Vietnam before September 1945, including seals. The subjects, conditions, procedures and purposes of taking them abroad are also regulated very specifically and strictly in the circular.

Mr. Thanh added: If the owner is a private individual who wishes to take the object abroad for the purpose of displaying and promoting Vietnamese culture, or to take it abroad for restoration and preservation if the object is degraded and Vietnam's technology and technical level cannot do it, there is a circular regulating it. For other purposes, there is this circular 19 which also prevents it from being taken abroad.

"We commit that the owner, who may be a private individual, who wants to take the artifact abroad must ensure strict compliance with regulations before being allowed to take it abroad. This artifact is under the management of Circular 19 and cannot be taken abroad," said the Deputy Director of the Department of Cultural Heritage.

The "Hoang De Chi Bao" golden seal contains many historical values. The book "Dai Nam Thuc Luc" of the National History Institute of the Nguyen Dynasty recorded: The "Hoang De Chi Bao" golden seal was cast on Giap Thin day, February 4th, Minh Mang year 4 (March 15, 1823). The seal has a handle in the shape of a coiled dragon, 2 layers, 3 inches 2 centimeters square, 5 centimeters thick, made of ten-year-old gold, weighing 180 taels 9 coins 2 centimeters. All royal decrees and edicts were stamped with this seal.

According to the Imperial Code of Dai Nam, in the 9th year of Minh Mang (1828), it was said: The state's precious seal is used to declare orders, clearly instruct what must be done, in terms of instruments it is extremely important, in terms of regulations it is extremely great... When there are celebrations to grant favors, general amnesty, and also to issue edicts to the royal family (relatives and meritorious people), to go on inspection tours to inspect the localities, all those solemn regulations and to issue edicts and letters to foreign countries, use the "Hoang De Chi Bao" seal.

According to VTC