Secrets from Nguyen Dynasty’s treasures

The Nguyen Dynasty has left the ancient Hue citadel as a relic which is recognized as the world cultural heritage and also invaluable treasures.

The Vietnam History Museum is preserving a collection of precious things of kings of the Nguyen Dynasty, the last feudal dynasty in Vietnam. This is the exclusive collection of royal treasures in Vietnam’s early modern history. The museum recently introduced this collection to the public and some secrets have been unveiled. The Hue Royal Antique Museum also has thousands of antiques of the Nguyen Dynasty. Some local museums like the HCM City History Museum and Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province Museum also have some antiques of this period. In 2003, the Museum of Ha Tinh Province fished out three bronze cannons, which were cast in 1821, under the reign of King Minh Mang. Some other cannons of the Nguyen dynasty have been also exposed later. How treasures were preserved during wars In August 1945, the revolution succeeded. The representative of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam – Mr. Tran Huy Lieu – went to Hue city to collect the royal seals of the last king of Vietnam – Bao Dai. He also collected thousands of royal items, which are now preserved by the Vietnam History Museum. However, it was a long and hard period to preserve and transfer them to the museum. At first, these items were brought to the inter-regional V and preserved for nine years. However, as the revolutionary administration had to move very often, these assets were not preserved in good condition. The inter-regional V authorities asked the central government to sell the assets to raise fund for the war of resistance against the French. President Ho Chi Minh and the government realized the value of this collection and considered it as the invaluable cultural assets, so they did not agree. Peace resumed, the collection was transferred to the Ministry of Finance and then to the Ministry of Culture. Since then, it has been preserved by the Hanoi-based Vietnam History Museum. In the 1960s, some items in the collection were displayed. In 1962, a gold seal was stolen. The incident stirred up the public for a time. Hanoi police arrested the thief a long time later. After the incident, the authorities decided to inventory, pack and preserve the collection at the warehouses of the State Bank of Vietnam. In 2007, they were brought back to the warehouses of the Vietnam History Museum. Treasures restored After dozens of years stored in warehouses, the Nguyen dynasty’s treasures were opened for the first time in 2007, at the witness of officials of the National Treasure Reception Council and the Vietnam History Museum. When boxes were opened, all attendants were dizzy to see many precious things, but some of them were damaged seriously. The first project to restore Nguyen Dynasty’s treasures was kicked off to repair four coronets, five swords and six ivory tea trays, which were worm-eaten seriously. The Vietnam History Museum invited artisans and scientists in the field of history, archaeology and fine-art to join the project. Experts visited many temples and pagodas where have similar coronets and swords to survey and met with researchers about Hue to seek information. The project finalized after six months. Admiring Nguyen Dynasty’s treasures via pictures:   A pair of swords which symbolizes the king’s power. They were cast in the 19th century, 1.25kg in weight.  An altar box made of gold and gem, 4.3kg.  The King's gold hat (19th century).  Another gold hat of the Nguyen Dynasty (19th century), over 660gr in weight, with many gold-made patterns.      From the left: A gold seal cast in 1827 under King Minh Mang’s dynasty, which is 8.5kg in weight called “Sac Menh Chi Bao”; another seal named “Dai Nam Thu” of the Nguyen  Dynasty; and “Quoc Gia Tin Bao” seal of 5kg in weight.  The “Sac Menh Chi Bao” seal.    A gold sword of the Nguyen Dynasty (19th century) and “An Dan Bao Kiem” sword cast under King Khai Dinh’s dynasty (1916-1925).       Gem-made cups inlaid with gold.     A gold basin of 1.4kg in weight.      A gold-inlaid book made in 1806, 2.1kg. 

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