Showing posts with label Quang Trung. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Quang Trung. Show all posts

Monday, February 14, 2011

Tay Son dynasty antiques on display

Rebel shot: Visitors look at the 17th century bronze cannon found in Thi Nai lake. — VNS Photo Van Dat

Rebel shot: Visitors look at the 17th century bronze cannon found in Thi Nai lake. — VNS Photo Van Dat

HCM CITY — More than 400 rare antique items dating back to the Tay Son dynasty (1778-1802) are on display at an exhibition that in HCM City.

The exhibition at the Viet Nam History Museum features terracotta items like tiles, bricks, vases, plates and cups as well as several official documents including letters and royal decrees signed by Emperor Quang Trung.

The display also has ancient coins and weapons including swords, bayonets and a huge cannon found at Thi Nai Lagoon, considered very rare by collectors. Some spoons and bows found on the riverbed in the Rach Gam-Xoai Mut area in the Mekong Delta also on show.

Organisers said many of the objects are being exhibited for the first time.

Nine museums and historical sites nationwide have lent their antique collections for this exhibition as have six collectors in HCM City and Dong Nai Province.

Although the dynasty's reign was short-lived at 32 years, the Tay Son peasant rebellion that crowned it is a landmark event in Vietnamese history.

Even though the succeeding Nguyen dynasty forbade the use of materials and the intellectual heritage of the Tay Son dynasty, destroying many of its vestiges, the material remains of that period have not disappeared completely.

The exhibition, titled The Eternal Halo, celebrates the 240th anniversary of the Tay Son Uprising (1771- 2011) and 222nd anniversary of Quang Trung's victory over the Chinese Qing invaders in 1789.

The exhibition at Nguyen Binh Khiem Street in District 1 will remain open until October. — VNS

Related Articles

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

Festival for farmer king

Kickin' it: During the festival a number of games were played to celebrate the martial spirit. — VNA/VNS Photo Phuong Hoa

Kickin' it: During the festival a number of games were played to celebrate the martial spirit. — VNA/VNS Photo Phuong Hoa: During the festival a number of games were played to celebrate the martial spirit. — VNA/VNS Photo Phuong Hoa

HA NOI — Thousands of visitors flocked to Dong Da Hill in Ha Noi yesterday to celebrate the 222nd anniversary of the Ngoc Hoi – Dong Da Victory.

The Dong Da festival takes place annually on the 5th day of the lunar first month. It is a festival organised in memory of King Quang Trung's great military victory.

Many new activities were included in this year's festivities. "The traditions of placing offerings, dragon dance and palanquin procession have been brushed up and given a new face," said Nguyen Thi Kim Anh, director of Dong Da Culture Park.

Performers from the Ha Noi traditional opera recreated the heroic story of King Quang Trung and his troops defeating invaders on the hill in 1789.

Quang Trung, a Tay Son farmer who later became a national hero, defeated more than 200,000 soldiers of the invading Qing army. Dong Da Hill became known as one of the nation's most glorious historical sites.

In the early morning of the festival, a procession for the historical event's celebration commenced at Khuong Thuong and ended at Dong Da Hill. The procession included flags, a processional parasol, palanquins in a variety of colours, and the sounds of gongs and drums.

During the festival a number of games were played to represent the martial spirit. Among them, the procession of Thang Long dragon was considered by many as the most original.

"The festival has become an essential part of the capital's culture. It's a way for people to remind themselves of the historical event and open the eyes of young people," said Tran Duc Hoc, chairman of Dong Da District People's Committee.

Authorities in the central province of Binh Dinh's Tay Son District – King Quang Trung's (Nguyen Hue) homeland – also attended the ceremony and gave speeches recalling the historic battle. — VNS

Related Articles

Thousands gather for Dong Da fest

Thousands flocked to the Dong Da festival in Hanoi, aimed at marking the 222nd anniversary of the Ngoc Hoi-Dong Da victory.

This year’s fest will feature thurification and palanquin rituals with the participation of delegations from the capital’s districts of Thanh Tri and Thuong Tin and from Binh Dinh province.

The event is to commemorate the glorious feat of arms led by King Quang Trung (Nguyen Hue) against 29,000 Qing invaders in 1789.

The highlight of the program will see artists from Hanoi Traditional Opera Theatre performing an extract from the “Ngoc Han Cong Chua” play from which audience will have a chance to learn about the love between national hero Quang Trung and princess Ngoc Han.

Plays and dances re-enacting the victory will also be performed at the festival.

A series of art performances and traditional games such as dragon and gong dances, martial arts and human chess will also take place at the festival.

The victory of Ngoc Hoi-Dong Da went down in the nation’s history as an immortal epic of the struggle for national construction and defence.

The Dong Da Festival takes place annually on the 5th day of the Lunar New Year (Tet).

dong da

Related Articles