Vietnamnet global

13/05/2015 11:24 (GMT+07:00)

Yellow lotus collection of Hue royal antiquities

Numerous artifacts that are worship items, weapons, and daily-life instruments of the Nguyen Dynasty are carved with gold lotus motifs. These items are on display at the “Lotus on Antiques” exhibition, at the History Museum of Vietnam.

The Vietnam National Museum of History will launch a special exhibition themed “Lotus and antiquities” on May 14 in Hanoi with the aim of introducing local and international visitors to the beauty and meaning of the lotus flower in the Vietnamese culture.

The event will feature around 100 ancient objects dating back from 7th century to the Nguyen dynasty (1802-1945).

In the category “Lotus in royal arts of the Nguyen dynasty”, visitors will have a chance to view objects and delicacies used by kings and royal family members, including those made from jade, precious metals and ivory.

The museum will also present a collection from the “Lotus in the Buddhist arts, practice and ritual items” featuring objects from the 11th century.

Items featuring the lotus flower in architectural decorative materials in the Ly and Tran dynasties (from 10th to 14th century) will also be on display.

In Buddhism, the lotus flower represents purification, faithfulness, compassion, wisdom and enlightenment.

The lotus is symbolic of transparency in the Vietnamese culture. It also represents the refined and unyielding spirit of the Vietnamese people.

The lotus can be found in a number of decorative materials and antiques across the Vietnamese fine arts.

Some antiques to be displayed at the exhibition:

Sen vàng trong bộ sưu tập cổ vật Cung đình Huế

A gold lotus-shaped basin of the Nguyen Dynasty.

Gold lotus-carved box, 19th-20th century.

Sword decorated with lotus patterns, made of jade, gold and tortoise of the 19th-20th century.

A gold hat of Champa culture (17th-18th century).

A well-mouth embossed with lotus petals, made of earthenware of the Tran Dynasty (about 13th-14th centuries).

Architectural ornamental object made of terracotta from the Ly Dynasty (11th-13th centuries). According to Buddhist concepts, lotus symbolizes moral values, purity and holiness, intellectuality, and spiritual enlightenment.

The censer decorated with dragons flanking lotus, made of terracotta from Le Trung Hung Dynasty (17th-18th centuries).

Bodhisattva sitting on a lotus from the Nguyen Dynasty (19th-20th centuries).

Statue of Buddha Shakyamuni was born from the lotus made of painted wood, dating from Le Trung Hung Dynasty (17th-18th centuries).

Stone-made prop, from the Ly Dynasty (1057).

A plate from the Early Le Dynasty, 15th century.

Numerous exhibits made of earthenware from the Le Trung Hung Dynasty (17th-18th centuries).

Lotus-embossed brick from the Mac Dynasty (16th century).

Censer made of terra-cotta of the 18th-19th centuries, discovered in Tho Ha pottery village, Bac Giang. According to the National History Museum, the majority of artifacts at the exhibition are exclusive. The exhibition will last until the end of June.

A gem-made fairy holding a lotus statue from the Nguyen Dynasty.

A teapot from the Nguyen Dynasty.

A pair of gold candlesticks.

A censer of the Nguyen Dynasty, made of gem.

Over 100 antiques are on displayed at 1 Trang Tien Street, Hanoi, from May 14.

VNA/VNE/Zing

Yellow lotus collection of Hue royal antiquities

Numerous artifacts that are worship items, weapons, and daily-life instruments of the Nguyen Dynasty are carved with gold lotus motifs. These items are on display at the “Lotus on Antiques” exhibition, at the History Museum of Vietnam.

Hot news