When National Treasures are no longer far away
Two artifacts that have just been recognized as National Treasures include: Hoa Loc cultural ceramic bowl and the Tam Quan Dai De multi-colored glazed ceramic statue set are both being kept in private collections. This reflects a reality: Heritage conservation is no longer a separate task of public agencies, but is increasingly clearly participating from social resources.
Hoa Loc cultural ceramic bowl dates back about 4,000 years, associated with the prehistoric period of ancient Vietnamese residents. Although it is just a small ceramic artifact, it carries important traces of material and spiritual life from thousands of years ago.
Meanwhile, the Tam Quan Dai De ceramic statue set dating from the late 19th - early 20th centuries tells a different story: A story about the religious life and cultural exchange of the Saigon - Cho Lon community.
The three gods Thien Quan, Dia Quan and Thuy Quan in folk beliefs represent the very close wishes of people: Fortune, peace and disaster resolution. The ceramic statues were created more than a century ago, so they are not only handicrafts, but also the crystallization of the spiritual life of the Southern urban area.
Joy goes hand in hand with responsibility for preserving heritage
The recognition of an artifact as a national treasure often brings pride to the owner. However, behind that honor are many challenges.
Actor Chi Bao - who is preserving the Hoa Loc cultural ceramic vase, admitted that his feeling is "both happy and worried". The joy comes from the fact that the artifact is recognized as valuable at the national level, but at the same time also entails greater responsibility in preservation.
For private collectors, preserving antiques is already a journey of great effort. When artifacts become national treasures, security requirements, display conditions, transportation or preservation must all be carried out according to stricter procedures.
Sharing about this, Mr. Nguyen Minh Nhut - Deputy Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Culture and Sports - said that the city always values the role of private collectors in heritage preservation.
According to him, the department does not distinguish between treasures of public or non-public ownership. The important thing is that precious artifacts are preserved in accordance with regulations and have the opportunity to get closer to the public.
In many cases, private collections have more flexible conditions to organize exhibitions, seminars or experiential activities. This contributes to creating new approaches to introducing cultural heritage.
However, the story of heritage preservation does not stop at protecting artifacts. What is more important is how to continue those historical values in today's life.
For collectors such as Chi Bao or Le Thanh Nghia (owner of the multi-colored Tam Quan Dai De ceramic statue set), opening exhibition spaces, organizing seminars or sharing materials for researchers is considered part of that responsibility.
When ancient artifacts are removed from archives to appear in exhibitions, talks or educational activities, they begin to have a new life - the life of memories being told and continued to be explored.
Perhaps that is also the greatest meaning of an artifact being recognized as a national treasure: Not only to affirm the value of the past, but also to connect that past with the present and future.
