At L’Art Gallery (Lotte Mall West Lake Hanoi), the program "Echoes of Bronze Drums in the Vietnamese Mind" has just been organized with the participation of historian Le Van Lan, artists, artisans and a large number of traditional culture lovers.
According to historian Le Van Lan, bronze drums are often seen as an archaeological artifact or technical achievement of ancient Vietnamese residents. However, the value of bronze drums is not only in the age of thousands of years or the sophisticated crafting technique but also reflects human awareness of the universe, nature and community life.
Looking at Dong Drums, we not only see the level of craftsmanship of the ancients, but also see their worldview and thinking about the universe," historian Le Van Lan said.
Analyzing the motifs on the drum surface, he said that the image of the sun is always placed in the center, surrounded by wreaths, images of people working, living, festivals and many other natural symbols.
According to historians, this layout reflects the perception of ancient Vietnamese residents about the relationship between humans and nature. The sun is considered a source of life, while humans exist in connection with the community and surrounding environment.
He believes that it is the layers of cultural meaning conveyed through the patterns that have helped Dong Drums go beyond the value of a typical archaeological artifact to become a symbol of national identity.
From the perspective of preserving and promoting heritage, historian Le Van Lan believes that learning about traditional cultural symbols helps the public better understand the roots of the nation, while contributing to preserving Vietnamese cultural identity in the context of integration.
Continuing the story about the spiritual value of the Bronze Drum, Mr. Tran Ha Trung, who has many years of research on the technique of casting Bronze Drums, shared about the process of crafting this special type of heritage.
According to Mr. Trung, to complete a bronze drum, the craftsman must go through many complex stages, from creating molds, selecting materials to casting and completing patterns.
Casting bronze drums is not only a craft, but also a process of preserving cultural values passed down through many generations," Mr. Trung shared.
He said that each bronze drum is the crystallization of the knowledge, skills and labor spirit of Vietnamese people throughout history.
In addition to the seminar content, the program also introduces cultural experience activities such as tea tasting, art exhibitions and calligraphy performances combined with music. These activities contribute to creating a space for the intersection between traditional values and contemporary life.
Attending the program, Ms. Bui Thuc Anh, PhD in culture, Deputy Secretary General in charge of the Vietnam Association for Cultural Industry Development, highly appreciated the depth of the event's content.
According to her, the combination of seminars, exhibitions, performing arts and cultural experiences has helped the public access traditional values more vividly and closely.
Through stories about history, handicrafts, art and cultural life, the program "Echoes of Dong Drums in Vietnamese People's Minds" contributes to spreading the value of Dong Drums as well as raising community awareness about the preservation and promotion of national cultural heritage in modern life.
