Inspiring community memories
On February 26, the Quang Tri Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism coordinated with the Central Institute of Culture, Arts, Sports and Tourism to organize a scientific conference "The Tay Son period through village and clan documents in the Central region: New discoveries from inter-sectoral approaches".
According to Mr. Tran Dinh Hang - Head of the Central Institute of Culture, Arts, Sports and Tourism, the conference aims to clarify the role and historical and cultural values of the Tay Son dynasty in the national process, especially in the Central region, a space closely associated with this movement and dynasty.
Through the inter-sectoral approach, the conference announced and exchanged many new research results on materials, methods and approaches, contributing to supplementing and adjusting scientific understanding of a special historical period.
An important focus emphasized is to exploit the system of village and clan documents such as genealogy, imperial decrees, steles, artifacts and community memories.
According to the Organizing Committee, these are historical sources that can supplement official history, helping to re-examine some characters and events of the Tay Son Dynasty (especially Grand Tu Ma Ngo Van So, an outstanding general of the Tay Son Dynasty), in specific relationships with the residential community, socio-economic life and local cultural space.
From more than 50 articles sent in, the conference selected, edited and printed 34 articles in the yearbook. The content is structured into 5 issues, creating a multi-dimensional picture of the Tay Son period, spanning from historical figures, relics - beliefs, village - clan documents to economy, society, art and international relations.
In the "Historical Figures of the Tay Son Dynasty" section with 15 articles, the presentations focused on famous generals, meritorious officials, intellectuals, female figures and historical suspicions that need to be further clarified.
Supplementing Tay Son historical materials
The section "Relics, Beliefs and Cultural Space" includes 5 articles, emphasizing the role of pagodas, villages, and clans in preserving memories of King Quang Trung and meritorious officials. Tay Son heritage is recognized not only in text but also vividly in the space of beliefs and community memories.
In the "Historical Documents, Family Genealogy and Villages" section with 7 articles, authors approach history from a social perspective, through imperial decrees, family genealogies, Han Nom documents, and place names.
The conference aims at 3 goals: publishing and standardizing new documents; shaping a method of considering village and clan documents as important historical sources; proposing solutions to preserve and promote "memory addresses" such as tombs and clan temples.
In the "Economy, Society and Art" section, articles mention currency, boatbuilding techniques, Tay Son imprints in Tuong and Bai Choi, showing that this dynasty had the ability to organize economic - military affairs and widespread influence in cultural life.
Speaking to welcome at the conference, Mr. Hoang Xuan Tan - Vice Chairman of Quang Tri Provincial People's Committee emphasized that the study of the Tay Son period from village and clan documents in an inter-sectoral approach is of great significance in supplementing official historical documents, clarifying the role of the Central region in the flow of national history.
Mr. Hoang Xuan Tan affirmed that the conference results will contribute to orienting the work of preserving and promoting cultural heritage associated with sustainable development and building local brands in the new period.
