A slice of the golden age of the Dai Viet civilization in Vietnam a thousand years ago, can be seen at the Vietnam Historical Museum with over 200 antiques on display to the public.

Under the Ly Dynasty (11th and 12th centuries) and the Tran Dynasty (13th and 14th centuries), the country Dai Viet created a highly effective administration and a solid national structure.

This meant regions hitherto unconnected became integrated, access to mountainous areas was improved and a strong national defence was formed.

Now, it is considered to be the first golden age of Vietnam. After over one thousand years of Chinese domination, creativity flourished in the new era of independence.

The artifacts, donated by private collectors and Nam Dinh Museum, now at the Vietnam Historical Museum, are a small but invaluable insight to this era of creativity.

“With the assistance of Nam Dinh Museum and antique collectors in Hanoi, we want to outline an overview of the national social and cultural development of the past thousand years,” says Dr Pham Quoc Quan, Director of the museum.

“Observing patterns and shapes on the terracotta, pottery and ceramic, we can analyse fine art styles of the period because it reflects painting and sculpture,” says Dr Ngo The Phong of the Vietnam Historical Museum.

After thousand years under the Chinese domination, Vietnamese art was obviously heavily influenced by the art and culture of the neighbouring country.

“But our craftsmen combined the imported styles with our ancient identities to create a unique national art,” claims Phong, adding that, for example, traces of ancient Cham art were integrated.

Historical annals mention several masterpieces of the Ly Dynasty, namely, Quynh Lam pagoda in Quang Ninh province with one thousand statues of Buddha and the 12-metre high Bao Thien tower.

Sadly, only terracotta, ceramics, stone and wood engravings and sculptures remain from that period.

In the following period, the Tran dynasty, artistic expression developed in a more robust and plain style. Common motifs such as the dragon no longer spread out in endless spirals, its head had fewer details and its body was shorter.

“There was a new conception of equilibrium in plant decoration, too,” says director Pham Quoc Quan.

You can find a number of splendidly decorated ceramic vases and pots, stone and wood sculptures excavated from the royal buildings and Bao An pagoda in Gia Lam District, Hanoi.

By looking at the antiques, one gets the chance to visualise the imposing but lithesome architecture and sculpture of the Dai Viet civilization that once flourished a thousand years ago.

(Source: Timeout)