UNESCO honours 300-year-old Nguyen dynasty wood blocks

A collection of Nguyen dynasty wood blocks was recognised by UNESCO yesterday, December 16, as a Memory of the World.
The wood blocks, Viet Nam’s first submission for this particular recognition, are part of a collection of nearly 35,000 dating from 1697 to 1945. They were used to print literary and historical documents. If the entire collection were printed, they would fill 152 books about history, geography, literature, legislation and education, according to the document submitted to UNESCO.
Apart from their historical value, the wood blocks also are important in terms of their art and skill, as they mark the development of the wood block carving and printing profession in Viet Nam, according to Pham Sanh Chau, secretary-general of UNESCO Viet Nam.
The blocks were made out of a plate of either thi tree wood, which is yellow and soft, or nha dong, which is smooth and has an ivory colour. These wood varieties were especially good at preserving the shape of the carvings. The carvings of Han Chinese or ancient Nom Vietnamese letters were done in reverse so they would appear correctly when printed.
The blocks represent an important part of the country’s feudal history. Under the Nguyen dynasty, they were used to print information about social standards, articles on the lives and careers of the aristocracy and historical events. They are original records from the time, making them very valuable to the nation. Along with providing a historical and cultural record, the wood blocks mark the development of the ancient Vietnamese publishing and carving industries.
Wood blocks in the collection include: Dai Nam Nhat Thong Chi (History of the Unification of Great Viet Nam) and Dai Nam Thuc Luc (Royal Annals of Great Viet Nam).
The collection is currently being preserved in the State Records and Archives Department at National Archives Centre IV, Da Lat City, the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong.
For long term preservation of the wood blocks and their value, Pham Thi Hue, director of the National Archives Centre IV, suggests that a display room should be built and translations of the blocks should be published. Other wood blocks should continue to be collected, he said.
UNESCO launched the Memory of the World Programme in 1994 to guard against collective amnesia and to call upon the preservation of valuable archive holdings and library collections all over the world to ensure their wider dissemination. This year 34 other world memories have been recognised in addition to the Vietnamese wood blocks. To date, 193 pieces of heritage have been recognised worldwide.