On the occasion of the New Year of the Tiger, on the morning of January 18th 2022, the Vietnam National Museum of History (VNMH) cooperated with the Hung King Temple Historical Relic Site (Phu Tho province) and private collectors to carry out the thematic exhibition “Tigers in the ancient Vietnamese art”.
Panorama of the opening ceremony
Participants of the opening ceremony included Mr. Hoang Dao Cuong - Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism; Prof.Dr. Luu Tran Tieu - Chairman of the National Council of Cultural Heritage; Assoc.Prof.Dr. Do Van Tru - Chairman of Vietnam Cultural Heritage Asscociation; Mr. Pham Dinh Phong - Deputy Director of the Department of Cultural Heritage; Ms. Pham Thi Hoang Oanh - Deputy Director of the Hung King Temple Historical Relic Site; Dr. Nguyen Van Doan - Director of VNMN, representatives of museums, reseach institues, collectors and news agencies in Hanoi.
Delagates attending the opening ceremony
Dr. Nguyen Van Doan - Director of VNMH giving a speech at the opening ceremony
Delegates in ribbon cutting ceremony
The exhibition introduces more than 30 artefacts experssing tiger imagery. This collection is rich in types and diverse in materials such as stone, bronze, ceramic, paper, cloth and so forth, dating from the Dong Son culture to the Nguyen Dynasty.
In the ancient art of Vietnam, tiger imagery was commonly used to expressspiritual meanings andthe symbol of royal power. In this exhibition, visitors can learn about these topics through typical objects decorated with tiger patterns such as the bronze halberd of Dong Son culture, the brown ceramic jar from the 13th - 14th century;the 16th - century brick or woodencarving items of communal houses. Tiger imagery was also expressed on needle paintings or Hang Trong folk paintings. Especially, in the middle of the exhibition space, there is a stone statue of the tiger collected from the tomb of the Grand Preceptor Tran Thu Do (13th century).
Panorama of the exhibition
Delegates visiting the exhibition
Tiger painting experience activity
The exhibition will help the public understand more about the position and role of the tiger image (one of the important animal of the zodiac animals) in Vietnamese history and culture.
Addressing the opening ceremony, Dr. Nguyen Van Doan - Director of VNMH summarized the meaning of the tiger image in ancient Vietnamese art through the historical periods. At the same time, he would like to extend his sincere thanks to the leaders of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the partners, the delegates, the visitors and the new agencies attended and enjoyed the exhibition.
The exhibition will be at the VNMH until the end of August 2022.
Thu Nhuan - Bac Dung
EN: Thu Hien