“Ma nhai” Steles in Da Nang included in Asia-Pacific documentary heritage list
The steles feature writings in a variety of genres in literature by kings and mandarins of the Nguyen Dynasty (1802 – 1945), monks, and scholars from the first half of the 17th century up to the 1960s. They comprise 76 steles with writings in the Chinese script and two in the Nom – an old script of Vietnam – according to the Cultural Heritage Department under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. Apart from reflecting the history, geography, and culture in Vietnam during the feudal period, the steles mirror economic, cultural, and social exchanges between Southeast Asian nations going back to the 17th century. They won recognition at the 9th general meeting of the MOWCAP in Andong city, the Republic of Korea, last year. Speaking at the hand-over ceremony, Vice Chairwoman of the municipal People’s Committee Ngo Thi Kim Yen called the recognition a highlight helping promote national culture as well as local tourism. Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Ho...