TESTS IN THE INSIDE
The golden box was discovered by accident during the construction process of expanding the “spiritual pilgrimage” road from Trai Loc village to the ruins of Ngoa Van pagoda (Dong Trieu town, Quang Ninh province).
Venerable Thich Quang Hien discovered a golden box excavated by an excavator from the hillside. On March 20, 2015, Dong Trieu District People’s Committee handed over the Ngoa Van – Yen Tu gold box to the Quang Ninh Provincial Museum to store, preserve and promote the value of the artifacts.
With its rarity and uniqueness, Ngoa Van – Yen Tu Gold Box was recognized by the Prime Minister as a national treasure at the end of 2018.
Ngoa Van – Yen Tu golden box was found during road construction. Photo: QN
FEATURES OF CULTURAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE TIME TIME
The gold box weighs 56.44 grams (equivalent to about 15 pieces of gold), the body height is 4.2cm (in which, the body is 3.2cm high including the lid; the base is 0.6cm high); the bottom of the body, the inner mouth diameter of the box body is 4.8cm, the outer mouth diameter of the box body is 5.1cm, the base diameter is 3.5cm, the box lid diameter is 5.1cm.
Ngoa Van – Yen Tu gold box is made entirely of gold, weighing up to 56.44g. (Source: Quang Ninh Museum)
The box has a spherical shape, the body creates 11 packs, each pack resembles a curved lotus petal. When exposed, the bucket blade of the excavator collided strongly with the body of the box, causing the artifact to be slightly deformed. The lid of the hemispherical box, the part adjacent to the body creates 11 main zones, is the first part that matches the lotus petals at the bottom of the body, forming the outermost layer of large wings; In the middle of the lid is a lotus calyx surrounded by a large layer of wings. The pattern is hand-carved.
The floral motifs, with the background of rattan brocade as the background of the lemon flower pattern, are a feature that shows the extremely skilled level and technique of contemporary artisans. The lines and patterns are small, with sharp, strong carvings on a very thin base.
Dr. Bui Minh Tri, Director of the Citadel Research Center, Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences, was invited to examine this box. Mr. Tri said the box is made by combining molding techniques to create shape and floating lotus petals, then carving patterns on the body and inside of the lotus petals. All decorative patterns on the lid and body of the upper box are boldly imprinted with the typical culture of the Tran Dynasty, the first half of the 14th century.
The researchers believe that the Ngoa Van – Yen Tu golden box is an important relic related to royalty or sacred religious rituals. This is a bowl, cup of aces, one of the six important tools used in Tantric Buddhist rituals and is most likely related to the Ngoc Van or Moc Cao relic.
HUGE VALUE
The pattern on the gold box represents the artistic style of the Tran dynasty. (Source: Quang Ninh Museum)
Ngoa Van – Yen Tu golden box is a unique work of art, bearing the shape of a lotus flower in full bloom. The pattern on the gold box is hand-carved, in the heart of the lotus petals, with the background of rattan brocade and decorated with lemon flower motifs, it is a feature that shows the skill level and skill of the artisan. contemporary work.
Regarding the material, according to the results from the Antiquities Assessment Council of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism made on October 9, 2012, the box is made with 90% gold, the rest is metal. grade to increase hardness.
It can be said that the Ngoa Van – Yen Tu gold box has reached the pinnacle of craftsmanship and fine art of the Tran dynasty. Based on the material as well as the sophistication, it is possible that the Ngoai Van gold box is a noble object belonging to the royal family, even an object used in sacred rituals related to Buddhism.
The lines are extremely delicate patterns of the treasures of the Tran Dynasty. (Source: Quang Ninh Museum)
The location of the discovery of the box is next to Moc Cao temple, which is the temple of Thuan Thanh Bao Tu Empress Dowager (first)the eldest daughter of Hung Nhuong Vuong Tran Quoc Tang, son of Hung Dao Dai Vuong Tran Quoc Tuan, so it is most likely related to the life of the Queen Mother.
Mr. Kieu Dinh Son, Director of Quang Ninh Museum, said: The reason Ngoa Van – Yen Tu Gold Box was selected as a national treasure because of the convergence of many unique and different values; Firstly, these are original, unique, intact artifacts that so far no individual or locality in Vietnam has discovered or kept similar artifacts; second, the artifacts have unique shapes, sophisticated decorative patterns, and tight layouts; the third is the special value of science and history.
This is the only gold relic of the Tran dynasty that still exists, has a unique shape, sophisticated decorative patterns, tight layout, reflecting the level of jewelry technology, aesthetic level, high creative intelligence. of artists of the Tran Dynasty.
According to research, the Ngoa Van – Yen Tu gold box is a magical weapon called the ace of old gas (2)a term used to refer to the cup/bowl of scented water in Buddhist ritual offerings.
Close-up of Ngoa Van – Yen Tu golden box. Photo: Citadel Research Center
The discovery of the Ngoa Van gold box on the pilgrimage to Ngoa Van temple contributes important documents to affirm the value of Ngoa Van am relic, the holy place of Truc Lam Zen sect, and at the same time, reflects the thought and life of the Truc Lam Zen sect. spiritual culture in the Truc Lam Buddhist center of the Royal aristocracy.
In addition, the Ngoa Van gold box also reflects the high level of jewelry technique, aesthetic level, and creative intelligence of the artists of the Tran Dynasty, contributing to affirming the artistic value of the Tran Dynasty from an artistic perspective. Rare and precious gold and silver, which were very rare in the past, under the Dinh – Tien Le, Ly, Tran, Le, Mac, and Le Trung Hung dynasties.
(first) Bao Tu Thuan Thanh Empress (? – July 1330), is the Empress of Tran Anh Tong, the mother of Tran Minh Tong. She is the second daughter of Thai Lieutenant Hung Nhuong Dai Vuong Tran Quoc Tang, mother is Bao An Quoc. She called Hung Dao Dai Vuong Tran Quoc Tuan by his grandfather, and Kham Minh Dai Vuong Tran Lieu was a great-grandfather, from the Tran Royal family. She is famous for her devotion to Buddhism.
(2) The old qi ace is one of the six qi (Hua sha, the qi ace, the incense qi, the qi man,
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