Three stamps showing the image of three national treasures - the statuettes of Avalokitesvara Deity, Hoa Binh Buddha, and Brahma God, have recently been issued by the Ministry of Information and Communications. — Photo ictvietnam.vn Hanoi (VNS/VNA) - A collection of stamps showcasing the objects of Oc Eo Culture thatwere recognised as national treasures has been issued by the Ministry ofInformation and Communications in co-ordination with the People's Committee ofthe southern province of An Giang.
The publication of the stamps aims to increase awareness, pride andresponsibility of the preservation and promotion of national cultural values,in addition to confirming Vietnam’s territorial sovereignty over centuries.
The stamps were designed by painter Nguyen Du in a graphic style, showing the artifactson a dark brown background that highlight the mysterious beauty of the nationaltreasures.
The collection consists of three designs and one block.
The first design has the image of the statuette of the deity Avalokitesvara.The original statuette is the only one of its kind, representing the sculptureof the Avalokitesvara statuette in the southwestern region of Vietnam and Oc EoCulture in the eighth and ninth century.
The second design features the image of the statuette of Buddha. The originalstatuette is made from Lagerstroemia, showing the image of a Buddha standing ona lotus with a slender figure, ringlet curls, wearing rope and holding theedge of the rope with the left hand while the right hand is in a blessed posture.
The statuette of Buddha originated from the southern province of Long An, alsobeing a unique item and representing the art of carving statues in Oc EoCulture in the 3rd and 4th century.
The two statuettes were recognised as national treasures in 2013 and arebeing preserved at the Museum of History of HCM City.
The third stamp features the image of Brahma God, dating from the 6th to 7thcentury. The original statuette was unearthed during cultivation within GiongXoai relic area located to the west of Oc Eo-Ba The relic area in Thoai Sondistrict, An Giang province.
Broken from left shoulder to right chest and made of fine sandstone, thestatuette is a part of significant archaeological documents at Giong Xoairelic, reflecting the civilisation of Oc Eo Culture in the region. It isbeing kept at the An Giang provincial Museum.
The stamp block has the image ofLinga-Yoni set that dates back to the 5th-6th century. The originalversion consists of three parts attached together, with the Linga part made ofgold attached to the centre of the upper surface of the bronze base block. Asan item of Indian culture in the southern region and Southeast Asia, the artifactwas recognised as a national treasure in 2018 and is also being preservedat An Giang provincial Museum.
The stamp collection is issued on the public postal network from August 20,2020, to June 30, 2022.
The Oc Eo Culture of the ancient kingdom of Phu Nam was first discovered in1944 via artifacts found in the sites of Ba The Mountain, now in Oc Eotown, Thoai Son district in An Giang province.
Scientific research hasunravelled a brilliant culture with a system of dense monuments on a largescale with a variety of artifacts, diverse in types and high levels oftechnique, aesthetics, arts, and interactivity with major cultural centres atthat time.
Artifacts of Oc Eo Culture arevalued as significant historical documents and evidence of a prosperousculture in the history of Vietnam./.
VNA