Post-steles in the Vietnamese Han Nom literary heritage

Vietnamica is a European project on historical research and digitization of Vietnamese stele documents - one of the projects funded by the European Research Council of the European Union. The project aims to research the history of Vietnamese offerings through stele documents, digitize Vietnamese social science documents archived in Europe and Vietnam; participate in training graduate students and doctoral students; establish an electronic library, translate and publish monographs and conduct comprehensive research on the history of Vietnamese offerings.

Vietnamica focuses on original texts and sources that can yield the highest quality research results, with Bia Hau being a particular focus. The project includes a combination of research and training, technology transfer, to sustainably maintain research directions and create long-term impact.

Prof. Dr. Hoang Anh Tuan (Vice Rector of University of Social Sciences and Humanities) at the Opening Session

The project was initiated by Prof. Philippe Papin - Professor of Vietnamese History, Faculty of History and Texts, Institute of Advanced Studies of the French Republic. The project's managing unit is the Institute of Advanced Studies of the French Republic. The coordinating units to organize and implement the project are the Vietnam National University, Hanoi through the University of Social Sciences and Humanities; the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences through the Institute of Han Nom Studies. The financial management unit is the Francophone University Organization.

The project is expected to be implemented within 5 years, from 2019 to 2024 and in a large area including Vietnam, France and some other European countries. One year after the project was launched (November 4, 2019), a scientific seminar with the theme "Post-steles in the Vietnamese Han Nom Inscription Heritage" was held to provide researchers with the opportunity to discuss in more depth the value of this unique and only type of stele in Asia. The seminar is also an opportunity for students of the project to present their ideas and research outlines and receive comments and feedback from experts.

Speaking at the opening session, Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Kim Son (Director of VNU) reaffirmed the importance of the VIETNAMICA project for the study of post-steles and stele inscriptions, a cultural heritage of Vietnam, containing the economic, social, religious and spiritual history of the Vietnamese people. Since the launching ceremony of the VIETNAMICA project, member units have closely coordinated and connected researchers and students to strengthen and promote research on many topics on post-steles and stele inscriptions. This seminar is an opportunity to announce part of the research results. As a major partner, with a pioneering position in training and research on social sciences and humanities, VNU in general and the University of Social Sciences and Humanities in particular are committed to continuing to closely coordinate with project partners to promote the scientific and training activities of VIETNAMICA.

Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Kim Son speaks

Mr. Jean-Marc Lavest (Director of the Francophone University Organization in Asia-Pacific - AUF) shared that, like the VIETNAMICA project in general, this seminar marked the academic and cultural connection in cooperation between France and Vietnam. The mapping and analysis of the steles will create a completely new database of data and information, opening up major research areas in anthropology, economics, politics, society, etc. for researchers of the two countries. On behalf of AUF, he expressed his deep interest and pride in being supported in research methods and project organization by the VIETNAMICA team. At the same time, he highly appreciated the close coordination between VNU and Professor Philippe Papin to create the initial results of the project.

Mr. Jean-Marc Lavest said

Prof. Philippe Papin (French Institute for Advanced Study) sent a message from afar to the discussion, emphasizing the distinctive feature of the VIETNAMICA Project, which is to establish a collective research database based on each individual's own research. Individual research is based on the simplicity and freedom of the researcher with his own methods, documents, abilities, and interests. However, individual research will be combined to create an overall picture. Thereby creating a chronology, a comprehensive map of the stele through different spaces and eras. That is why the project has attracted the participation of many prestigious scholars and scientific institutions from both Vietnam and France.

Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Tuan Cuong (Institute of Han Nom Studies) read the message of Professor Philippe Papin sent to the Discussion

After the Opening Session, the Discussion continued with two sessions:

Session 1:Presentation of researchers on steles and post-steles

Session 2:Research Reports of Vietnamica's Graduate and Postgraduate Students

Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Tuan Cuong and Dr. Dinh Thanh Hieu (Faculty of Literature, University of Social Sciences and Humanities) chaired the first session.