TTLV: Trần-Hồ Dynasty ceramics in the Tây Đô citadel area

INFORMATION ABOUT THE MASTER'S THESIS

1. Student's full name:Nguyen Duc Binh 

2. Gender: Male

3. Date of birth: February 1, 1985

4. Place of birth: Lien Mac Commune, Thanh Ha District, Hai Duong Province

5. Decision No. 1528/QD-XHNV-KH&SDH dated October 14, 2012, of the Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, recognizing the student.

6. Changes in the training process:

7. Thesis title:Trần-Hồ period ceramics in the Tây Đô citadel area

8. Major: Archaeology Code: 60.22.03.17

9. Scientific supervisor:Dr. Tran Anh Dung, Institute of Archaeology

10. Summary of the thesis results:

- Gathering research materials on the Tay Do area such as: ancient histories, geographical records, books, newspapers, legends, information about historical figures, magazines, dissertations, doctoral theses on relics, art, reform policies and architectural materials, estates and manors during the Tran-Ho dynasties… Especially the materials from excavations in this area. This is the main, fundamental source of information for the author to carry out the thesis.

- Based on the collection, organization, and research of physical source materials, the thesis has indicated that the glazed pottery from the Tran-Ho period excavated in the Tay Do citadel area has the following characteristics:

+Regarding typeThe total number of glazed ceramics from the Tran-Ho dynasties recovered through excavations in the Tay Do area is 2,255 artifacts, of which 221 artifacts are still recognizable in shape, accounting for 10% of the total, with 9 types: bowls, plates, vases, lime containers, basins, cups, jars, and bowls. Among these, there are 158 specimens of bowls, divided into 20 types (L1-L20) based on shape and decorative patterns. There are 47 specimens of plates, divided into 13 types (L1-L13). There is 1 specimen of a vase. There are 2 specimens of lime containers. There is 1 specimen of a basin. There are 6 specimens of cups, divided into 2 types. There is 1 specimen of a jar. There are 2 specimens of a bowl. There are 3 specimens of bowls.

Careful classification and sorting reveal that some pottery pieces were likely produced during the Ho Dynasty, such as bowls of type 8, type 9, and type 16. Other types, while retaining traditional forms from the Ly-Tran period, also exhibit some differences.

In addition, there are 2,034 fragments, accounting for 90% of the total glazed pottery excavated in the Tay Do area. These fragments include rim fragments, body fragments, base fragments, and lid fragments belonging to various glazed pottery lines such as white glaze, celadon glaze, brown glaze, bicolor glaze, green glaze, white glaze with blue painting, brown floral pottery, and fragments of pottery with chipped glaze.

+Regarding the glaze,There are white glazed ceramics, jade glazed ceramics, brown glazed ceramics, two-tone glazed ceramics, white glazed ceramics with blue painted designs, brown floral ceramics, and green glazed ceramics, with white glazed ceramics being the most numerous.

+In terms of styling,Most types of bowls from the Tran-Ho period in Tay Do were shaped based on the idea of ​​a flower, with the notched rims particularly noteworthy, representing petals. Plates, however, only had one part sharing the same design concept as the bowls, while the other part had a simpler shape. Significantly, high-footed plates also began to appear during this period. The shaping technique remained traditional, involving hand-shaping.

Regarding decorative patterns, cThe main decorative motifs remain lotus and chrysanthemum. However, pottery decorated with chrysanthemums and other combined motifs is more numerous. The pottery here is not only decorated on the outside and inside, but also combines both inside and outside.

+ Regarding non-stick enamel techniquesThese techniques include: single-piece firing, using ceramic spacers, and rimming... Among them, the technique of using ceramic spacers still accounts for a high percentage.

11. Practical applications:

12. Future research directions:

13. Published works related to the thesis:

- Tran Anh Dung, Ha Manh Thang, Phan Binh Nguyen, Nguyen Duc Binh, Do Quang Trong, Truong Hoai Nam: Third excavation of the Nam Giao Altar site (Thanh Hoa), 2008.NPHMVKCH 2009, pp. 360-362.

- Nguyen Duc Binh and the excavation team: Collection of glazed ceramics at Linh Xung Pagoda site (Thanh Hoa).NPHMVKCH 2010, pp. 448-449.

- Nguyen Duc Binh and the excavation team: Types of artifacts found at the construction site of the Van Cao - Ho Tay intersection (Hanoi).NPHMVKCH 2010,pp. 452-454.

- Tong Trung Tin (editor), Ngo Hoai Chung, Do Quang Trong, Le Thi Lien, Tran Anh Dung, Nguyen Xuan Toan, Truong Hoai Nam, Nguyen Duc Binh, Mai Thuy LinhHo Dynasty Citadel, Thanh HoaSocial Sciences Publishing House, Hanoi, 2011.

- Tong Trung Tin, Ha Van Can, Bui Vinh, Nguyen Duc Binh, Nguyen Dang Cuong, Mai Thuy Linh, Nguyen Huu Thiet, Nguyen Van Manh, Do Duc Tue, Nguyen Cao Cuong, Dang Thi Hoa, Khieu Thi Trang, Nguyen Doan Van: Results of excavation at Van Cao - Hoang Hoa Tham site (Ba Dinh - Hanoi),NPHMVKCH 2012,pp. 259–261.

- Tong Trung Tin, Tran Anh Dung, Do Quang Trong, Ha Manh Thang, Truong Huu Nghia, Nguyen Duc Binh, Nguyen Huu Tam, Truong Hoai Nam (2012), Nam Giao Altar (Ho Dynasty Citadel): Perceptions in 2012Archaeology (number 2), pp. 50-62.

- Nguyen Duc Binh: Glazed ceramics from the Tran Dynasty in the Nam Giao area, Thanh Hoa (Vinh Thanh commune, Vinh Loc district, Thanh Hoa province)NPHMVKCH 2013,pp. 463–364.

INFORMATION ON MASTER'S THESIS

1. Full name: Nguyen Duc Binh 2. Sex: Male

3. Date of birth: February 1, 1985 4. Place of birth: Lien Mac commune, Thanh Ha district, Hai Duong province.

5. Admission decision number: 1528/QD-XHNV-KH&SĐH. Dated October 14, 2012,by the Rector of University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Hanoi National University.

6. Changes in academic process:

7. Official thesis title: Ceramics of Tran - Ho Dynasties in Tay Do Citadel

8. Major: Archeology Code: 60.22.03.17

9. Supervisors: Dr. Tran Anh Dung, Institute of Archeology

10. Summary of the findings of the thesis:

- Gathering the research documents on Tay Do area such as: ancient history, monography, books, newspapers, legends on historic characters, journals, Master's theses, Doctoral theses, arts, reform policies and architectural materials, Tran-Ho-dynasty estates and feuds and so on, particularly the records recovered from excavations in this area. These are the main and fundamental sources of documents on which the author does the thesis subject.

- On the basis of gathering, classifying and studying the real records, the thesis has pointed out the characteristics of the Tran - Ho glazed ceramics excavated in Tay Do citadel as follows:

+Typically:A total number of Tran - Ho glazed ceramics recovered from excavations in Tay Do citadel is 2255, 221 of which are still identifiable in terms of their forms, accounting for 10% of total artefacts, with 9 types: bowl, plates, jar, lime-pot, basin, cup, pot, vase and container. Of which, there are 158 bowls divided into 20 types (L1-L20) given their forms and decorative motifs. There are 47 plates grouped into 13 types (L1-L13). There are only one pot, two lime-pots, one basin. There are six cups sorted into 2 types. There are one vase, two pots and three containers.

The thorough classification shows a possibility that some ceramics have been produced in Ho period of time such as bowl types 8, 9 and 16. Although some other types are shown to maintain the traditional Ly - Tran forms, there are some different points.

Apart from that, there are 2034 sherds, accounting for 90% of total glazes excavated in the Tay Do area. They include rim, body, base and cover pertaining to white, celadon, brown glazes, two-colour, green, blue and white, brown ones and those with come-off glaze.

+Regarding the glaze line, there are the white, celadon, brown, two-color, blue and white, brown and green, of which the white are predominant.

+Regarding the shaping,most of Tran - Ho bowls found in Tay Do have been shaped based on a flower thought, of which especially include the bowl type with notched rims showing petals. There are some plates sharing the same thought as bowl shaping, but the rest is created simpler. Most noticeably, the high-foot plates also come into existence at this period of time. The shaping technology is still following the manual-making tradition.

+ Regarding the decorative motif,the primary decorative motifs are still lotus and daisy. However, ceramics decorated with daisy combined with other motifs are of more quantity. The decoration is not only applied on the outer face, but also both inner and outer ones.

+ Regarding the anti-stick glaze technique:including such techniques as single-item fire, using the earthenware spacer and unglazed ring (circular trace where glaze removed) Of which, the earthenware spacer are more frequently employed.

11. Practical applicability, if any

12. Further research directions, if any

13. Thesis-related publications:

- Tran Anh Dung, Ha Manh Thang, Phan Binh Nguyen, Nguyen Duc Binh, Do Quang Trong, Truong Hoai Nam: Third excavation at Dan Nam Giao site (Thanh Hoa) in 2008.New Archaeological Discoveries in 2009, pp. 360-362.

- Nguyen Duc Binh and excavation team: A collection of glazed ceramics at Linh Chung pagoda site.New Archaeological Discoveries in 2010, pp. 448-449.

- Nguyen Duc Binh and excavation team: The artefact types at construction site of Van Cao - West Lake crossroad (Hanoi).New Archaeological Discoveries in 2010, pp. 452-454.

- Tong Trung Tin (editor), Ngo Hoai Chung, Do Quang Trong, Le Thi Lien, Tran Anh Dung, Nguyen Xuan Toan, Truong Hoai Nam, Nguyen Duc Binh, Mai Thuy Linh:The Ho Citadel in Thanh Hoa.Publication House of Social Sciences, Hanoi, 2011.

- Tong Trung Tin, Ha Van Can, Bui Vinh, Nguyen Duc Binh, Nguyen Dang Cuong, Mai Thuy Linh, Nguyen Huu Thiet, Nguyen Van Manh, Do Duc Tue, Nguyen Cao Cuong, Dang Thi Hoa, Khieu Thi Trang, Nguyen Doan Van: Excavation results from Van Cao - Hoang Hoa Tham site (Ba Dinh - Hanoi).New Archaeological Discoveries in 2012, pp. 259–261.

- Tong Trung Tin, Tran Anh Dung, Do Quang Trong, Ha Manh Thang, Truong Huu Nghia, Nguyen Duc Binh, Nguyen Huu Tam, Truong Hoai Nam (2012): The sacrifice site of Nam Giao (The Ho Citadel): Perception in 2012,Archaeology (No. 2), pp. 50-62.

- Nguyen Duc Binh: The glazed ceramics of the Tran dynasty in the Dan Nam Giao site (Vinh Thanh commune, Vinh Loc district, Thanh Hoa province)New Archaeological Discoveries in 2013, pp. 463–364.