Attending the opening ceremony were Associate Professor Dr. Lai Quoc Khanh - Vice Principal of the University, Director of the Center for Contemporary Religious Studies, Associate Professor Dr. Vu Van Quan - Head of the Department of History, along with representatives of leaders of departments, faculties, and affiliated departments, and a large number of students, trainees, and graduate students in the university.
On the side of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, there was Most Venerable Thich Tho Lac - Vice President of the Executive Council, Head of the Cultural Committee - Central Committee of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, and lay Buddhist Gioi Minh - Editorial Secretary of the Journal of Buddhist Studies.
Also attending were many researchers and managers from the Vietnam National Museum of History, the Department of Heritage, the Government Committee for Religious Affairs, the Thang Long - Hanoi Heritage Conservation Center, the Institute of Religion, the Institute of Archaeology, etc.
Buddhism was born in India in the 6th century BC, quickly spread throughout Asia and became one of the major religions in the world.
Around the beginning of the Common Era, Buddhism was introduced to Northern Vietnam, and soon after appeared in the Southern and Central regions. Over two thousand years of development, Buddhism has had a great influence on the cultural and spiritual life of Vietnam, and its Buddhist heritage is very rich and diverse.
To honor, preserve, and bring those unique and precious cultural heritages of the nation closer to the youth, students, trainees, and graduate students, the Museum of Anthropology, the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, and 3D Art Consulting and Technology Solutions Joint Stock Company have had close and successful cooperation in creating a space to display Vietnamese Buddhist Heritage right on the campus of the University.
The exhibition materials are structured into 5 main contents: a general introduction to the birth and development of Buddhism and Vietnamese Buddhism; Northern Buddhist Heritage; Champa Buddhist Heritage; Oc Eo - Phu Nam Buddhist Heritage and Buddhist Heritage in the flow of national culture.
The exhibits include a replica of the Ly Dynasty's glass stupa and 17 statues restored using 3D printing technology on composite material, then painted with gold, in original or reduced size, 5 illustrations, 1 calligraphy, 37 images of pagodas and Buddhist heritage, 3 diagrams of pagodas and towers...
In particular, the exhibition space applies modern technology such as Mapping and Hologram in visualizing images of Buddhist tower architecture, 3D scanned images of Buddha statues and pagodas typical of Vietnamese Buddhist heritage.
In addition, in the exhibition space there is also an experience corner for students to experience printing patterns, symbols and Chinese characters... in Vietnamese Buddhism.
Associate Professor Dr. Lai Quoc Khanh emphasized that the idea of creating a space to display Vietnamese Buddhist Heritage right on the campus of a university is a unique idea with scientific value.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Vice President Lai Quoc Khanh emphasized: “The idea of creating a space to display Vietnamese Buddhist Heritage right on the campus of a university is a unique idea and has scientific value. The exquisite artifacts displayed in this space not only support the university and postgraduate training activities of the University, but also help students and trainees admire the precious heritage of the nation. This activity once again affirms the very effective cooperation model between the University, research institutes and enterprises, applying high technology in activities to preserve and promote traditional cultural values”.
Venerable Thich Tho Lac shared: “This is truly a very meaningful activity, contributing to honoring and spreading the value of precious heritages in the traditional cultural treasure of the Vietnamese people. With the exhibition space applying modern technology designed right at the university, it will contribute to bringing cultural heritage closer to the public, especially the young public, students; arousing pride, respect and awareness of preserving and promoting cultural values in contemporary life”.
The exhibition of Vietnamese Buddhist Heritage not only attracts the attention of experts and researchers in the fields of history, religion, and heritage, but also many young people to visit and learn. The exhibition will take place for 10 days, from June 20 to June 30, 2023.
Some images at the Exhibition Space of Vietnamese Buddhist Heritage at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, VNU, 336 Nguyen Trai, Thanh Xuan, Hanoi:
