The workshop attracted the participation of many researchers, managers, and students from Quy Nhon University.
This workshop is part of provincial scientific and technological project No. 02-05-2024, led by Dr. Nguyen To Lan (Institute of Philosophy). The project aims to study and propose preservation and valorization methods for the Gia Hung Tripitaka (also known as the Tripitaka of Gia Hung) and the woodblock prints of Thap Thap Pagoda, contributing to local socio-economic development.
In her opening speech, Dr. Nguyen To Lan emphasized that in the development of Vietnamese cultural history, Han Nom documentary heritage, especially Buddhist texts, plays a role as a “material memory,” preserving knowledge and spiritual life through the centuries. Among these texts, Thap Thap Pagoda stands out as an exceptional conservation center, housing a significant volume of precious Han Nom Buddhist documents, not only at the national level but also throughout East Asia.
A major element of the Thap Thap Pagoda documentary heritage is the Gia Hung Tripitaka, still preserved on site. It consists of around 1,377 volumes in 479 collections, totaling nearly 4,826 scripture books, covering all Sutra, Vinaya, Abhidharma, and Sages systems. It is considered one of the most comprehensive collections of Chinese Buddhist scriptures in Vietnam due to the loss of many Buddhist texts following historical upheavals.
Moreover, the system of over 800 woodblocks dating from the 17th to the early 20th century continues to add particular value, reflecting printing techniques, scripture dissemination, and religious life in the central region throughout different periods.
In its historical context, the relatively complete presence of the Gia Hung Buddhist Canon at Thap Thap Pagoda holds particular importance. After the Ly and Tran dynasties, a period marked by the decline of many Buddhist scripture conservation centers and the disorganization of the Buddhist library system, preserving such a significant collection of Buddhist scriptures can be seen as a precious relic of Vietnamese Buddhist cultural tradition.
Beyond its religious significance, this site also serves as a valuable source of information for various scientific disciplines such as Sino-Vietnamese studies, history of thought, cultural studies, bibliography, and research on Vietnamese-Chinese-Japanese cultural exchanges in the context of East Asia.
During the conference, presentations focused on highlighting the historical, cultural, and academic value of the Gia Hung Buddhist Canon in the development of Buddhism in Dang Trong (Southern Vietnam) and the role of Thap Thap Pagoda as a center for preserving and disseminating Buddhist knowledge. New discoveries regarding rare canonical texts were also revealed.
However, delegates candidly acknowledged that the Thap Thap Pagoda documentary heritage faces many challenges, including limited conservation conditions, inventory difficulties, data standardization issues, and the fact that digitization has not yet reached its full potential.
Based on this practical experience, the workshop concentrated on discussing three essential questions: precisely identifying the current state of the documentation system; comprehensively evaluating the multifaceted value of the heritage; and proposing solutions for effective preservation, digitization, and utilization linked to research, education, and the development of local cultural tourism.
This workshop is not only an academic forum but also the starting point of a long-term process to transition the Thap Thap Pagoda documentary heritage from a state of “preservation” to a state of “activity,” from potential value to a resource for socio-economic development, particularly cultural tourism, in Gia Lai province.
Source: https://baogialai.com.vn/hoi-thao-khoa-hoc-ve-di-san-tu-lieu-chua-thap-thap-post583999.html
