The Municipal People’s Committee yesterday received a set of reproduced woodblocks ‘Chieu Doi Do’ (The Royal Edict on the Transfer of the Capital) from the State Records and Archives Department under the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

This was part of activities to celebrate the 1000th anniversary of Thang Long - Hanoi as well as an occasion to present and honour the historical and cultural value of the Nguyen Dynasty (1802-1945) woodblocks, a world documentary heritage.

According to Vu Thi Minh Huong, the Head of the State Records and Archives Department, during the search for Nguyen Dynasty woodblocks, the set of woodblocks of 'Chieu Doi Do' by King Ly Cong Uan was found in the book set 'Dai Viet Su Ky Toan Thu' (Vietnam History Annals) by the National Archives Centre under the Department.

The 20x29.5cm, 3cm thick woodblocks consist of 214 Chinese characters not including notes. To date, this is the oldest 'Chieu Doi Do' woodblocks ever found in Vietnam.

Also at the ceremony, the State Records and Archives Department presented 1,000 copies of two books on Thang Long-Hanoi featuring the Nguyen dynasty woodblocks to the Hanoi People’s Committee.

Source: nhandan