Australian author Kerry Nguyen Long along with The Gioi (World) publishing house on January 30 launched a new book named “Arts of Vietnam 1009 – 1945”, the first book on the history of the development of the arts of the Kinh, the majority ethnic group in Vietnam.

With over 300 illustrations, the publication introduces major categories of the arts from architecture to painting, presents them in historical context, describes their features in each period and explains why, alongside enduring continuities, new styles emerged while others were abandoned.

The author said she drew on decades of research by specialists as well as recent discoveries of artifacts, empirical knowledge by contemporary practitioners, records in family genealogies and historical accounts.

Nguyen Long and her husband, Nguyen Kim Long spent nearly five years on researching and collecting materials for the book. Most of the photos in the book were taken by her husband who travelled to many places to collect materials and help his wife translate as she knew little Vietnamese.

Addressing the launching event, Director of The Gioi Publisher Tran Doan Lam said the book is a great contribution to promoting Vietnamese cultural identity and proves that Vietnam has its own art tradition, which developed over many hundred years from 1009 to 1945 and deserves to be recognised by the world.

The “Arts of Vietnam 1009 – 1945” was supported by the Australian Embassy in Hanoi as part of its programme to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Australia – Vietnam diplomatic ties.

The book is available at bookstores at a price of 1.2 million VND (60 USD).

Source: VNA