Gia Lai’s Appraisal Council backs two artifact groups for national treasure status

Follow Gia Lai Newspaper on Google News

Gia Lai Province’s Appraisal Council on November 22 endorsed two artifact groups for submission to national authorities for recognition as national treasures, including the An Phu gold ritual collection and the Kơ Đơ gong set of the Jrai people.

The meeting was held at the Pleiku Museum and chaired by Đỗ Thị Diệu Hạnh, Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

The Council, with participation from experts of the National Council for Cultural Heritage, the Vietnam National Academy of Music and the Southern Institute of Social Sciences, reviewed documentation and heritage value of both collections.

dscf0417.jpg
Scene from the meeting. Photo: Minh Châu

The An Phu gold ritual collection includes eight artifacts discovered in an intact swastika-shaped sacred cache at the An Phu Cham site in An Phu Ward. Items include a gold vessel, eight gold petals, a rectangular gold leaf and another inscribed with Buddhist scriptures.

The rare archaeological structure provides evidence of historical cultural and religious links between the Central Highlands and the wider Indian–Cham cultural sphere. Experts said the collection is a unique resource for studying religious life, economic exchange and cultural interaction within the region and with neighboring areas.

img-6685.jpg
The collection of gold ritual objects found at the An Phú Cham site is being proposed for recognition as a national treasure. Photo: Minh Châu

The second heritage group, the Kơ Đơ gong set, also known as K’Đơ, Nâm, Tơ Năh, Sar or M’Nâm, dates to the early 20th century and remains fully playable. Once owned by the family of community leader Siu Banh of the former Cheo Reo area, the set is attached to both spiritual and social traditions of the Jrai people.

The gongs are used in ceremonies such as weddings, housewarmings and health blessings and are regarded as a conduit between the human world and divine spirits. The proposal is especially significant in the context of UNESCO’s 2005 inscription of the Central Highlands Gong Culture as Representative Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

dscf0447.jpg

Council members praised the historical, artistic, cultural and religious significance of both artifact groups and their completeness and representativeness. They recommended refining the application by clarifying naming conventions, expanding the interpretation of the gong set’s historical context and detailing plans for preservation and promotion post-recognition.

All members unanimously agreed that both the An Phu gold collection and the Kơ Đơ gong set meet the standards for national treasure recognition and should be submitted to the appropriate authorities.

You may be interested

The plateau in the season of dreamy winds

The plateau in the season of dreamy winds

Pleiku is experiencing its most beautiful days of the year. The days unfold gently beneath blue skies and fresh breezes. The persistent winds sweep across the highland hills and mountains, filling my heart with boundless nostalgia and affection.

Lâm Đồng to host Southeast Asia Gong harmony

Lâm Đồng to host Southeast Asia Gong harmony

With the theme “The Echo of the Central Highlands Gongs - Southeast Asia Convergence,” the programme will feature 12 art troupes from Gia Lai, Đắk Lắk, Lâm Đồng, several northern provinces as well as art troupes from Thailand, Laos and Malaysia.

The artwork "Đại hội quân nhân Sư đoàn 5" (Congress of the 5th Division Soldiers) was created by artist Huỳnh Phương Đông in 1965.

Literature and the human condition

The new era that Vietnam’s Party seeks to lead the nation into can be described simply as one of universal happiness—an era where, as President Ho Chi Minh envisioned, “our people are completely free, everyone has enough food and clothing, and everyone has access to education.”

Gia Lai promotes traditional arts education among students

Gia Lai promotes traditional arts education among students

More than 400 students from three secondary schools in Quy Nhon, Le Hong Phong, Dong Da, and Nguyen Hue, recently joined a traditional arts experience program at the Gia Lai Provincial Traditional Arts Theatre, part of an ongoing effort to preserve and promote Vietnam’s cultural heritage.

null