On the morning of August 5, 2022, at the Hanoi Department of Culture and Sports, a meeting was held to appraise the artifacts and grassroots-level artifact documents to request recognition of the 11th National Treasure in 2022 for the artifact collections of Thang Long Heritage Conservation Center - Hanoi.

Chair of the meeting: Mr. Do Dinh Hong - Director of Hanoi Department of Culture and Sports - Chairman of the Appraisal Council; Members of the Appraisal Council: Dr. Pham Quoc Quan - Member of the National Cultural Heritage Council, Dr. Nguyen Van Doan - Director of the National History Museum, Dr. Nguyen Dinh Chien - Former Deputy Director of the History Museum National history; Representative of Thang Long – Hanoi Heritage Conservation Center: Mr. Nguyen Thanh Quang - Director, Ms. Nguyen Hong Chi - Deputy Director and staff.

At the meeting, the Thang Long - Hanoi Heritage Conservation Center presented documents to request recognition of National Treasures, including: Collection of royal bowls and plates of the early Le Dynasty; stone steps of Kinh Thien Palace in the Le Trung Hung period; Dragon head of the Tran Dynasty; Cannons at the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long in the early Le Dynasty; Especially, the statue of the Emperor An Duong at Thuong Temple - Co Loa site (Chua village, Co Loa commune, Dong Anh district, Hanoi).

Thang Long - Hanoi Heritage Conservation Center presents documents

The statue of the Emperor An Duong dating from the end of the 19th century (1897) is solemnly worshiped at the Thuong temple (also known as the temple of King An Duong Vuong). The statue is made of copper alloy with the technique of casting by wax mold (beeswax) requiring high technical requirements. The statue is monolithic, cylindrical in a sitting position with a relaxed and majestic posture. The king wears a two-tiered hat, decorated with "two built-in dragons flanking the sun". Square face in the style of portraiture. A high-collared imperial robe with the frill extending down to the shoe. The large jade belt is low with curved toe shoes. Decorative patterns on the imperial robe are arranged in a symmetrical layout. The highlight on the imperial robe is decorative patterns with many different themes such as: two built-in dragons flanking the sun, scrolling dragons, clouds, moon, stars, dragons, phoenixes, peacocks, plants, flowers, water waves, and other sacred symbols...

The statue of the Emperor An Duong fully and comprehensively describes the body of a portrait statue and shows the style and personality of a master god - King An Duong Vuong.

Statue of the Emperor An Duong

The Council discussed and evaluated according to the criteria of the National Treasure as prescribed in Clause 21, Article 1 of the Law amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Cultural Heritage and Article 2, Circular No. 13/ 2010/TT-BVHTTDL, December 30, 2010 of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

As a result of the vote, the Council agreed that the artifacts meet the criteria for recognition of the National Treasure. Thang Long - Hanoi Heritage Conservation Center, the Management Department of Co Loa vestige site received, edited the dossier according to the comments of scientists, members of the appraisal council.  Based on that as a basis to submit to competent authorities for consideration and recognition of national treasures in the 11th round of 2022.

MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT OF CỔ LOA VESTIGE SITE