Research results
Title: Study methods of revision, safekeeping Han Nom documents and the ancient maps in Japan
Abstract:
Japan has many places preserving Han Nom documents and Vietnamese ancient maps such as Shido Bunko, Keio University; Indochina archives( Toyo Bunko); Japan parliamentary library; Indochina cultural research library, Tokyo University… Most of Han Nom preserved documents in Japan are revised and compiled in order to serve of consulting and referencing. These documents were written by Chinese characters and demotic script about Vietnamese history, culture, religion, politics, law and so on. Some of these documents do not have archived files in Vietnam and other places in the world. Therefore, they have great value on researching Vietnam and Indochina. Japanese’ storage centers and libraries have tradition, experiences and technology; therefore, they are one of the best places in the world to revise and preserve ancient texts.
Vietnam’s tropical monsoon climate could damage archival materials seriously if these materials are not preserved in a good condition with appropriate methods and techniques. Moreover, the Vietnam precious SinoNom-written materials, called “field materials” and usually deposited in Vietnamese’s villages, families and households, are numerous. Their depositing condition is bad and these materials need to be preserved from negative impact of environment and human activities. These materials also are very important for Vietnamese historical researchers to conduct their research on the structure and functions of Vietnam traditional villages and to answer how these structures and functions are working in our life nowadays.
In this report, I am presenting how I have learnt from Japan’s experience in collecting and preserving field materials and applied these methods to Vietnam’s cases.
About using Geographic Information System (GIS) in locating and building up a general database of Sino-Nôm written socio-economic historical materials of Vietnamese’s village community (the case of Hue city – the Nguyen dynasty’s imperial capital)