Rare plants on display to welcome Tet holiday 2014
On January 22, 2014, exhibition of bonsai and “features of traditional lunar New Year” was opened by Thang Long – Hanoi Heritage Conservation Center at Imperial Citadel of Thang Long – Hanoi. This is the practical activity to mark the 84th anniversary of Vietnam Communist Party and welcome lunar New Year 2014.
Opening ceremony of “Features of traditional lunar New Year” exhibition at Imperial Citadel of Thang Long – Hanoi
Tet (lunar New Year) holiday is the most important occasion in Vietnamese culture, the transfer between two years, after an operating cycle of heaven and earth, of all things and plants, time for every one to tribute and show their gratitude to their ancestors and roots. Tet of Vietnam has many cultural practices such as picking young leaves for fortune, first-foot to house, beginning new-year writing, wishing others happy New Year, going to pagodas, fully gathering quintessence in the material and spiritual life of Vietnam. The exhibition introduces various unique images, materials, artifacts featuring Vietnamese traditional Tet holiday. They show worship space, market corners, and traditional cuisine in Tet holiday. Besides, visitors may have chance to see artisans make banh chung (square sticky rice cake), calligraphers write and present their beautiful handwritings.
The exhibition of bonsai and flowers is held in the large campus in front of Doan Mon monument, with display area of about 4000 m2, introducing more than 1000 works. It has large scale and variety of types, attract the participation of numerous members of Hanoi Pet Association, Thang Long Art Ornamental Plant Association, Ornamental Plant Club, garden house, artisans of ornamental plants from neighboring provinces such as Hai Duong, Bac Giang, Nam Dinh.
Some images on “features of traditional lunar New Year”
displayed in the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long
The exhibition of art ornamental plants and flowers held on the beginning days of New Year 2014 in Doan Mon monument will create a green diversified space to welcome Hanoians and visitors from other places. It can be said that Vietnam ornamental plants, Thang Long – Hanoi ornamental plants constitute a part of Vietnam art spirit. Many plant shapes convey educational contents, human standards, represent the value of traditional culture, express human dreams to reach truth, kindness, beauty, wishing good things such as Three Gods (God of Happiness, God of Luck, God of Health), Five Blessings (wealth, position, longevity, good health, security). The artisans convey their rich ideas through the products as: “Cay sanh song thu”, “Cay tung coi truc”, “Sanh mau tu”, “Tung phu tu”, “Sanh phuong vu”, “Hon que”, “Cay da ben nuoc”…
Traditional plants are of two types: royal park plants, placed in the solemn sites, family plants bearing meaning of education, emotion, ethics, human love, love of hometown and fatherland. Many bonsai works show liberal lines, rockery grandeur and richness of artistic style. The artisans combine in harmony between traditional and modern styles, acquiring quintessence of the bonsai art from other countries such as China, Japan, Indonesia … making bonsai works rich and unique.
In addition, the program namely Spring in hometown 2014 is held at Thang Long Imperial Citadel (January 23, 2014), showing a lot of special activities such as introducing Tet atmosphere, Tet market with traditional products as Bat Trang pottery, peach blossoms and tangerine plants from Nhat Tan and Quang Ba, Tet gifts and art program namely “Lac Hong vinh hien”, contributing to promote and honor the national culture, attract overseas Vietnamese people all over the world toward the ancestors and roots, together enjoy a full spring and family reunion in accordance with Vietnam traditional Tet custom.
Kim Yen
Thang Long – Hanoi Heritage Conservation Center
