Associate Professor Tran Trong Duong of the School of Foreign Languages and Tourism at Hanoi University of Industry describes Han-Nom documents as a rich source of knowledge, much like a primeval forest containing an entire world of traditional Vietnamese culture. He was introduced to Chinese characters as a child and immediately developed a fascination with the script. He later researched the history of the three major philosophical and religious traditions in Vietnam: Confucianism, Taoism and Buddhism.
In 2010 and 2011, media reports highlighted leaks at the One Pillar Pagoda, with monks even having to cover a Buddha statue with a raincoat. The story prompted Tran Trong Duong to examine original historical sources, particularly the Sung Thien Dien Linh stele, erected in 1121 during the reign of King Ly Nhan Tong. He found that the pagoda described in these sources differed considerably from its present-day appearance. This led him to ask a fundamental question: What did the One Pillar Pagoda actually look like during the Ly Dynasty?
“The entire process, from my own research to the technological reconstruction, took around 10 years. We conducted research and fieldwork and used the findings to create a digital reconstruction. Employing 3D VR technology, we pieced together fragments of the past from the scant historical materials available. We reconstructed a version of the One Pillar Pagoda as it may have appeared during the Ly Dynasty, drawing on architectural elements identified in archaeological remains discovered at the Thang Long Imperial Citadel”, recalled Tran Trong Duong.
According to Tran Trong Duong, technology has given wings to imagination, enabling the public to see historical spaces, walk through them, and, in a sense, even touch history. “For students, experiencing history through technology for the first time in such a visual and vivid way creates a sense of immersion. This is one way technology can support the teaching and learning of Vietnamese history. It combines cultural preservation, research and creativity. Its impact can be significant not only domestically but internationally, too. For the first time, international audiences can see reconstructions of a Vietnamese imperial capital from a thousand years ago, giving them new insights into Vietnam’s traditional history and culture”, he said.
Duong mentioned that several other research groups are currently working on reconstructing historical monuments and structures. These digital reconstructions can serve as valuable references for future physical restoration and reconstruction projects, supporting tourism and history education while, most importantly, preserving images of the country’s glorious past. “For researchers like me, our greatest concern beyond research itself is how to carry the finest values of traditional Vietnamese culture into the future. We aspire to bring the past into the future”, he said.
