A new publication about Nguyen Dynasty
A 10-volume book named “The Continuation of the Dai Nam Administrative Records” (Kham Dinh Dai Nam Hoi Dien Su Le Tuc Bien) has been published by the Hue Monuments Conservation Centre in coordination with the Vietnam Institute of History.
The 8,000-page book provides a fascinating window into the life and ritual activities of the Nguyen Dynasty throughout the reigns of Tu Duc, Duc Duc, Hiep Hoa, Kien Phuc, Ham Nghi and Dong Khanh Kings in the second half of the 19th century.
The compilation of the book started in 1889, the first year under the reign of Thanh Thai King, but took six years to finish. For many reasons, the book was not printed until the second year of the reign of Khai Dinh King (1917).
According to Phan Thanh Hai, Director of the Hue Monuments Conservation Centre, the researchers have overcome many difficulties to publish the book, which weighs more than 30kg in all. Three publishing houses were involved in the printing process.
The new publication is an important material source for researchers working on the activities of the Nguyen Dynasty in the 1859-1889 period.