Within the framework of the ongoing Quan The Am Ngu Hanh Son Festival in 2025, a scientific seminar entitled "The influence of Buddhism in 'Ma Nhai' (Inscriptions) documentary heritage at Da Nang's Marble Mountains" was held on Mar 17.
The panoramic view of the Marble Mountains. Photo: Bao Lam
The intention of the seminar was to assess the values of ‘Ma Nhai’ and collect opinions from experts to serve the issuance of policies, and the implementation of projects and plans, in a bid to preserve and promote the value of this documentary heritage.
During his report at the event, Deputy Director of the Da Nang Department of Culture and Sports Ha Vy stated that, in the past, the Marble Mountains was one of the major Buddhist centres of Dai Viet on the nation's journey to the South, with the formation of famous national temples such as Tam Thai and Linh Ung and the footprints of many virtuous monks over many centuries.
Therefore, the influence and image of Buddhism in ‘Ma Nhai’ at the special national-level relic are very clear. On the other hand, these documentary heritages have become valuable historical sources about Buddhism in the land of Quang Nam and Da Nang in particular, and Viet Nam in general.
Dr. Nguyen Hoang Than from the University of Education and Science - the University of Da Nang, said that ‘Ma Nhai’ system is an authentic historical document, thereby contributing significantly to the study of the history of the formation and development of Buddhism in Quang Nam and Da Nang, while reflecting the profound thoughts, philosophies, and meditation verses of Buddhism.
“The system of inscriptions on the cliffs of Ngu Hanh Son, also known as ‘Ma Nhai’, which was formed under the Nguyen Lords and the Nguyen Dynasty, along with a number of documents dating back to the first half of the 20th century, has existed for nearly four centuries. There are currently nearly 80 units of inscriptions distributed throughout the tourist site such as Hoa Nghiem Cave, Huyen Khong Cave, Tang Chon Cave, Van Thong Cave and Linh Nham Cave.
Of which, ‘Ma Nhai’ are mainly concentrated on the cliffs of Huyen Khong Cave, accounting for nearly half of the total number in the Marble Mountains. In term of the number of inscriptions at a relic in Viet Nam, the Marble Mountains has the highest number”, Dr. Nguyen Hoang Than said.
In her presentation “The fragrance of Buddhism in Poetic Stele Inscription”, Master’s degree holder Dinh Thi Toan from the Da Nang Historical Science Association listed and analysed ‘Ma nhai’ in poetic form. Therefore, the author affirmed ‘Ma Nhai’ with poems in the Marble Mountains is a special cultural phenomenon, a heritage that needs to be properly evaluated.
According to Dr. Le Xuan Thong and Dr. Nguyen The Ha from the Central Institute of Social Sciences, in the 19th century, Buddhism in the Marble Mountains received a particularly positive response from the Nguyen Dynasty. At the same time, it was affirmed that Buddhism in the tourist site had many outstanding monks with high morals and virtues, who contributed greatly to the development of Buddhism in Quang Nam - Da Nang, bringing Buddhism quickly into the orbit of innovation of Buddhism in the country in the first decades of the 20th century.
A scientific seminar entitled "The influence of Buddhism in 'Ma Nhai' (Inscriptions) documentary heritage at Da Nang's Marble Mountains". Photo: Doan Hao Luong
Meanwhile, two presentations by Master’s degree holder Vo Van Thang and Researcher Ho Xuan Tinh from the city’s Historical Science Association showed a comprehensive and systematic view of the multi-value nature of the Marble Mountains through analysing and clarifying the cultural, historical and natural values of a heritage site that carries contemporary cultural values and vitality. At the same time, they suggest greater ambitions for a world cultural heritage - the Marble Mountains landscape complex.
From a deep assessment of the values of the ‘Ma Nhai’ system at the Marble Mountains, researchers and heritage managers have proposed solutions in conservation work, serving as a basis for the cultural sector as well as local authorities to propose solutions, policies and projects to better promote the values of the Marble Mountains in general and the ‘Ma Nhai’ system in particular.
The ‘Ma nhai' (Inscriptions) system at the Marble Mountains site consists of 78 documents in Chinese and Nom characters (Sino-Nom) carved on cliffs and caves, with variety in content and literary genres, created by the kings and mandarins of Nguyen Dynasty, venerable monks and intellectuals, dating from the first half of the 17th century to the 20th century. This is a unique and irreplaceable documentary heritage, getting the attention of Vietnamese and foreign researchers by its multi-faceted values in history, religion, geography, literature, language, culture and education. ‘Ma Nhai’ (Inscriptions) at the Marble Mountains was officially recognised as a documentary heritage under the UNESCO Memory of the World for the Asia-Pacific Region Programme in 2022.
Reporting by Doan Hao Luong - Translating by M.Dung
