Northern Vietnam11^th-14^th Centuries Bricks, Tiles And Roof Decoration Materials

The period of the Li, Chen and Hu dynasty from the11thto the14thcenturiesdeveloped as the peak of the Vietnamese feudal society. The contributions of thisperiod expressed in many aspects, including architecture and decorative art ofthe building. Today, many wooden structures of buildings have not existedbecause of many reasons in history. In the process of research of ancientarchitecture, along with research of platform and plinth ruins, it should base ontypes of stone, pottery, porcelain and other building materials. In this period, theeffects of decoration of architecture materials had promoted, especially thedecoration on roof of buildings which not only displayed the power of royal butalso expressed the Buddhism factors.Vietnamese architecture from the11thto14thcenturies mainly includeswooden structures, which were destroyed easily due to many different reasons.Therefore, during the process of excavation, only the foundations could bediscovered; studies of architectural structures on the ground and types ofdecorations were limited. It is even more difficult to find architectural landscape,human traces, and social activities related to these kinds of architecture. Hence,with their various advantages such as stable materials, plentiful types and specialpatterns, etc., bricks, tiles and roof decorations materials have aroused theinterest of many different sciences such as archaeology, architecture, history aswell as many fine art and religion researchers.The principle objective of this dissertation is to research completely andsystemthatically about bricks and tiles as well as roof decorations materials fromthe11to14thcenturies in Northern Vietnam. This dissertation also attempts tostudy at its base types, way of using and discussion bricks, tiles and roofdecoration materials source of art and culture from the11thto14thcenturies inNorthern Vietnam.In order to achieve these objectives, the dissertations focus on the followingcontents:1. On the aspect of artifacts, the dissertation not only collects andsystematically revises the items of bricks, tiles and roof decorations materialsonce published in documents but also have contact with the real artifacts kept inlocal museums as well as those recently excavated in Vietnam. Thus, reading thedissertation, people could have thorough information on bricks, tiles and roofdecorations materials in the North of Vietnam from the11thto14thcenturies.2. On the aspect of distribution, the dissertation classifies studies ofarchaeological vestige. Thanks to this, similarities in typology and regionaldifferences of bricks, tiles and roof decorations materials are revealed.3. On the aspect of typology, the dissertation analyzes types, patterns andepigraphy on bricks, tiles and decorations on roofs to understand about theirorigins and values.Based on these above fundamental and comparative studies, the dissertationhas some following academic knowledge:1. At Architectural vestige under the divided know, bricks, tiles and roof decorations materials is concentrated in the seven areas of Northern Vietnam:Shenglong capital, Foji mountain, Kunshan mountain, Anzi mountain, Honghedelta, The middle and upper reaches of the Honghe, Ma river and Lam river.Among of them, Thanglong capital is the longest time, the most abundant typeand highest level of regions.2. At Architectural nature under consider revising know, bricks, tiles and roofdecorations materials are mainly found in the Royal or religious architecturalvestige, site of civilians are rare.3. By means of typical research, it can be seen that typehs of bricks, tiles androof decorations materials did not change much from the11tto the14thcenturieswhile quality and patterns of decorations of bricks and tiles had experiencedcertain changes. The biggest type change was the replacement of curved androutnd tiles (板�'瓦) in the11thto the13thcenturies by lotus shaped tiles in the13hand14thcenturies.4. Research roof decorations materials know, Li Chen Hu period attachimportance to the roof decorative role. Therefore, the roof decorations materialsforms change, decorative layout of dense, roof corner fly Alice, makes thebuilding an elegant show interesting. Mature and beautiful decorative carving isthe roof of Vietnam development at heyday to one of5. From researching types of bricks and tiles Sino inscriptions, it can be seenthat bricks, tiles and roof decorations materials came from2sources: localproduction and state production.6. Seen from comparative research process, it is obvious that there wereboth exogenous and indigenous factors. Apart from architectural factors borrowedfrom Tang and Song dynasties such as: chiwei (鸱尾), guiwa (鬼瓦), curved andround tiles, eaves tiles, decoration patterns of dragon, phoenix, chrysanthemum,and lotus, etc. There were also architectural factors which were influenced fromChampa such as: decorations of Buddha leaf, instruments music, dancers, detailsof dragon and phoenix decorations, etc. It can be concluded that bricks, tiles androof decorations materials from the11thto the14thcenturies have uniquecharacteristics: the pivotal use of red color, the appearance of some new artifactssuch as flattened tiles, decorations of Buddha leaf, types of dragon and phoenixdecorations.All of these changes resulted from3main reasons: ecological features of themonsoon tropical region, the demand of political management of the Easternfeudal state, aesthetic conception as well as religious thoughts of indigenouspeople.