Published:  17:33 Monday - April 15, 2013

A seminar was held yesterday at the National History Museum as part of an ongoing exhibition about the history of Buddhism in Vietnam and its contribution to Vietnamese cultural identity.

The seminar provided an opportunity for experts and researchers to share their views about Buddhism in Vietnam, its philosophy and the ideas presented by the sculptures, statues and icons.

The exhibition opened in February and will last until August this year.

On show are nearly 200 Buddhist artefacts from the Common Era to the 18th and 19th century Nguyen dynasty.

Visitors can view a wide range of Vietnamese Buddhist treasures including 9th century Buddha heads from ancient Champa, tiles decorated with Buddha images from the 7th-10th centuries, and lotus flower lamps from the Ly dynasty.

Buddhism was introduced to Vietnam very early and was quickly embraced by local people.

It has adapted itself over thousands of years to become an integral part of Vietnamese culture represented by impressive temple architecture and statues, as well as its philosophy, ethics, literature and rituals.

Nhandan