 The central province of Thanh Hoa on May 22 will cast a bronze drum and a sword under traditional rites to present to top-ranking General Vo Nguyen Giap on the 60th anniversary of his brevet and 97th birthday.
Chairman of Thanh Hoa province’s Vietnam Cultural Heritage Branch, Ho Quang Son, said the casting ceremony is organised by the Thanh Hoa Antique Association and the private museum of Hoang Long. The bronze drum and sword will be presented to the general at his house on May 28.
The bronze drum will have a diameter of 60cm (symbolising the 60th year of his brevet) and 48cm height (symbolising 1948, the year late President Ho Chi Minh signed a decree promoting Vo Nguyen Giap to top-ranked general). The drum will be a copy of the most beautiful bronze drum of Thanh Hoa, which was excavated in Quang Xuong in 1934.
The drumhead will have houses-on-stilts, dancing men and chim lac, a legend bird of Vietnam. Its body will have images of the Dien Bien Phu victory and the campaign to liberate Saigon (HCM City). The drum-barrel will feature boats and men, which symbolise the waterway life of the ancient Viet people.
The sword will be 67cm long, including a 19cm hilt and 48cm of blade (also symbolising 1948). The sword blade will have images of soldiers in the wars of resistance against France and America.
The bronze drum and the sword will be cast by traditional method of Dong Son at craftsman Thieu Quang Trung’s establishment.
According to the craftsman, it will take over two months to complete
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