Gạch chữ Hán thời Lê sơ ở Kinh đô Thăng Long

Tóm tắt

Han-inscribed bricks dating to the Early Lê period, when examined in conjunction with historical sources, provide clear information on their provenance, chronology, production standards, the craftsmen who produced them, and a range of other significant and revealing details. These bricks also constitute an important body of reference material for identifying common characteristics that can be used to classify and date undecorated bricks and without inscription ones from the 15th to the 18th centuries. Previous studies of Han-inscribed bricks from the Early Lê period have primarily focused on the content of the inscriptions, while comparatively little attention has been paid to their fundamental shared characteristics, such as dimensions, fabric, colour, manufacturing techniques, and typological features, which are crucial for classification and chronological attribution of related brick types. This paper synthesises data from approximately 400 Han-inscribed bricks of the Early Lê period recovered from sites within the area of the Thăng Long capital. The research employs methods of data compilation and analysis, combined with comparative study against historical records, in order to investigate the informational content and core characteristics of these inscribed bricks. The analysis is further cross-referenced with stratigraphic evidence from architectural remains at several sites within Thăng Long, as well as with Han-inscribed bricks from sites outside the Thăng Long region, thereby contributing to a more comprehensive understanding of their characteristics and value. The results of the study demonstrate encouraging progress in the classification and more precise dating of bricks, enable an assessment of the historical and archaeological significance of Han inscribed bricks, and contribute to the identification of architectural foundation remains, as well as to a deeper understanding of the cultural history of Thăng Long during the Early Lê period