“SACH HAY THAY DOI CUOC DOI” (VTV1,VTV2) FEATURES “ANCIENT YAO PAINTINGS”
On December 13, 2025, the VTV program “Sach hay thay doi cuoc doi” (Good Books Change Lives) introduced Ancient Yao Paintings - a publication produced by Truc Lam Handmade, describing it as “a journey that guides readers toward the essence of folk fine arts rich in value and emotional depth.” The book marks a meaningful contribution to promoting reading culture while providing in-depth knowledge on the preservation and study of ethnic cultural heritage. The program featured Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Van Huy (Former Director, Vietnam Museum of Ethnology), Dr. Ban Tuan Nang (Head of the Representative Board of the “Vietnamese Yao People – Connected by Identity” group), Dr. Bui Quoc Linh (Head of the Han–Nom Research Department),Institute for the Preservation and Development of Traditional Culture, designer Mr. Vu Xuan Son, and Ms. Vu Lien (Deputy Director, Truc Lam Handicraft Co., Ltd.), representing the collection’s owner.
According to experts, this is the first time a large-scale, rare collection of Yao ritual paintings has been comprehensively decoded, systematized, and published—covering divine iconography, compositional structure, and inscriptions. The publication clearly illustrates the acculturation of Taoism within the spiritual life of the Yao people in Vietnam, crystallized into a distinctive artistic form. Through rigorous dating, textual and ritual interpretation, and scientific documentation, the book highlights the collection’s historical, academic, and aesthetic significance. It is also recognized as a valuable reference that connects heritage with contemporary audiences, particularly younger generations and the Yao community, fostering cultural awareness and preservation while opening new pathways to transform indigenous knowledge into resources for cultural creativity, education, and sustainable development.
A key highlight is the trilingual presentation: Vietnamese, English, and Chinese—expert-edited by domestic and international scholars to ensure academic accuracy and standards, while conveying the aesthetic value and spiritual-cultural space of the Yao community.
Alongside the standard edition, Truc Lam Handmade released a limited special edition of 131 copies, corresponding to the 131 folk paintings featured. Each copy is individually numbered, underscoring its collectible value. The edition stands out for its meticulous design: a three-dimensional-printed spine featuring the representative Bridge painting, an ivory paper cover with wood lamination, a premium anti-scratch coating, and refined debossing. The Dragon and Tiger motifs on the front and back covers honor aesthetic values while evoking yin–yang, the five elements, and cosmological thought in the Taoist culture.
Crafted with exceptional attention to detail, Ancient Yao Paintings is more than an art book; it is a “miniature heritage,” preserving the cultural essence of the Yao community through traditional lines and colors. The publication “materializes the preservation of collective cultural memory” and is well-suited as a cultural diplomacy gift across regions and internationally.
Truc Lam Handmade hopes the book offers readers—especially younger audiences—a vivid and immersive experience that deepens understanding of cultural heritage at risk of fading in modern life, while honoring and sharing Vietnamese traditional culture with domestic and global audiences.