The oldest and largest ceiling mural in Vietnam, which is in Dieu De Pagoda in the ancient capital city of Hue city, is in bad condition and needs to be urgently restored.

This painting was recognised as the eldest and largest ceiling painting in Vietnam in March 2008 by the Vietnam Record Book Centre. The painting is named “Long Van Khe Hoi”, created by famous late artisan Phan Van Tanh, who is also the author of ceiling and wall paintings in Thien Dinh palace, King Khai Dinh Mausoleum, among the most valuable artworks of Vietnam.

Long Van Khe Hoi is over 10m in length and nearly 11m in width, featuring five dragons flying in clouds and four dragons bending four big pillars. The painting is based on a legend about the birth of the Buddha. Besides its value in terms of art and history, this painting is very important to the spiritual life of Hue people in particular and Vietnamese people in general.

Part of the painting was destroyed in the war.

However, along with the decline of Dieu De Pagoda, the record painting is being damaged. It is getting mouldy because of rainwater. Part of the painting was destroyed in the war.

VietNamNet/Dan Tri