For over half a century, Associate Professor, Doctor, and People's Teacher Hoang Van Khoan dedicated himself to deciphering the material traces of ancient peoples, from metallurgical techniques and ancient coins to architecture, sculpture, and experimental archaeology. Importantly, behind these achievements was a teacher who was always passionate about passing on his knowledge, considering integrity as a principle of scientific work, and maintaining unwavering loyalty to his profession until the end of his life.
, Assoc. Prof. Dr. People's Teacher Hoang Van Khoan. Photo: Provided by the Ministry.
Archaeologists are exploring various avenues of research, from metallurgy to ancient coins.
Metallurgy and metallurgical techniques were the fields that Associate Professor Dr. Hoang Van Khoan pursued from the early years of his career in archaeology. His doctoral dissertation in the Soviet Union studied iron tools from tribes in Southern Siberia.
Upon returning to Vietnam, he applied the knowledge he had acquired to delve deeper into the ancient metallurgical techniques of our country. His works on the Nghi Xuan iron smelting area, iron smelting and ironworking techniques, brass alloys, the Dong Son bronze drum casting techniques, ancient iron production experiments in Nho Lam, and the appearance of cast iron in Vietnam, mainly carried out in the 1970s and 1980s, remain valuable for archaeological research.
In the field of historical archaeology, Co Loa was a site he focused on from an early stage. His work, "Co Loa - The Center of Red River Civilization," which he edited, systematized the evidence from the Pre-Dong Son and Dong Son relics, affirming Co Loa's central role in the formation of the Au Lac state.
Furthermore, his works on Buddhist architecture and sculpture during the Ly and Tran dynasties clearly analyzed the cultural exchanges between Vietnam and India, Vietnam and Champa, and Vietnam and China. He directly imparted this knowledge to generations of students through practical field trips to Thang Long Imperial Citadel, Ho Dynasty Citadel , Lam Kinh, Phat Tich Pagoda, Tay Phuong Pagoda, and Phat Diem Stone Church.
Another notable contribution of Associate Professor Dr. Hoang Van Khoan is in the field of numismatics. After many years of research at museums and private collections, in 2010 he published "Handbook of Ancient Metal Coins of Vietnam, China, Japan , and France Circulating in Vietnam from the beginning of the Common Era to 1975." This work has become a fundamental reference tool for museum and numismatic researchers, and also laid the groundwork for expanding into the history of feudal commerce.
In particular, he was one of the leading scientists in experimental archaeology in Vietnam. By recasting the bronze plowshare from Co Loa and directly testing it on various types of soil in Dong Xuat village, he provided scientific evidence to accurately determine the function of this artifact, resolving the long-standing debate about whether it was a plowshare or a hoe. He also restored the craft of weaving patterned pottery of the Dong Dau culture.
The teacher treats the students as "Gods," prioritizing integrity above all else.
Associate Professor, Doctor, and People's Teacher Hoang Van Khoan was born in 1935 in Ha Tinh province. From a young age, he studied Chinese and French. During his school years, he worked as a tutor to earn money for his studies. After being selected to study at the Central University Campus in Nanning, China , he returned to Ha Tinh to teach, and later was sent to study Archaeology at Kharkov State University (formerly the Soviet Union).
In 1974, he successfully defended his doctoral thesis at the Soviet Academy of Sciences, becoming one of the first three PhD graduates of the Department of History, Hanoi University (now the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi).
Having joined the university as a lecturer in 1967, despite holding various administrative positions and experiencing life's ups and downs, he always maintained his passion for teaching.
In the memories of many of his students, Associate Professor Dr. Hoang Van Khoan was an exemplary teacher, wholeheartedly devoted to his students. He truly considered his students as "Gods." His office was always brightly lit, welcoming students to scientific discussions until late at night. Even in his eighties, with a cane for support, he persistently led his students on field surveys or traveled long distances by bus to Laos to guide graduate students in completing their dissertations.
In addition to training many generations of bachelors, masters, and doctoral students in Vietnam, he also made significant contributions to developing curricula and training archaeological human resources for Laos and Cambodia. Even after retirement, he continued to diligently open classes, inviting experts to his home to teach practical Sino-Vietnamese studies to students and himself, believing that studying history requires the ability to read original documents. He didn't stand outside the classroom but learned alongside his students. When the class went on field trips to temples and pagodas to study and reproduce inscriptions, he also participated.
According to Associate Professor Hoang Van Khoan, studying and practicing history requires the ability to read Sino-Vietnamese documents, but these must be Sino-Vietnamese documents that can be used in practical research. This approach to learning clearly reflects his view of the profession: historical knowledge is not only found in books but also in relics, artifacts, inscriptions, and other remaining material traces.
In particular, the ultimate standard he always instilled in his generations of students was "integrity," the core quality of archaeologists and historians.
Associate Professor, Doctor, and People's Teacher Hoang Van Khoan passed away on March 12, 2023, at the age of 89. The works he left behind remain invaluable, preserving memories and continuing to tell stories of the past.
Source: https://khoahocdoisong.vn/pgsts-hoang-van-khoan-nguoi-giai-ma-bi-mat-trong-long-dat-post2149119673.html
