Born heritage or the creation of heritage in relationship with power: A case study of Imperial Consort Y Lan

Abstract

It is evident that the heritage associated with Imperial Consort Y Lan (1044 - 1117) occupies a significant and enduring position in both the historical and contemporary cultural landscape of Vietnam. Remarkably, this heritage was shaped by the historical figure of Imperial Consort Y Lan herself, emerging within the specific context and through the agency of the people involved. By employing both a historiographical and heritage studies approach, this article analyzes the documentary sources pertaining to the creation and transformation of both tangible and intangible cultural heritages linked to Imperial Consort Y Lan. Through a comparative analysis of these sources in relation to the perspectives of critical heritage studies, and by considering them within the framework of the contemporary context, the article aims to illuminate the theoretical issues surrounding heritability in the creation and practice of heritage in Vietnam