Andrei L. Fedorin
(Institute of Practical Orientalism, Moscow)

Some Experience in Vietnam Epigraphic Database Creation: Quantity Analysis of Space and Time Spread of the State Steles (XV - XVIII centuries)

"State" steles of Vietnam ( i.e. steles created according to the orders of the central authorities) form only 2,4% of all preserved inscriptions on the "eternal" material (totally 145 monuments), so they deserve separate investigation. First of all we should note a very narrow range of inscriptions versions: there are only five of them: Buddhist texts in "fang" language; country rulers and members of their families biographies; carved literature works of the rulers; rulers' deeds descriptions, and lists of the winners of the state examination competitions.