A Hue artist has made a set of 14 embroidered pictorial poems, written in 14 different languages, becoming a candidate for the Vietnamese Book of Records.

Le Van Kinh, owner of an embroidery shop, Duc Thanh, has completed his illustrated collection, translated into English, French, German, Russian, Italian, Danish, Spanish, Japanese, Chinese and other languages as well.

The pictures illustrate a famous poem composed by a monk named Man Giac Thien Su, who lived in the 11th century, during the Ly and Tran dynasties.

Kinh is currently completing a 15th translation into Khmer, and plans to continue these interpretations into six other languages, focusing on those associated with Buddhist culture.

His other embroidery interpretations will include works from Vietnamese poets and writers. Ho Chi Minh’s Prison Diaries are on the short list, as well as the poems of King Tran Nhan Tong, Han Mac Tu and some Chinese poets as well.

Kinh is 83 years old, and is famous in Hue for his work. He has been presented with the title “Folk Artisan” by UNESCO. He’s also been called a “living treasure” by the same organisation.

Photos of Kinh’s work:

Mr. Kinh at work

Original poem by Man Giac Thien Su

Translated words of Ngo Tat To

Embroidered translation of Tan Da

Korean

Japanese

Chinese

English

German

Russian

French

Embroidery brings out colourful illustrative features of poetry