Imperial City of Huế

Imperial City

UNESCO World Heritage Site
Merdian gate, the main entrance into imperial palace Meridian Gate (Huế) as viewed from the flag monument
Location	Huế, Vietnam
Part of	"Citadel of Huế, including Imperial City, Purple Forbidden City, Royal Canal, Museum of Huế, National University, Lake of the Serene Heart" part of Complex of Huế Monuments
Reference	678-001
Inscription	1993 (17th Session)
Area	159.71 ha
Buffer zone	71.93 ha
Coordinates	16°28′11″N 107°34′40″E
Location of Imperial City of Huế in Vietnam

The Imperial City (Vietnamese: Hoàng thành; chữ Hán: 皇城) is a walled enclosure within the citadel (Kinh thành; chữ Hán: 京城) of the city of Huế, the former imperial capital of Vietnam during the Nguyễn dynasty. It contains the palaces that housed the imperial family, as well as shrines, gardens, and villas for mandarins. Constructed in 1803 under Emperor Gia Long as a new capital, it mostly served a ceremonial function during the French colonial period. After the end of the monarchy in 1945, it suffered heavy damage and neglect during the Indochina Wars through the 1980s. The Imperial City was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993 as part of The Complex of Huế Monuments and is undergoing restoration.

History

Silk painting depicting Huế imperial court

Nguyễn dynasty

See also: Nguyễn dynasty

In June 1802, after more than a century of division and the defeat of the Tây Sơn dynasty, Nguyễn Ánh ascended the throne of a unified Vietnam and proclaimed himself Emperor Gia Long. With a nation now stretching from the Red River Delta to the Mekong Delta, Emperor Gia Long moved the capital from the northern Thăng Long (current Hanoi) to Huế, the ancestral seat of the Nguyễn lords. Gia Long looked to "Confucianism and Chinese models of statecraft" as the best modes of authority, and with this ideology, he ordered the construction of a palace complex based on Beijing's Forbidden City in Huế. Geomancers were consulted as to a propitious location site for the new city, and construction began in 1803. Thousands of workers were ordered to build the walled citadel and ringing moat, measuring some 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) long. The original earthwork was later reinforced and faced with brick and stone resulting in 2 m (6 ft 7 in)-thick ramparts.

The citadel was oriented to face the Hương River (Perfume River) to the southeast. This differs from Beijing's Forbidden City, which faces true south. Rather than concentric rings centered on the emperor's palace, the imperial residence itself is offset toward the southeast side of the citadel, nearer the river. A second set of tall walls and a second moat were constructed around this Imperial City, within which many edifices were added in a series of gated courtyards, gardens, pavilions and palaces. The entire complex was the seat of power until the imposition of the French protectorate in the 1880s. Thereafter it existed mostly to carry on symbolic traditions until the Nguyễn dynasty was ousted in 1945, with the Proclamation of Independence of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam. The abdication ceremony of Emperor Bảo Đại took place at the Imperial City on 30 August 1945.

Republican era

See also: History of Vietnam since 1945

In its prime, the Purple Forbidden City had many buildings and hundreds of rooms. Once vacated, it suffered from neglect, termite ravages, and inclement weather including a number of cyclones. Most destructive were man-made crises, as evidenced by the bullet holes still visible from the military conflicts of the 20th century.

Major losses occurred in 1947 when the Việt Minh seized the Citadel in February. The French led counter-attack operations where they laid siege and engaged in a six-week ensuing battle which destroyed many of the major structures. The core of the city, including the Imperial Palace, was burned.

The Citadel came under fire again in the early morning of January 31, 1968. As part of the Tet Offensive, a Division-sized force of the People's Army of Vietnam and Viet Cong soldiers launched a coordinated attack on Huế, seizing most of the city. During the initial phases of the Battle of Huế, due to Huế's religious and cultural status, United States Marines troops were ordered not to bomb or shell the city, for fear of destroying the historic structures; but as casualties mounted in house-to-house fighting, these restrictions were progressively lifted and the fighting caused substantial damage to the Imperial City. Viet Cong troops occupied some portions of the citadel while South Vietnamese troops occupied others; and allied warplanes targeted the anti-aircraft guns the communists had mounted on the citadel's outer towers. Out of 160 buildings, only 10 major sites remain after the battle, such as the Thái Hòa and Cần Thanh temples, Thế Miếu, and Hiển Lâm Các.

The city was made a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1993 as part of the Complex of Huế Monuments. The buildings that remain are being restored and preserved. The latest, and so far largest, restoration project was planned to conclude in 2015.

Layout

Huế Imperial City map, 1909

The grounds of the Imperial City are protected by fortified ramparts 2 by 2 kilometres (1.2 by 1.2 mi), and ringed by a moat. The water in the moat is routed from the Hương River through a series of sluice gates. This enclosure is the citadel (Kinh thành).

Inside the citadel is the Imperial City (Hoàng thành; 皇城), with a perimeter wall some 2.5 kilometres (1.6 mi) in length.

Within the Imperial City is the Purple Forbidden City (Tử cấm thành; 紫禁城), a term identical to the Forbidden City in Beijing. Access to the innermost enclosure was restricted to the imperial family.

Citadel gates

The Citadel have 10 gates include:

• Chính Bắc gate (more familiar as cửa Hậu (Back gate), located at the back of the Citadel).
• Tây-Bắc gate (more familiar as cửa An Hòa (An Hoa gate), named after the village here).
• Chánh Tây gate
• Tây-Nam gate (more familiar as cửa Hữu (Right gate), at the right side of the Citadel).
• Chính Nam gate (more familiar as cửa Nhà Đồ (Nha Do gate), because nearby there is Vo Kho - a warehouse for storing weapons, established during Emperor Gia Long period).
• Quảng Đức gate
• Thể Nhơn gate (more familiar as cửa Ngăn (Blocked gate), because in the past, there was a high wall blocking the emperor's path to the riverbank.).
• Đông-Nam gate (more familiar as cửa Thượng Tứ (Thuong Tu gate) named after the Thuong Tu Institute - the agency that raises and trains the royal and emperor's horses. At the same time, the emperor's cavalry and carriages were stationed. That's why the gate is named like that - "Thuong" (is superior, is what belongs to the emperor), and "Tu" (is a four-wheeled carriage pulled by horses) ).
• Chính Đông gate (more familiar as cửa Đông Ba (Dong Ba gate), name of residential area here ).
• Đông-Bắc gate (more familiar as Cửa Kẻ Trài (Ke Trai gate) )
• In addition, the Citadel also has a gate connecting with Tran Binh Dai (sub-citadel -a bastion in the Northeast corner of the Citadel, also known as Mang Ca citadel), called Tran Binh Mon (Tran Binh gate)
• Two gates by waterway connecting the Citadel with the outside through the Ngu Ha system are Dong Thanh Thuy Quan (east citadel water gate) and Tay Thanh Thuy Quan (west citadel water gate)
• In the middle of the front of the Citadel is a flag tower, called Ky Dai.

Four gates of the Imperial City

Chương Đức Môn (彰德門) (West gate)

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  Gate of Chương Đức- Chương Đức Môn (彰德門) Western gate of imperial palace,only used by female.

Hiển Nhân Môn (顯仁門) (East gate)

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  Hien Nhon Gate, eastern gate only used by male . Female is forbidden to enter through this.

Outer Court (Ngoại Triều,外朝)

Thái Hòa Điện (太和殿, Hall of Thái Hòa)

The throne hall was built in 21/2/1805 and finished in October of the same year. Then, it was rebuilt in 1833 and moved to the current location. This is the most important ceremonial building within imperial palace and used for some special ceremony such as enthronement, Emperor's birthday, foreign diplomacy meeting and court meeting in 1st and 15th day of each month in lunar calendar.

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  Inside Thái Hòa throne hall (太和殿) before 1923
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  Mandarins kowtowing in front of Thái Hòa throne hall (太和殿) in coronation date of Bảo Đại, 1926
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  Mandarins in coronation date of Bảo Đại, 1926
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  Thái Hòa throne hall in early 20th century.
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  The ceiling of Throne hall
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  The Dragon canopy on top of throne built in 1923
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  Imperial throne
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  Thai Hoa Throne hall
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  Reenacting of high rank mandarins

Trường Sanh Cung (長生宮, Trường Sanh palace)

The palace's original role was a royal garden, where the Nguyen Dynasty Emperors invited their mothers to visit and enjoy the scenery. Later, the palace was converted into living palace for a number of Empress Mothers and Grand Empress Mothers

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  Trường An môn (長安門), Main gate to Trường Sanh palace
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  Trường Sanh palace's main hall
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  Ngũ Đại Đồng đường (五代同堂)- Hall of Ngũ Đại Đồng
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  Thọ Khang điện (壽康殿)- Hall of Thọ Khang
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  Tân Nguyệt Hồ (新月湖)

Diên Thọ Cung (延壽宮, Diên Thọ palace)

The residence of the Empress Mothers or Grand Queen Mothers of the Nguyen Dynasty

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  Thọ Chỉ Môn (壽祉門)- Main gate to Diên Thọ palace
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  Main hall of Diên Thọ palace
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  Inside main residence of Dien Tho palace
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  The lake behind the main hall
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  Emperor Khải Định visit his mother
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  Trường Du Tạ(長偸榭)- Truong Du Pavilion, a resting place of Empress mothers
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  Inside Truong Du Pavilion
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  Khương Ninh Các - buddhist temple and worshipping place for Empress Mothers
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  Inside Khương Ninh Các
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  Tịnh Minh lâu (静明樓), built as resting place of Emperor Bảo Đại's mother in 1927

Temples and places of worship

Triệu Miếu (肇廟)

Temple worshiping Nguyen Kim- Founder of the Nguyen clan and father of Nguyen Hoang -the first lord of Cochinchine- Đàng Trong (17th–18th centuries). Trieu To Temple was built during the reign of the first emperor of the Nguyen Dynasty, in the 3rd year of Gia Long (1804).

Thái Miếu (太廟)

Temple worshiping Nguyen lords, built in the 3rd year of Emperor Gia Long (1804)

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  Front of Thái Miếu in 1920.
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  Mandarins in front of Thái miếu (太廟) temple in imperial palace

Hưng Miếu (興廟)

Temple worshiping Nguyen Phuc Luan and Nguyen Thi Hoan- parent of the first Emperor Gia Long , built in the 3rd year of Emperor Gia Long (1804)

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  Hưng Miếu Temple

Thế Miếu (世廟)

The temple where the royal court came to worship the deceased emperors. Women in the court (including the queen) were not allowed to attend these ceremonies.

Phụng Tiên Điện (奉先殿, Hall of Phụng Tiên )

The hall was used to worship Emperors and Empresses of the Nguyen Dynasty. Unlike The Miếu temple accessed only by male, this palace allowed female to come inside to worship.

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  Main gate of Hall of Phụng Tiên.
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  Court ladies in front of courtyard of Hall of Phụng Tiên.
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  Inside Phung Tien Hall.

Hiển Lâm Các (顯臨閣, Hien Lam Pavilion)

It is an architectural work located in the Hue urban complex, in the church area, built in 1821 and completed in 1822 under the reign of Emperor Minh Mang, along with The Mieu. Showing the areas located in the worship area in the Hue Imperial Citadel, it is 17 m high and is the tallest structure in the Imperial Citadel. This is considered a monument to remember the achievements of the Nguyen emperors and the great mandarins, generals of the dynasty.

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  Pavilion of Hiển Lâm (Hiển Lâm Các, 顯臨閣)
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  Mandarins in front of Hiển Lâm Pavilion.

Inner Court (Purple Forbidden City)

Đại Cung môn (大宮門)

The great gate to enter Forbidden City with 3 doors, of which the main door is only for the Emperor. Currently, this royal gate has become a ruin due to being burned during the Viet Minh resistance campaign in February 1947 .This building is being restored, expected to be completed in 2028

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  Đại Cung Môn (大宮門) Main gate to emperor's residence.
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  Đại Cung Môn from left side.
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  Imperial guard in front of Đại Cung Môn
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  Colorized image of Đại Cung Môn
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  Mandarin stand in front of Đại Cung Môn.
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  The back of Đại Cung Môn

Tả Vu (左廡, Left hall) & Hữu Vu (右廡, Right hall)

Ta Vu is the building for literary mandarins, while Huu Vu is the building for martial mandarins; This is where mandarins prepare ceremonies before holding and where Thi Đình (Palace exam) and royal banquets are held. Ta Vu and Huu Vu were both built in the 18th year of Emperor Gia Long (1819)

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  Right hall - Hữu Vu (右廡), waiting room of Martial Mandarins before meeting with emperor.
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  Left hall -Tả Vu (左廡), waiting room of Civil Mandarins before meeting with emperor.

Cần Chánh Điện (勤政殿, Hall of Cần Chánh)

It was the working office of emperor, rebuilt in 1827, 1850, 1899) where the emperor held daily court, working, received diplomatic envoys, and held royal and court banquets of the Nguyễn Dynasty. In the palace, in the middle of the main house, the throne is placed. On the columns on both sides are hung mirror paintings showing the beautiful scenery of the capital and maps of the provinces in the country. The palace is also a place to display many treasures of the Nguyen Dynasty such as rare Vietnamese porcelain, golden and jade royal seal of the dynasty. Currently, this palace has become a ruin due to being burned during the Viet Minh resistance campaign in February 1947, this building is being restored, expected to be completed in 4 years from 2024.

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  Eunuchs in front of Cần Chánh hall in 1892
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  Facade of the hall ,1920s.
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  Ceiling of Cần Chánh Hall.
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  Interior of Cần Chánh Hall.
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  Furniture inside the building in Khải Định 's era.
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  Furniture inside the building in Khải Định 's era.
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  Sập, Vietnamese traditional furniture inside the hall.
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  Hall of Cần Chánh in coronation date of Emperor Bảo Đại (1926).

Võ Hiển Điện (武顯殿, Hall of Võ Hiển)

Working place of martial mandarins, next to Right hall (Hữu Vu)

Văn Minh Điện (文明殿, Hall of Văn Minh)

Working place of civil mandarins, next to Left Hall (Tả Vu)

Quang Minh Điện (光明殿, Hall of Quang Minh)

It is located on the right side of Hall of Càn Thành, used as living space of crown prince.

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  Hall of Quang Minh (right) next to Hall of Càn Thành

Càn Thành Điện (乾成殿, Hall of Càn Thành)

This palace is the living and sleeping room of the Emperor. When the Emperor passed away, his coffin would be lied in state here until his funeral. Càn Thành hall was also used to store many treasures such as rare porcelain items as well as Royal Seals made of gold and jade; royal metal books; a casket containing a golden royal genealogy; national history books ; official dispatches, documents; maps. This palace was destroyed during the Viet Minh resistance campaign in February 1947.

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  Mandarins in mourning dress in the funeral of emperor Khải Định ,1925.
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  Interior of Càn Thành Hall .

Khôn Thái Điện(坤泰殿, Hall of Khôn Thái)

This is the main residence of the Empress consort of the Nguyễn Dynasty (demolished in Khai Dinh's era to make space for Kien Trung palace.)

Dưỡng Tâm Viện (養心院)

it is located on the right side of Hall of Khôn Thái, built in 9th year of Gia Long (1810) and used as reading room of emperor at his leisure.

Duyệt Thị đường (閲是堂)

The Imperial theatre was built in 7th year of Ming Mạng (1824-1826) on the ground of former theatre Thanh Phong Đường(青豊堂). It was used to host some special events of imperial courts like emperor's birthday. Tuồng and court music (Nhã nhạc) was performed by here as the favorite of the imperial families.

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  Inside the theatre

Ngự Y viện (御醫院) or Thái y Viện 太醫院)

It was the working place for private doctors of emperor and imperial family members. It was founded in 1802 and finished in 1804. The department was responsible for health care in Imperial palace as well as suggesting diet plan and recording document of medicine and treatment process.

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  The scene of medical treatment for the royal family in Thái Y Viện.

Thượng Thiện sở (尚膳所)

Imperial kitchen resposible for imperial families's meal and medicine preparation.

Đông Các Điện (東閣殿, Hall of Đông Các)

It is also called Thư viện Nội Các(書院内閣, used for working place for First ranked mandarins chosen for Grand Secretariat. Depend on the name of the halls, the mandarin shall received the same title from their working place such as (Đông các điện đại học sĩ,東閣大學士)

Dưỡng Chánh đường (養正堂, hall of Dưỡng Chánh )

the buiding was used as the studying room of princes when they turn 12-13 years old until they reach adulthood (15 years old from Vietnamese law in 19th-20th century), they would be allowed to move out of imperial palace to found their own homes.

Ngự Tiền Văn phòng (御前文房, Office of cabinet)

The French-style building built in 1932 by emperor Bảo Đại, located on right side of Kiến Trung Lâu as working place for cabinet ministers. This is the latest building in Imperial palace.

Lục Viện (六院, Six institution)

These are the residences of the harem of the Nguyễn Dynasty located on the right side of Càn Thành Hall. According to hisotry records, there are 11 institutions totally. Most of them was destroyed in 1947 durring French-Vietnamese war and the rest was demolished by emperor Bảo Đại when he returned to this place in 1949. Those included:

Trinh Minh Điện (貞明殿, Hall of Trinh Minh)

it was built in Gia long 's era (1802-1820) and used as living space of First (Nhất giai Phi,一階妃) and second rank concubines (Nhị giai Phi,二階妃).

Thuận Huy Viện (順徽院)

it was built in Gia Long's era (1802-1820) as residence for concubines from third (Tam giai Tần,三階嬪) and fourth rank (Tứ giai Tần,四階嬪) and fifth (Ngũ giai Tần,五階嬪) rank.<b====Đoan Huy viện (端徽院)====built in 8th year of Ming Mạng (1827) as residence for concubines of Sixth rank (Lục giai Tiệp dư,六階婕妤).

Đoan Trang viện (端莊院)

it was built in 2nd year of Ming Mạng (1821) as residence for concubines from Seventh "(Thất giai Quý nhân,七階貴人), eighth (Bát giai Mỹ nhân,八階美人) and ninth rank (Cửu giai Tài nhân,九階才人).

Đoàn Tường viện (端祥院)

it was built in 3th year of Ming Mạng (1822) as residence for concubines from Seventh "(Thất giai Quý nhân,七階貴人), eighth (Bát giai Mỹ nhân,八階美人) and ninth rank (Cửu giai Tài nhân,九階才人).

Đoan Thuận viện (端順院)

it was built in 3th year of Thiệu Trị (1843) as residence for concubines from Seventh "(Thất giai Quý nhân,七階貴人), eighth (Bát giai Mỹ nhân,八階美人) and ninth rank (Cửu giai Tài nhân,九階才人).

Đoan Hòa viện (端和院)

it was built in 6th year of Thiệu Trị (1846) as residence for concubines from Seventh "(Thất giai Quý nhân,七階貴人), eighth (Bát giai Mỹ nhân,八階美人) and ninth rank (Cửu giai Tài nhân,九階才人).<

Đoan Chính viện (端政院)

it was a residence for concubines from Seventh "(Thất giai Quý nhân,七階貴人), eighth (Bát giai Mỹ nhân,八階美人) and ninth rank (Cửu giai Tài nhân,九階才人).

Lý Thuận viện(裏順院)

it was built in 18th year of Ming Mạng (1837) as residence for concubines of Former Emperor.

Gardens

Thiệu Phương Viên(紹芳園, Royal garden)

It was built in 1828 during the reign of Emperor Minh Mạng

Minh Thận Điện (明慎殿, Hall of Minh Thận )

It was located in the left side of Hall of Càn Thành, built in Gia Long's era (1802-1820) as the part of royal garden demolished by Emperor Thiệu Trị in 1841 to build the new private buddhist temple for emperor namely (Nhật Thành Lâu,日成樓).

Cơ Hạ Viên (幾暇園, Peace Garden)

It was built in 1837 during the reign of Emperor Minh Mạng

Pavilions

Kiến Trung Lâu (建忠樓)

The main residential palace of Emperor and family in 1923 until the end of dynasty

Thái Bình Lâu (太平樓)

Reading room of emperor, built in Khai Dinh's era.

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  Reading room of Emperor, also use for composing poems at here.

Nhật Thành Lâu (日成樓)

It is located in the left side of Hall of Càn Thành, originally ground of the hall of Minh Thận(明慎殿), demolished by Emperor Thiệu Trị in 1841 to build the new private buddhist temple for emperor. It was destroyed in 1947 and again in 1968, and fully rebuilt in 2018.

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  Pavilion of Nhật Thành in 1920s
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  newly built in 2018

Gallery

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  The citadel's plan in the Đại Nam nhất thống chí. The diagram is oriented with south at the top
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  Enthronement of Emperor Bảo Đại in the Imperial City in 1926 with the Emperor's palanquin escorted from Hall of Diligent Governance (Điện Cần Chánh) to the Throne Hall
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  Aerial view of the Imperial City in Hue during the feast in honor of the takeover of Emperor Bảo Đại, 11 September 1932
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  Walls of the Meridian Gate
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  Meridian Gate
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  Tripod cauldrons of the Nguyễn dynasty
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  Gate
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  Pleasure garden in the residence of the imperial queen-mother. Hòn non bộ is installed in the lake

External links

• 5182931945 Imperial City of Huế on OpenStreetMap
• view Citadel 360