|
These are the final resting places of the Nguyen kings. There are eight royal tombs in Hue. Construction of each of these tombs were very meticulous and started right during the reign of the king. That is the reason who it is said that the premises of the royal tombs are no longer considered the palace of the deceased but the second royal palace for the king to entertain. Most of the tombs face to the south west direction of the royal city of Hue. Projects built within the premises of each of the tombs consists of two complexes. The first complex is reserved for funeral services and the second one or exclusive for the location of the tomb. Apart from main projects, the premises contain some smaller projects such as lotus lakes, miniature mountains, flower gardens, ornamental post plants, hills covered with pine trees, roofed bridges and temples. These architectural projects are arranged in a way that they look harmonious to the natural surroundings. Generally each of the tombs is enclosed with a surrounding rampart. In other cases, there is no enclosure surrounding the premises of the tombs. However, the arrangement is each tombs is quite different from that of another tombs. This particular arrangement reflected each king's point of view, personalities and tastes.
Tomb of Gia Long: The tomb is situated on top of the Thien Tho lime mountain range on the right bank of the Huong (perfume) river. Construction of the tomb, 16 kilometers from the center of Hue, began in 1814 and was completed in 1820. Located in a vast wilderness covered with broad canopy of old pine trees, the tomb was built with a design characterised by simplicity combined with magnificence. In front of the tomb is a semi-circle lotus lake. Behind the lake is a large terraced yard which is divided into three different levels. The first level is used as the waiting place. On either side of which is a row of stone stature of elephants and horses. The second level is called san te (Praying) where worship services were organised. The last level is called Buu Thanh which houses the remains of the deceased king and that of Thua Thien Cao Hoang Hau. To the left of the tomb is the stele house and to the right side is the big altar.
Tomb of Minh Mang: It is also called Hieu Lang Construction of the tomb commenced is 1840 and finished in 1843. It is situated in an enclosed hilly area of 18 hectares in Cam Khe village, Huong Tra district, 12 kilometers from the center of Hue.
The rampart that encloses the premises id three meters high and 0.5 meter thick. The front wall has three entrance gates. There are about 20 projects within the premises, which are arranged along an imaginary axis. The tomb of Minh Mang has an air of magnificence and formality but its architectural design makes it look harmonious to the natural surrounding.
Tomb of Tu Duc or Tomb of Modesty: The tomb bout seven kilometer from the center of Hue is situated on the Duong Xuan mountain range in Duong Xuan Thuong village on the right bank of the Perfume river. Construction of the tomb in an enclosure of 475 hectares started in 1864 and was completed in 1883.
The tomb is enclosed by a thick wall that runs on a curvy line up and down the hills. Apart from those architectural structures indispensable to a royal tomb there ate several other projects suitable for the king's residency. There are no projects that stand opposite each other as seen at Minh Mang tomb but those projects built within the premises provide a harmonious environment to the natural surrounding.
Tomb of Khai Dinh or Ung Lang: The tomb was built in 12 years from 19620 to 1931. It is located on top of the Chau E mountain range, 10 kilometer from Hue. Unlike the other tomb each of which is the located within a vast expanse of wideness as large as several dozen hectares the tomb of Khai Dinh looks like a magnificent palace that perches on a magnificent palace that perches on a gentle slope of a lime mountain range. It is accessible through a flight of 109 stone steps starting from the foot of the mountain.
Unlike construction materials for the other tombs, the tomb of Khai Dinh was built with modern construction materials such as reinforced concrete and porcelain materials. The peculiar decorating feature of the tomb of Khai Dinh is the magnificent porcelain decoration on the walls, columns, and ceiling. This decoration is a meticulous mixture of both designing schools in the East and the West. |