Antiquities - National Heritage: The Unique Treasures of the Nguyen Dynasty

Throughout its centuries of existence, the Nguyen Dynasty has left behind a vast and unique collection of artifacts and heritage for posterity.

To date, 14 artifacts/groups of artifacts from the Nguyen Dynasty have been recognized as National Treasures. This clearly reflects the level of technical skill, artistic thinking, as well as the vision and aspirations for a unified and sustainable nation.

"The invincible and divine general"

Within that treasure trove, the Hue Imperial Citadel – a UNESCO World Heritage Site – is a space that concentrates many representative artifacts. Every year, it welcomes millions of domestic and international tourists who come to visit and learn about the history and culture of the ancient capital.

From Nguyen Hoang Wharf on Le Duan Street in Hue City, visitors can walk across Cua Ngan Bridge to enter the Hue Imperial Citadel area. Cua Ngan, also known as The Nhan Gate, was originally a private passageway for the king and royal family. Whenever the king entered or left the palace, the court would order soldiers to block the road in front, preventing commoners from passing through, hence the name Cua Ngan (meaning "blocking gate").

Right next to the Gate of the Imperial Palace is the exhibition area of ​​the Nine Divine Cannons – a national treasure recognized in 2012. These are nine large bronze cannons cast in 1803, during the reign of Emperor Gia Long, housed in two buildings facing each other in Ngo Mon Square. The Nine Divine Cannons are of similar size and shape, each approximately 5.15 meters long and weighing over 10 tons.

Each cannon's breech is inscribed with a name and number from 1 to 9, representing the Four Seasons and the Five Elements. The four cannons on the left are named Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter; the five on the right are named Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water. The cannon's body is engraved with Chinese characters describing the use of gunpowder, firing methods, and the names of those involved in casting the cannons.

In 1816, King Gia Long bestowed the title "Invincible Divine General" upon all nine of these cannons, signifying their special status in the court's defense and ceremonial system. Initially, the Nine Divine Cannons were placed on either side of the Ngo Mon Gate. In 1917, the cannons were moved to their current location.

The Nine Dynastic Urns are placed in Hien Lam Pavilion, in front of The Mieu Temple. (Photo: Nguyen Le)

The Nine Tripods - a unique "encyclopedia"

Besides the Nine Divine Cannons, the national treasures of the Nguyen Dynasty also include the Ngo Mon Bell, gold seals, imperial artifacts, etc. Among them, one of the most impressive treasures is the Nine Tripods - a masterpiece showcasing the art and thought of the Nguyen Dynasty.

The Nine Bronze Tripods were commissioned by Emperor Minh Mạng in the winter of 1835 and completed in 1837. The nine bronze tripods are arranged in a row in front of Hiển Lâm Các, opposite Thế Miếu in the Huế Imperial Citadel. Their names are: Cao Đỉnh, Nhân Đỉnh, Chương Đỉnh, Anh Đỉnh, Nghị Đỉnh, Thuần Đỉnh, Tuyên Đỉnh, Dụ Đỉnh, and Huyền Đỉnh – corresponding to the posthumous titles of the Nguyễn dynasty emperors.

In this arrangement, Cao Dinh – symbolizing King Gia Long, the founder of the Nguyen Dynasty – is placed in the center and protrudes about 3 meters forward, signifying special reverence. Nhan Dinh faces the altar of King Minh Mang, while the remaining peaks are associated with successive kings.

In an edict to the cabinet, Emperor Minh Mạng affirmed: "This bronze cauldron is a symbol of legitimacy, of the convergence of divine will, and a national treasure passed down through generations." This idea shows that the Nine Cauldrons are not only works of art but also symbols of profound political and cultural significance.

On October 1, 2012, the Nine Tripods were recognized as a National Treasure. Then, on May 8, 2024, 162 relief images cast on the Nine Tripods were inscribed by UNESCO as a World Documentary Heritage site in the Asia-Pacific region.

The nine bronze tripods feature 162 embossed images; each tripod has 18 images, divided into three tiers, reflecting various themes: the universe, mythical creatures, birds and animals, plants, mountains and rivers, products, seaports, weapons, etc. This is considered a bronze "encyclopedia" of a unified Vietnam in the early 19th century.

Notably, images of Vietnam's seas are depicted on the three largest peaks – Cao Dinh, Nhan Dinh, and Chuong Dinh – symbolizing the first three kings of the Nguyen dynasty. This shows that the Nguyen court had early recognized the importance of maritime sovereignty within the overall national territory.

With its profound artistic, historical, and ideological value, the Nine Dynastic Urns are considered the "Great Vietnam Unified Chronicle in bronze," transcending the boundaries of a national treasure to become a heritage of humanity.

According to Dr. Phan Thanh Hai, Director of the Department of Culture and Sports of Hue City, the Nine Dynastic Urns symbolize success, longevity, wealth, and national unity, and are treasures passed down by the Nguyen dynasty to future generations.

The Khiem Cung stele, inscribed at the tomb of Emperor Tu Duc. Photo: Van Hau

A rare confession from an emperor.

Another impressive artifact of the Nguyen Dynasty is the Khiem Cung stele, recognized as a National Treasure in 2015. This stele is inscribed with a text composed by Emperor Tu Duc himself in 1871, located at Khiem Lang - the resting place of this emperor in Thuy Xuan ward, Hue City.

Khiem Cung stele is rectangular in shape, massive in size, and the heaviest among the stone steles in the Nguyen Dynasty emperor's mausoleum. The top of the stele is carved with a dragon and cloud motif in relief, and the four ear-shaped steles are decorated with dragon figures. Both sides of the stele have similar decorative styles but different inscriptions...

Unlike the usual practice where the steles at the tombs of Nguyen emperors were written by the successor emperor to praise the merits of the previous dynasty, the Khiem Cung inscription is the only stele written by Emperor Tu Duc himself. With 4,935 Chinese characters, it is the stele with the largest number of inscriptions in Vietnam.

In this stele, Emperor Tự Đức frankly speaks about his frail health from childhood, his helplessness in the face of changing times, his pain at the nation's peril, and his aspirations when choosing the location of his tomb in relation to the Nam Giao altar, Linh Mụ Pagoda, Xương Lăng, and Văn Miếu. All of this reveals the complex and troubled personality of a king who reigned during a turbulent period.

"Oh!... Even my talent and skill as a general have faded by more than half; how many can restore my father's last instructions about guarding the border to help me escape from the cycle of sin…" - the anguish of Emperor Tu Duc is recorded in the Khiem Cung inscription.

The heartfelt thoughts and feelings about the country, as well as his personal affairs, were personally inscribed on the Khiem Cung stele by Emperor Tu Duc. This is what gives this stele its special value, unmatched by any other stele of the Nguyen dynasty emperors.

Source: https://nld.com.vn/co-vat-di-san-quoc-gia-dac-sac-bao-vat-nha-nguyen-196260104192742768.htm