MapEmbed SkyDoorMobile versionFacebook pageFeedbackEntries
Khai Dinh (Khải Định) mausoleum - Diversification in art of architecture.
Khai Dinh (in his reign from 1916 - 1925) is the
12th King of Nguyen (Nguyễn) dynasty, was in throne at the age of 31.
Khai Dinh alias Nguyen Phuc Buu Dao (Nguyễn Phúc Bửu Đảo) is the only
son of King Dong Khanh (Đồng Khánh). As soon as King Duy Tan had been
sent into exile in Africa, Buu Dao was enthroned under his pseudonym of
Khai Dinh. As soon as he was in power, he found himself be fond of
building palaces, edifices, mausoleums for himself and his royal family
such as: Kien Trung (Kiến Trung) palace, An Dinh (An Định) palace,
Truong An (Trường An) gate, Hien Nhon (Hiển Nhơn) gate, Chuong Duc
(Chương Đức) gate. Especially, it was Ứng Mausoleum (mausoleum of Khai
Dinh) which was started on September 4th 1920 on versant of Chau Chu
(Châu Chữ) (also known Châu Ê), 10 kms from Huế. This mausoleum was
only completed after 11 years.
 |
| Three-door gate of the mausoleum |
Khai
Dinh mausoleum (Ứng lăng) belongs to Thuy Bang (Thủy Bằng) commune,
Huong Thuy (Hương Thủy) district, Thua Thien Hue (Thừa Thiên Huế)
province. Khai Dinh mausoleum is much smaller than other mausoleums of
predecessors (only 117m x 48.5m). However, it was painstakingly built
and took a lot of time to be completed. It is overall rectangle-shapes
of 127 steps expressing the desire of independence of Khai Dinh.
 |
| Imperial Court Kowtowing-ground |
Thien
Dinhh (Thiên Định) palace is at the highest position of the mausoleum.
This work consists of 5 parts in series: both sides are Tả (the left)
and Hữu (the right); Truc Phong (Trực Phòng) is for guardians of the
mausoleum; at the front is the palace Khai Thanh (Khải Thành) - where
there is an altar with Khai Dinh's portrait; right in the middle is a
stupa consisting of a semi-statue of King Khai Dinh with his tomb
beneath; deep inside is an ancestral tablet of the late King. Entire
interiors of these three middle palaces of Thien Dinh palace are all
decorated with embossments joined by glasses and porcelains.
 | |
| Interior of Khai Dinh mausoleum is in red lacquer trimmed with gold |
The entire decoration inside Thien Dinh palace not only reflects cultural, artistic values but also raises matters of awareness, ideologies of this work and desire of the King. Apart from decorations taken from Confucian classic reference and imperial palace's life, there has Taoist decoration, and particularly the word "Wan" (Vạn) - a symbol of Buddhism heaped up with green glass.
Khai Dinh mausoleum is a work of artistic and architectural values. It diversifies community of mausoleums in Hue.
Collection (Center of ancient Hue preservation)
Post to FacebookPost to Twitter
Related Entries Khai Dinh Tomb
| Khai Dinh (Khải Định) mausoleum - Diversification in art of architecture. |
