The sophisticated and skillful royal tomb of Tu Duc

Entries

The sophisticated and skillful royal tomb of Tu Duc

King Tu Duc, whose real name was Nguyen Phuc Thi, is the second prince of King Thieu Tri and Pham Thi Hang (Tu Du queen mother). In 1847, he made the coronation. He was good at poem; unluckily he was smallpox so he couldn't bear. As to be the second prince, his coronation made the disagreement between loyal. Moreover, in 1958, French colonialists attacked Da Nang City and occupied Gia Dinh in 1862. The country's difficulties, the trouble court after 16 year sitting in the king made Tu Duc feel more pessimistic. As the result, he decided to build Tu Duc royal tomb as the second royal palace where he sometimes went to rest.


	The tomb of Tu Duc King

Tu Duc's royal tomb is a group of sophisticated and skillful constructions. In 1864, there were about 6000 workers mobilized to build about 50 large and small constructions including citadel and rampart, palace, royal tombs that covered 12 hectares wide. However, the "inside and outside enemies" combination spending a lager of money made Chay Voi Rebellion of the people that built royal tomb. The Rebellion was pulled down after. Tomb was finished in 1867. At that time, he changed its name from Vạn Nien Co to Khiem Cung and all constructions include the word Khiem in their name. After he died, tomb's name is called Khiem Lang.


	Tombstone has made Thanh Hoa stone

Now, Tu Duc's royal tomb is located in a narrow valley Duong Xuan Thuong Village, Huong Thuy District, Thua Thien Hue Province. From ouside to inside, the tourists have to pass Vu Khiem Mon, go along the Bat Trang brick streest to enter Tu Duc's royal tomb On the left, there is Tinh Khiem lake with Tinh Khiem island is dreamlike where Tu Duc king rest after seeing a sights by boat around the lake. There are Xung Khiem Pavilion and Du Khiem Pavilion on the Tinh Khiem lake where the Emperor used to come to enjoy the flowers, to compose poems, read books...The opposite bank of Tinh Khiem lake that is linked by three bridges, named Tuan Khiem, Tien Khiêm, Do Khiem, there are thick and interminable pine hill and sweet-scented flowers island where have two main centre: sancTuary and tomb.


	Luu Khiem lake

SancTuary is made by wood, including Chi Khiêm Palace on the left is place of worship of king's wife, and three stone perrons to enter Khiem Cung. Inside of Khiem Cung is the king's rest. The centre of Hoa Khiem Temple is the place that king work, now is for worshiping king and queen. On the left and right side, there is Phap Khiem House Le Khiem House for military mandarin and civil mandarin to wait on. Behind Hoa Khiem Palace is Luong Khiem Palace, which was also the Emperor's resting place and was later used to worship of Mrs. Tu Du, mother's Tu Duc King.On the right of Luong Khiem Palace stand On Khiem Palace, where the royal utensils are kept. On the left side of Luong Khiem Palace is Minh Khiem theatre, which is one of the oldest ones in Viet Nam. Then comes to Tri Khiem and Y Khiem, the altar to worship the Emperor's wives. Beside, there are Tung Khiem Institute and Dung Khiem Institute and the deer's garden of the king.


	Hoa Khiem palace

After temple area, there is tomb area. Right behind Bai Dinh area, with the row of military mandarin and civil mandarin is Bi Dinh with stone Thanh Hoa stele, weighted 20 tons. It is inscribed with Khiem Cung narrative, composed by the Emperor himself, writing about his life and imperial cause as well as his misadventures and diseases. Although he has 103 wives but has not son, so he wrote this text to replace « Thanh duc than cong » in stele in other tombs. After the stele, there is the superb column like bright torch with Tieu Khiem lake that has new moon picture used to contain the rain water for king's soul clean his offence. Now, inside Buu Thanh is Huyen Cung, where king's dead body is conserved. From the stone house in Buu Thanh, we have the look of the pine tree scene in the wind.

Source: simplevietnam.com

Post to Facebook Post to Twitter