Hue - Minh Mang Tomb / Mausoleum 順化 明命陵

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Vietnam had been ruled by China for centuries.  Its religion (Buddhism, Confucianism), culture (literate scholars, poetry), military, politics, etc., are heavily influenced by China. The first emperor of the last Nguyen dynasty built the Imperial City in Hue by following the architectural style of the Forbidden City in China. The second emperor, Minh Mang, started the fashion of building funeral complex with strong reference to Chinese royal tombs. There are 7 tombs / funeral complexes in Hue. 3 are very popular and restored nicely: Minh Mang, Tuc Duc and Khai Dinh.


Minh Mang Mausoleum is huge. Its area is 44 acre and surrounded by a 1,750-meter-long wall. Within is a fabulous balance of architecture and nature.


Minh Mang Tomb Complex contains about 40 constructions which are arranged on the main axis in the middle and along the both sides of Trung Minh Lake.It aligns the emperor's seeking-balance approach, ruling his subjects with a firm but fair grip, but rejecting overtures from foreign nations.



The main constructions of the ritual and burial areas are arranged on the main axis (holy axis), including:
  1. Dai Hong Gate (the main gate)
  2. Stele House (with an inscription praising the Emperor’s merits)
  3. Bai Dinh (the Salutation Court)
  4. Sung An Temple (the place where Minh Mang and his queen is worshipped)
  5. Minh Lau Pavilion (for emperor to enjoy fresh air)
  6. Buu Thanh and Huyen Cung (the place where the emperor is laid to rest)

Mandarins, elephants and lions line the two sides of the courtyard once entering the main gate. They accompany and protect the emperor in the other world.

Next major structure is the Stele House where a big stone inscription tells the emperor's contributions and the construction of the tomb complex.


Going straight to the end of the the Salutation Court is a colourful gate, Hien Duc Gate 顯德門 roughly translates as Show Virtue Gate.



Next prominent structure is the Sung An Temple where the king and queen are worshipped.


Then the Hoang Trach Gate leads to the Minh Lau (Bright Pavilion). It is placed on top of three terraces representing heaven, earth and water. The pavilion is in a square form with two storeys and eight roofs. The Minh Lau Pavilion radiates a remarkable, mystical atmosphere and features an anthology of selected poems of Vietnam’s early 19th century. On both sides of Minh Lau, two obelisks stand on the hills. In the back of Minh Lau are two flower gardens designed as the character “Longevity”.




Another stone bridge crosses the crescent-shaped Lake of the New Moon (Tan Nguyet), bridging the path to a huge staircase with sinuous dragon banisters. The staircase leads to a circular wall enclosing the sepulcher. A locked bronze door bars access to the emperor’s burial site, Buu Thanh and Huyen Cung.


Buu Thanh is a round wall that protects the emperor’s tall. The wall is 285 meters long, and three meters high. The gate of the burial area was opened once a year on the occasion of the Emperor’s death anniversary. Huyen Cung is an underground palace with the Emperor’s corpse was placed.  When Minh Mang passed away, his coffin was brought to the palace through an underground channel that was then closed permanently.






https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lf7bGf2OEGs



Hue panorama at night

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hue_%26_la_rivi%C3%A8re_des_parfums.jpg
Location: QL49, Hương Thọ, Hương Trà, Thừa Thiên Huế, Vietnam

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