travel-Hue urns feature royal artwork under Nguyen kings

In 1802, the ruling elite in Vietnam changed. Nguyen Anh came to the throne and became King Gia Long, the founder of the Nguyen Dynasty, which reigned from Hue until 1945.

During their 143-year rule, the Nguyen kings ordered the construction of a system of citadels, royal palaces, mausoleums, temples and pagodas, as well as houses with gardens to serve as kings' and mandarins' residences in Hue and adjacent areas.

The architectural works stand in harmony with the poetic Huong (Perfume) River and Ngu Binh Mountain - the symbols of the imperial capital of Hue - and many are considered some of the country’s most impressive sights.

Among the particularly praiseworthy ones are the nine dynastic bronze urns, better known as Cuu Dinh, standing in the shadow of Hien Lam Pavilion in front of the Mieu Temple, which was dedicated to 10 of the 13 Nguyen kings.

Vietnam's greatest urns were cast from 1835 to 1837 under the reign of King Minh Mang to symbolise the dynasty’s sovereignty.

The three-legged urns are of the same design but have different sizes and weights. The largest is Cao Urn, measuring 2.5 metres in height and 2,601 kilograms in weight. The smallest, Huyen Urn, is 2.31m tall and weighs 1,935kg.

Each of the urns carries the birth name of one of the kings worshipped in the Mieu Temple. Cao Urn is named after King The To Cao (Gia Long) and Nhan after King Thanh To Nhan (Minh Mang).

Chuong commemorates King Thieu Tri, Anh King Tu Duc, Nghi King Kien Phuc, Tuyen King Dong Khanh and Thuan King Khai Dinh. The last two urns, Du and Huyen, still have to be matched with the names of kings.

The nine urns are placed in line with the disposition of the altars in the Mieu Temple. Cao Urn stands in the centre, alone in the first row. The others are lined up behind it, symmetrically on both sides.

Each urn is engraved with famous landscapes and specialties representing the country’s different parts. There are three rows of pictures. The top row features mountains, forests, animals and fields. The middle row shows images of weapons, such as bows and arrows, swords and canons. The lower row focuses on ships and valuable forestry and sea products.

Many experts say the 162 carvings on the nine urns constitute a real encyclopaedia of the country. For example, if one urn depicts a mountain in the north, the next urn features a river in the south and the next an estuary in the central region.

Besides pictures of wild animals in forests, the urns also carry images of marine creatures. Other motifs include dragons, peacocks, elephants and horses standing together with domestic fowls and rare forest vegetation appearing next to ordinary plants, such as onions, rice, beans and corn.

Each relief is considered an original artwork, attesting to the country’s beauty and the talent of Vietnamese bronze-casting artisans in the 19th century.

The precious cultural heritage is incredibly well-preserved, withstanding harsh weather, and so provides a good chance for visitors to Hue to discover more about the history of the Nguyen Dynasty.