Hue Royal Antiques Museum, which holds royal objects of the Nguyen Dynasty, is reminiscent of a prosperous period of the ancient capital. The structure itself is also of historical value. It was a splendid palace and the most magnificent architectural structure in Hue. However, it has seen hard times.
UPHEAVALS OF AN ARCHITECTURAL MASTERPIECE
The main display room of Hue Royal Antiquities Museum, previously called Long An Palace, was built in regal design. It was a part of the architectural system of Bao Dinh Palace, built in 1845 on the north of Ngu Ha River during King Thieu Tri’s reign. It was a resting place of King Thieu Tri after the Cultivation Festival held every spring in a nearby field. The King also relaxed or entertained at the palace whenever he left the imperial citadel.
In 1847, King Thieu Tri died. Since then, Bao Dinh Palace became a place to worship the king. After the defeat of the royal citadel (1885), and during the reign of King Thanh Thai (1889 -1907) a few structures in Bao Dinh Palace were damaged for various reasons. In 1909, under King Duy Tan, Long An Palace was restored and converted into a library for Quoc Tu Giam School, located outside the imperial citadel. The palace name changed to Tan Tho Vien. Between 1913 -1923 the Hoi Do Thanh Hieu Co group in Hue collected many historical and cultural objects from Thuan Hoa, Phu Xuan and Hue, and they wanted a venue to display those objects. Tan Tho Vien, which was the former Long An Palace, was selected.
On August 24th, 1923, their great efforts paid off and the French resident superior Pierre Pasquier and King Khai Dinh decreed the founding of the museum to be used to display the objects of the group. The function of the museum was “collecting and preserving typical artistic works, which represent the political, social, artistic and ceremonial life of Dai Nam (former Vietnam)”. The structure was named Khai Dinh Musée (Museum). In 1947, when the French returned to invade Hue and regain control of the region, Khai Dinh Musée was renamed as Tang Co Vien. In 1958, in the Republic of Vietnam, it was renamed again as Hue Museum and now it is “Hue Royal Antiquities Museum”.
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Despite the many upheavals and changes over time, Hue Royal Antiquities Museum or Long An Palace remains functional as well as a work of art itself.
It is regarded as one the most beautiful palaces built during the Nguyen Dynasty.
It is double building consisting of a base of 1.1m in height, 35.7x28m in width and pressed with Qing Dynasty’s tiles. Steps to the veranda floor are also made of the Qing’s tiles decorated with dragons. The entire structure is made of wood with 128 iron-wood pillars. The front house features 7 rooms with 8 sets of rafters arranged in the style of “chồng rường giả thủ” (pillars positioned to look like five fingers of a hand). The rafters which are carved with images of dragons, not only prop up the house but are also artistic works. They are considered the most beautiful rafters in all of Hue’s palaces.
The back house consists of 5 rooms with 6 sets of rafters and two double lean-tos on two sides. It features a wooden ceiling and a wooden floor. Four sides of this wooden floor are four 20-meter slabs of wood. The huge roof of the house covers an area of 1,75m2 with three floors, in which two upper floors are double tiled. The roof is covered with images of dragons. The open rooftop level is elaborately decorated with a mosaic of patterns on porcelain tiles.
The interior of the building is designed artistically using different materials and techniques such as those inlaid with pearl, bone or elephant’s tusk, made as tiles, partitions and doors. A special feature of this building is that the whole structure has kept its original interior. The significance of the wooden carvings or inlaying is recognized and respected. Overall, the structure is truly an architectural and artistic work of art defined by its exceptional structural design, style and decoration, where the main material is wood. The structure itself is regarded as the most ancient object and biggest antiquity of the museum.
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PRESERVING A RECORD OF A PROSPEROUS PERIOD OF THE ANCIENT CAPITAL
Hue Royal Antiquities Museum holds the most objects from the Nguyen Dynasty and royal court life in Hue. Although many relics were lost during the wars and political and social changes, the museum now houses over ten thousand precious ancient artifacts in both the main building and in the storeroom. Although most of these valuable antiquities are from Nguyen Dynasty (1802 -1945), some objects are from previous dynasties and Phu Xuan, Hue.
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Curently Hue Royal Antiques Museum is located on Le Truc street, Thuan Thanh ward, Hue. This is an important remnant of Hue’s ancient citadel, recognized as a World Heritage Site in 1993. The relics was also ranked as a national heritage site in 1997. ”
The objects are categorized into 17 collections such as: the porcelains of the Nguyen Dynasty; French porcelains at the end of the 19th century and beginning of the 20th century; royal costumes of the Nguyen Dynasty; metal objects of the Nguyen Dynasty; gold-inlay wooden objects of the Nguyen Dynasty; musical instruments used in ceremonies; gongs, cauldrons and vases of the Nguyen Dynasty; and canons of the Nguyen Dynasty.
Boasting an enormous store of objects of the last feudal regime in Vietnam, Hue Royal Antiquities Museum shines a light on the life of the Nguyen Dynasty during its upheavals as well as its cultural interactions. During a changing period of history, this collection is representative of life in Hue in particular and Vietnam in general.
Most of the antiquities in the museum are art and craft products made by skilled artisans. These were often ordered by royal subjects or foreign parties from China or Europe. Therefore they are very rare and unique. Long An Palace – Hue Royal Antiquities Museum and its objects are a precious heritage.
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Source: Vietnam Travellive
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