Tu Duc tomb - Hue

Tu Duc Tomb with picky architecture, charming landscapes and is one of the most beautiful tombs of the Nguyen emperors. Conflict is the tomb built in difficult historical period of the country and of the king himself.

Among the Nguyen emperors, King Tu Duc is the most knowledgeable about the Eastern education, especially Confucianism. He is good at history, philosophy, literature, art and especially loves poetry. He has left 600 articles, 4.000 Han poems and about 100 Nom poems. His artistry is also reflected in the architecture of Tu Duc Tomb.


Tu Duc Tomb history

- In 1864, when new starting construction, King Tu Duc named the tomb as Van Nien Co, which means desire to live forever along history. However, due to the construction too hard, many people resentment.

- In 1866, Chay Voi revolt started, but only with rudimentary weapons (lime pounders - a labor instruments), so quickly fail. Then, King Tu Duc rename the tomb as Khiem Cung, and write an apology essay.

- 1873, the tomb was completed.


Tu Duc Tomb architecture

Within the walls of an area about 12 ha wide, nearly 50 large architectural works that are spread in clusters on the various land positions, with difference of nearly 10m elevation. But the paved stairs, and the winding walkway by Bat Trang brick, has connected all the works into a unified whole. And all works have the Khiem word in the name.

- Passing Khiem Cung Mon (two-storey entrance on a higher ground), arrive the palace system consists of several dozen houses, where the king to stay for resting and relax. In the center is Hoa Khiem temple, where worship the king and queen, also preserved many royal items. Specially, this place also has Minh Khiem Duong theatre with valuable characteristic decorative art, and is considered the oldest theater in Vietnam.

- If architecture at Khiem Cung were made of wood, then all works in the tomb area are built of brick and stone. The highlight is the biggest stone stele in Vietnam, with 5m high and 20 tons weighs, and is protected by a large house with big columns and solid thick walls. On the stele is engraved with an essay Khiem Cung Ky of King Tu Duc, a narrative of his life, merit as well as pleaded guilty before history.

- On the hill located across the lake semicircle Tieu Kiem, is Buu Thanh house of brick, in the center has a small stone house, the resting place of the king. Surrounding Buu Thanh is a green pine forest, with a poetic and quiet space. Additionally, the drainage system in the whole mausoleum was also designed, built at a high level and very good circulation.

In general, each architectural work in Tu Duc Tomb carries a different style of visual art, not duplicate and very lively. The way of distributing areas and buildings, is out of the common symmetry way in some other tombs. Tu Duc Tomb also has liberal architectural lines, harmony with nature, evoking aesthetic emotions and reflect the soul of a poet king.