Called Đông Khuyết Đài in Vietnamese, this is the eastern gateway of the Imperial Citadel, the Nguyen dynasty’s imperial capital and residence in Hue.
Tag: Vietnamese culture
Dragons Guard Tu Duc’s Tomb, Hue
The Stele Pavilion, Tu Duc’s Tomb, Hue, Vietnam
A few tree and shrub species shed their leaves in what passes for winter in central Vietnam. This photo was shot in December of 2018, and I like how the barren trees in the foreground set off the Stele Pavilion in the center of the image. Another shot of the stele close up appears in my previous post. This structure is one of the key buildings in the Tu Duc Mausoleum area. There is a massive stone tablet inside, on which the emperor’s biography is written. Although Tu Duc had many wives, he was also childless; a case of smallpox left him impotent. In the event, the biography inscribed on the stele was written by Tu Duc himself and this was considered a bad omen for the dynasty. After Tu Duc’s death in 1883, the Nguyen throne passed to an adopted son.
The Tomb of Emperor Tu Duc, Hue
The season is right, but this photo of a shrine within the mausoleum’s extensive grounds was actually taken four years ago in 2018 – wow, time flies. The compound where the Nguyen dynasty emperor Tu Duc (1848-1883) was laid to rest is one of several imperial mausoleums surrounding Hue, the only one I have visited to date. I took a series of photos that have been sitting in a file directory ever since. Taking a look now.
Hue was the capital city of the Nguyen dynasty, Vietnam’s final dynasty that came to an end in 1945 when Emperor Bao Dai abdicated. The city is a fascinating place featuring cultural, historical and religious sites, great food, an incomprehensible local dialect, and photo opportunities at every turn. More visits to Hue are in order.
Dragon Bridge, Da Nang
Calligraphy, Hoi An
Close Quarters, Saigon
Mazu, the Sea Goddess, Saigon
Mazu is recognized as the Goddess of the Sea by many Chinese people. The origins of this belief can be found in Chinese folklore. Pictured here is the shrine to Mazu in the Ba Thien Hau Pagoda located in the Cholon area of Saigon.
Burning Incense, Cholon, Saigon
Incense burning inside the Ba Thien Hau Pagoda located in Saigon’s Cholon area.
Temple for a Chinese Deity, Saigon
Erected by Chinese from Guangzhou in southern China, and first opened around 1760, the Ba Thien Hau Temple – actually the official name of the site is Ba Thien Hau Pagoda (Chùa Bà Thiên Hậu) – is located in Saigon’s Cholon area. It is a place of worship for Mazu, who is recognized by some Chinese as the Goddess of the Sea.