The Nine Dynastic Urns

The Nine Dynastic Urns consist of nine copper urns, each with a unique name related to a Nguyen Dynasty emperor(1802-1945). The urns are different in weights and forms, most clearly at the handle and base of the urns.

The Nine Dynastic Urns are all cast in bronze, with 18 vertically carved images on each body, including 17 patterns and a typography with diverse themes spanning rivers, mountains, animals, the universe, and weapons. All 162 images on The Nine Dynastic Urns combine into one panorama of Vietnam territory during the Nguyen Dynasty.

18 images are divided into 3 levels. Each level includes six images interleaved by blanks.

Dragon figure and 'Long' character on Cao Dinh. Dragon is one of nine legend creatures on Nine Dynastic Urns.

'Thiet moc' means ironwood tree, with hard and durable timber wood, often used as columns for temples, pagodas, palaces.

'Da tac thuyen' means sailboats, long-distance sea boats of Western origin.

'Dai bac' is a cannon, main fire weapon in the Nguyen army.

'Canh' is the rice, an agricultural products associated with Vietnamese production since ancient times.

Thien Ton Son’ (Thien Ton Mountain) in Gia Mieu Village of Thanh Hoa was where the Nguyen Dynasty first emerged.

Miet means tortoise, a valuable sea creature, found in many lakes and rivers of Vietnam.

Huyen Dinh weighs 1,935kg, placed on the right of Tuyen Dinh, corresponding to Emperor Duy Tan altar in The Mieu Temple. Emperor Duy Tan is the 5th son of Emperor Thanh Thai.
In 1907, after Emperor Thanh Thai’s abdication, Prince Vinh San was crowned king at the age of 8 with the title Duy Tan. Duy Tan is the youngest Emperor among 13 Nguyen ones. However, he was very dignified by genuine outstanding characteristics of an emperor.

Chuong Dinh weighs 2,099kg, placed on the right of Cao Dinh, corresponding to Emperor Thieu Tri altar in The Mieu Temple. Emperor Thieu Tri is the first son of Emperor Minh Mang.

Anh Dinh weighs 2,576kg, placed on the left of Nhân Dinh, corresponding to Emperor Tu Duc altar in The Mieu Temple. Emperor Tu Duc is the second son of Emperor Thieu Tri. His reign lasted for 36 years until he passed away on July 19th 1883 at the age of 55.

Thuan Dinh weighs 1,952kg, placed on the left of Anh Dinh, corresponding to Emperor Dong Khanh altar in The Mieu Temple. Emperor Dong Khanh is the 1st son of a royal couple Sir Nguyen Phuc Hong Cai and Madam Bui Thi Thanh. In 1865, at the age of 2, he was adopted by Emperor Tu Duc and brought up by Madam Nguyen Thi Cam (a wife of Emperor Tu Duc).
After the munity in 1885, while Emperor Ham Nghi left the throne for Tan So, Hue Court negotiated with the French to crown him with the title Dong Khanh. After 3-year reign, Emperor Dong Khanh got seriously sick and passed away at the age of 25.

Tuyen Dinh weighs 2,068kg, placed on the right of Nghi Dinh, corresponding to Emperor Khai Dinh altar in The Mieu Temple. Emperor Khai Dinh is the 1st son of Emperor Dong Khanh.
At the time Emperor Dong Khanh passed away, Prince Buu Dao was only 4 years old, so he wasn't chosen for throne. Until 1916, after Emperor Duy Tan's banishment to Reunion, Hue Court and French crowned Buu Dao with the title Khai Dinh.
After 10-year reign, Emperor Khai Dinh got a serious illness and passed away at the age of 41.

Nghi Dinh weighs 2,542kg, placed on the right of Chuong Dinh, corresponding to Emperor Kien Phuc altar in The Mieu Temple. Emperor Kien Phuc’s real name is Nguyen Phuc Ung Dang.
He is the 3rd son of a royal couple Sir Nguyen Phuc Hong Cai and Madam Bui Thi Thanh. Ung Dang was born on February 12th 1869. In 1870, at the age of 2, he was adopted by Emperor Tu Duc and was brought up by Madam Nguyen Thi Huong (a wife of Emperor Tu Duc).
After Emperor Hiep Hoa was dethroned in 1883, Ung Dang was crowned king with the title Kien Phuc at the age of 15 years old. Emperor Kien Phuc passed away at the age of 16, after six months on the throne.

Du Dinh weighs 2,020kg, placed on the left of Thuan Dinh, corresponding to Emperor Ham Nghi altar in The Mieu Temple.
Emperor Ham Nghi is the 5th son of a royal coulpe Sir Nguyen Phuc Hong Cai and Madam Phan Thi Nhan.
After Emperor Kien Phuc’s death, he was crowned king with the title Ham Nghi at the age of 14.
Because of the mutiny in 1885, Emperor Ham Nghi and his mandarins left the Citadel for Tan So, delivered Can Vuong proclamation and launched a resistance war against the French colonialists over the country. The French Army asked the emperor to return to the Citadel for many times but they were refused.
In 1888, the Emperor’s servant Truong Quang Ngoc corrupted by French Colonialists presented Emperor Ham Nghi to the French. From then Emperor Ham Nghi was banished from Vietnam to Algerie on January 13th 1889 until his death on January 4th 1943.

Nhan Dinh weighs 2,515kg, placed on the left of Cao Dinh, corresponding to Emperor Minh Mang altar in The Mieu Temple.
Emperor Minh Mang is the forth son of Emperor Gia Long. Emperor Minh Mang was on the throne for 21 years (1820 - 1840).
During his reign, he made many significant reformations. During the Minh Mang time, Vietnam was a strong nation and its territory was considerably larger than ever. Accordingly, in 1838, Emperor Minh Mang renamed our country Dai Nam. Emperor Minh Mang passed away at the age of 50.

Cao Dinh weighs 2,603kg, placed in the central position, corresponding to Emperor Gia Long altar in The Mieu Temple. Cao Dinh was raised 3 meters forward compare to other urns with the intention of honoring the founder of the dynasty.
In 1802, after winning the battle against Tay Son army, Nguyen Phuc Anh came to the throne in Phu Xuan with the title of Gia Long, and officially established the Nguyen dynasty. On March 1804, Emperor Gia Long renamed the country Vietnam.
Emperor Gia Long ruled the country for 18 years (1802-1820). He passed away at the age of 58.

Pavillion of Splendour and Nine Dynastic Urns.