Visiting the Dong Khanh Mausoleum after a long period of closure for restoration.

The Dong Khanh mausoleum was built over two centuries.

The Tomb of Emperor Đồng Khánh is a monument within the Complex of Monuments of the Imperial City of Huế, and also the tomb of the 9th emperor of the Nguyễn dynasty. Located between the tombs of Emperor Thiệu Trị and Emperor Tự Đức, the tomb of Emperor Đồng Khánh is situated in Cư Sĩ village, Dương Xuân district, now Thượng Hai hamlet, Thủy Xuân commune, Huế city. On December 11, 1993, the tomb of Emperor Đồng Khánh was recognized by UNESCO as a World Cultural Heritage site.

Initially, this mausoleum complex consisted only of the Truy Tư Palace, commissioned by King Đồng Khánh and begun by the Ministry of Public Works in February 1888, as a shrine to his father, Kiên Thái Vương. While the construction was still unfinished, the king suddenly fell ill and died. King Thành Thái (1889-1907) succeeded to the throne amidst national difficulties and economic hardship, making it impossible to construct a proper mausoleum for his ancestor Đồng Khánh. He had to rename the Truy Tư Palace to Ngưng Hy Palace to serve as a shrine, while the mausoleum complex remained rudimentary. From then on, the mausoleum complex was given the name Tư Lăng, along with the bestowal of a posthumous title and temple name upon King Đồng Khánh.

In August 1916, King Khai Dinh, having just ascended the throne, ordered the renovation of the temple and the construction of a more complete tomb for his father. The entire tomb complex, from the Bai Dinh and Bi Dinh to the Buu Thanh, was rebuilt during this period, finally completed in July 1917. The Ngung Hy Palace, along with the Left and Right Tung Vien and the Left and Right Tung Tu, continued to be renovated until 1923.

The construction of the Dong Khanh mausoleum spanned two centuries, lasted 35 years, and was completed under the reigns of four different emperors.

The Đồng Khánh mausoleum complex blends ancient and modern architectural styles.

If the Tomb of Tu Duc is in the traditional style,Khai Dinh MausoleumWhile later designs clearly reflected modern Western styles, the Dong Khanh Mausoleum bears the mark of architectural fusion from both eras.

The entire Đồng Khánh mausoleum complex has a layout divided into separate mausoleum and tomb axes, such as Xương Lăng, Khiêm Lăng, Bồi Lăng, An Lăng, etc. During the renovation, King Khải Định had each area built in a distinct style.

Impregnated shaft

Because it was renovated from the foundation of the old traditional architecture, the main hall area of ​​the Dong Khanh mausoleum only expanded and added decorations to the interior and exterior. Most of the structures here still retain the distinctive double-tiered roof and overlapping eaves architecture of the Nguyen dynasty.

The interior of the Ngung Hy Palace is composed of three buildings connected to two side courtyards in the rear garden, creating a large wooden architectural complex. The decoration extensively utilizes the finest lacquer and gold leaf art, making the palace feel less like a shrine and more magnificent and grand, like the main palaces within the Inner Palace. Besides the decorations of the four mythical creatures and four auspicious symbols, the Ngung Hy Palace also contains 24 paintings depicting the "Twenty-Four Stories of Filial Piety," showcasing Khai Dinh's filial devotion to Dong Khanh.

The exterior of the temple complex is highlighted by terracotta bas-reliefs on the eaves, ridges, and gables; along with many folk-themed decorative motifs such as fishermen reaping a bountiful harvest, fighting roosters, music, chess, poetry, and wine, fruits, and animals...

However, the presence of stained glass windows at the entrance to the Front Hall, two paintings depicting the Franco-Prussian War during Napoleon's time, and several other artifacts speak to the influence of Western European culture on the architecture here.

Axis

During the reign of Emperor Thành Thái, the mausoleum's axis could not be properly renovated, so after Emperor Khải Định ascended the throne, he ordered further construction and renovation in this area.

The overall structure of the Dong Khanh mausoleum is not much different from other mausoleums: facing East-Southeast, with Thien Thai Mountain as the foreground; the courtyard features a row of statues of officials and soldiers, a stele, a memorial pavilion, and a protective wall in the traditional style. However, from the architecture and decoration to the building materials, almost everything has been "Westernized": tall, slender statues of officials made of cement and brick replace stone statues, and ardoise tiles replace yellow tiles. In particular, the memorial pavilion (where the stone stele is erected) features a blend of Western Neoclassical architecture and traditional East Asian style.

The combination of Western proportions with traditional construction at the Dong Khanh mausoleum marked the beginning of a harmonious blend of Western and Vietnamese court architecture, characteristic of the later Khai Dinh style.

Additional information

Opening hours: 7:30 AM - 5:30 PM, Monday to Sunday

Ticket price: 50,000 VND/person/adult, free for children aged 7-12.

An synthesis