The Cultural Significance of the Complex of Hue Monuments: A World Heritage Gem | Chapter 7 | Engineering Research: Perspectives on Recent Advances Vol. 7

The ancient capital city of Hue, located in central Vietnam, served as the base of the Nguyen Dynasty (1802-1945). It is home to the Complex of Hue Monuments, which was designated as the first UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site in Vietnam in December 1993, recognised for its outstanding universal value and safeguarded for the benefit of humanity. Since then, it has become a significant cultural representative of Vietnam.

 

This paper provides an overview of the Complex of Hue Monuments, which includes the Citadel, the Imperial City, the Emperor’s Mausoleums, the Imperial Esplanade, Arenas, Pagodas, Temples, Shrines, and the surrounding natural environment. However, the site suffered significant damage during the Indochina War in the latter half of the 20th century from 1947-1975. As a result, UNESCO initiated a safeguarding campaign, leading to a series of conservation and restoration activities supported by international partners since the late 1980s. In addition, this study proposes supplementing the existing conceptual framework by introducing an intermediary notion between conservation, inheritance, and utilisation. This aims to provide a clearer roadmap for recognising the value of cultural heritage, offering a conceptual guide for conservation and contributing to the development of Vietnam. Architectural heritage conservation is not limited to the preservation of material structures alone. It also encompasses the safeguarding of all elements connected to their existence—tangible and intangible—and strives for the potential revitalisation of such heritage for the benefit of humanity. In this context, the restoration and reconstruction of significant architectural heritage sites within the Complex of Hue Monuments—especially those of outstanding universal value that have been lost, such as Can Chanh Dien Palace (to be discussed in a subsequent study)—is not only feasible but also imperative.

 

Author(s) Details

An Vinh Le
Faculty of Civil Engineering, Industrial University of Ho Chi Minh City, 71408, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

 

Please see the book here:- https://doi.org/10.9734/bpi/erpra/v7/5555

Decoding the Site Planning of Emperor Minh Mang’s Mausoleum Nguyen Dynasty (1802-1945), Vietnam: Architectural Ideals and Feng Shui Principles | Chapter 4 | Engineering Research: Perspectives on Recent Advances Vol. 7

This paper presents initial findings on the study of the Complex of Hue Monuments by analysing the site planning principles of Emperor Minh Mang’s Mausoleum, constructed during the Nguyen Dynasty (1802–1945) in Vietnam. The research is based on reliable historical documents from the Nguyen Dynasty, along with database sources provided by Waseda University and the Hue Monuments Conservation Center. It investigates the history of the mausoleum’s construction and restoration, the planning principles applied, and the role of Feng Shui (geomantic) concepts in its design.

Throughout this study, key design ideas and site planning principles have been identified, including symmetry, the orderly progression of grid axes, and the systematic deployment of construction units. These findings offer an effective framework for understanding the distinctive architectural features and site planning of Emperor Minh Mang’s Mausoleum.

 

Author (s) Details

An Vinh Le
Faculty of Civil Engineering, Industrial University of Ho Chi Minh City, 71408, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

 

 

Please see the book here:- https://doi.org/10.9734/bpi/erpra/v7/5523

Indigenous Fundamental Layouts of the Hue Ancient Capital City during Nguyen Dynasty (1802-1945), Vietnam | Chapter 11 | Science and Technology: Developments and Applications Vol. 9

This study aims to analyze the layering of various layouts of the Capital City throughout its history and explain how it evolved from its foundational layouts to the acculturated layouts that emerged at the beginning of the 19th century and persist today. Furthermore, this study will establish a foundation for further research on the principles of acculturation in urbanization, offering guidelines for the preservation, inheritance, and utilization of the Ancient Capital City of Hue, while also guiding future tourism development in Hue City specifically and in Vietnam more broadly. The study examines the historic-eco capital city of Hue during the Nguyen dynasty (1802-1945), where the Complex of Hue Monuments, the world cultural heritage site, is located. Based on historical documents, previous studies, field surveys, and comparative observations among historic urban cities in Vietnam and other East and Southeast Asian countries, this study concludes that the urban morphology of ancient capital cities follows indigenous layouts.

 

These indigenous fundamental layouts were shaped by natural elements, specifically the "Giang-Son" (River and Mountain) and the complex Water Quadrangles and Lakes system, which supported rice-field irrigation, waterway transportation, and natural ecosystems. These layouts are inherited from the natural resources of the emirate of Champa, which existed in the Hue area before the 14th century. These natural elements are still recognizable and have been continuously inherited through various Vietnamese feudal dynasties, from the period of the Nguyen Lords (1558-1777) of the Kingdom of Cochin-China to the Tay Son dynasty (1778-1802) and finally to the Nguyen dynasty (1802-1945). The coincidence of characteristics in the ancient capital city of Hue is not merely a chance occurrence; it suggests that the city was established based on the indigenous fundamental layouts of an urban morphology that existed in these areas previously, likely during the period of the Champa emirates from around the 5th to the 10th centuries.

 

 

Author (s) Details

An Vinh Le
Faculty of Civil Engineering, Industrial University of Ho Chi Minh City, 71408, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

 

Please see the book here:- https://doi.org/10.9734/bpi/stda/v9/4137

Analyzing Design Principles of Floor Plan of Hue Imperial Palaces, Vietnam | Chapter 2 | Engineering Research: Perspectives on Recent Advances Vol. 5

The Complex of Hue Monuments (abbreviated as the Monuments), the first UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site in Vietnam (UNESCO), is well-known for its wealth of scientific materials for research. This paper begins by providing a general introduction to the construction history and architectural typology of the Hue Imperial Palaces (abbreviated as the Imperial Palaces), a key component of the Monuments. These include the existing heritage buildings located within the Hue Citadel and the Emperor Mausoleums of the Nguyen dynasty (1802–1945).

 

Next, this paper examines the floor plan design methods of the Imperial Palaces, with particular focus on the Twin-Ridge Beam Buildings (abbreviated as Twin Buildings), which are unique in ancient Asia. The name of this building type is derived from its characteristic design, which consists of two or three buildings connected and placed on the same platform. This construction style represents the highest level of architectural achievement during the Nguyen dynasty.

 

Drawing mainly from historical documents of the Nguyen dynasty, surveys of remaining heritage Twin Buildings, dimensional analysis, investigations into traditional design methods, and interviews with master carpenters, the proportions of the floor plans were analyzed and the primary architectural design methods used were re-determined. Through this study, the units of measurement, parametric factors, design principles, and design processes for the floor plans of Twin Buildings have been clearly defined.

 

In addition, this study provides a comprehensive understanding of the principles behind the floor plan design of the Twin Buildings in Hue imperial architecture. It also offers valuable guidance for the precise restoration and reconstruction of the Monuments. Moreover, the findings published in this paper serve as a valuable reference for researchers, graduate students, and architecture students, contributing to academic education and scientific research.

 

Author (s) Details

 

An Vinh Le
Faculty of Civil Engineering, Industrial University of Ho Chi Minh City, 71408, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

 

Please see the book here:- https://doi.org/10.9734/bpi/erpra/v5/3713