Khai Dinh Temple

Khai Dinh (Khải Định) is the last temple in the system of 7 temples being built in Hue city. The temple was constructed in as long time as 11 years (1920-1931). However, this is the one which had smallest space and cost the largest number of money and people energy.

General view of Khai Dinh temple

Khai Dinh became King of Vietnam in the age of 31, when Vietnam was totally colonized by the French. That is the reason why Western cultural and artistic features had a strong influence on Vietnam. King Khai Dinh was very keen on building temple. Castle and palace for him self as well as royal family. There are some famous constructions such as Kien Trung (Kiến Trung) palace, An Dinh (An Định) castle, Truong An (Trường An) gate, Hien Nhon (Hiển Nhơn) gate, Chuong Duc (Chương Đức) gate and Ung Lang (Ứng Lăng).

The remains of Indian, Buddhism, Roman and Gothique architectural features on the construction contain the gate poles, stoupa pole, the fend surrounding the construction, the memorial house and the door in Roman style.

King Khai Dinh built the temple on the mountainous area of Chau Chu (Châu Chữ) also known as Chau E (Châu Ê), which is opposite to a small hill. The temple's left side and right side are Chop Vung and Kim Son mountains, in which the former is seen as a green dragon and the latter is seen as a white tiger. Besides, there is a stream called Chau E flowing from the left to the right. The King changed the mountain name to Ung Son, so that the temple's name is also changed to Ung Lang (Ứng Lăng).

The high tower with Hindu architectural feature.

Khai Dinh temple appears to be a European castle because it was made of concrete in the mountainous region. Meanwhile, many of available natural materials such as wood, brick, and stone were not fully used. The iron door, square brick, ac-doa tile, lightning rod (paratonnerre), light system, and stoupa pole are also the foreign features of this construction. Another noticeable thing is the lack of evergreen plants, lakes which make the air seems to be hotter. Moreover, the two sculptures of dragon along with the steps also make the construction more firmed. However, the surrounding mountainous scenery with hills and streams is extremely cool and spectacular.

The front of Thien Dinh palace

Thien Dinh palace, the main part of the temple is the place where its builders put their efforts the most. The inside space of the palace was carefully decorated with ceramic and glass relives. They are, in Vietnamese culture, pictures of the four plants, fir-tree, chrysanthemum, bamboo, apricot, the eight weapons, and the five pleasures of humankind. They are also the pictures of king's crown and tea tray. These pictures are cleverly made so that you can find them beautiful in spite of their rough materials.

Inside part of Thien Dinh palace

The person in charge of these pictures is the artist Phan Van Tanh (Phan Văn Tánh). He is the owners of 3 big paintings named "Cửu long ẩn vân" (Nice dragons hidden in cloud) which are decorated on the ceiling of Thien Dinh palace.

One of the most beautiful paintings in the palace.

In addition, Khai Dinh temple has 2 bronze figures of King Khai Dinh, one with his throne made in Paris in 1920 and the other is an upright made in Hue city by an artist from Quang Nam (Quảng Nam) province. The figures are the most distinctive feature of the temple.

The figure of King Khai Dinh

Although the temple is condemned for some reasons, it is the valuable constructions ever in terms of architect. Hue city has become famous for it as the following poetic parallel sentence goes:

"Tứ diện hiếu kỳ quan, phong cảnh biệt khai vũ trụ.
Ức niên chung vượng khí, giang sơn trường hộ trừ tư."

( Wonders are every where, scenery opens the distinctive world
Time build up the place, the mountain and rivers save forever)

Collected by Thanh Nguyen(Source : Museum center Hue city)
Translated by Cao Duong