{"id":3145,"date":"2019-11-23T16:29:38","date_gmt":"2019-11-23T09:29:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hoangthanhthanglong.vn\/en\/?p=3145"},"modified":"2023-05-26T09:52:23","modified_gmt":"2023-05-26T09:52:23","slug":"exhibition-the-citadel-of-ha-noi-glimpses-of-an-epoch","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hoangthanhthanglong.vn\/en\/exhibition-the-citadel-of-ha-noi-glimpses-of-an-epoch\/","title":{"rendered":"Exhibition \u2018The Citadel of H\u00e0 N\u1ed9i \u2013 Glimpses of an epoch"},"content":{"rendered":"

To celebrate the 15th<\/sup> anniversary of the Cultural Heritage Day of Vietnam (23\/11\/2004-23\/11\/2019), the Th\u0103ng Long – H\u00e0 N\u1ed9i Heritage Conservation Centre works with the National Archive Centre 1 affiliated with the Ministry of Home Affairs to organize an exhibition titled \u2018The Citadel of H\u00e0 N\u1ed9i \u2013 Glimpses of an epoch\u201d<\/strong>. This event is part of the cooperation programme between the two organizations.<\/p>\n

\"HanoiCitadel01\"<\/p>\n

The Southeast Gate of H\u00e0 N\u1ed9i Citadel, circa 1888 – 1891(Courtesy: EFEO).<\/em><\/p>\n

The exhibition exploits for the first time the abundance and diversity of the Imperial Archives of the Nguy\u1ec5n Dynasty combined with the French-language documents, including images, maps, sketches of the Th\u0103ng Long-H\u00e0 N\u1ed9i Citadel in order to reflect and portray a vivid and true-to-life picture of the process of construction and alteration to the spatial structure of the Th\u0103ng Long – H\u00e0 N\u1ed9i Citadel under the Nguy\u1ec5n Dynasty and the influence of the French (1802 – 1945). It also reconfirms the values of the Central Sector of the Imperial Citadel of Th\u0103ng Long in terms of architectural art, construction techniques and urban planning.<\/p>\n

Under the Nguy\u1ec5n Dynasty, even though Th\u0103ng Long – H\u00e0 N\u1ed9i Citael no longer served as the nerve-centre of the entire country, it still played an important political role. In 1802, Emperor Gia Long named Th\u0103ng Long Citadel as the capital of the north, overseeing 11 administrative units. The king also retained the name Th\u0103ng Long with Long now meaning \u2018prosperity\u2019 instead of \u2018dragon\u2019.<\/p>\n

In 1804, K\u00ednh Thi\u00ean Palace, the typical and famed structure of the L\u00ea dynasty, became the dwelling palace or xinggong<\/em>, of the Nguy\u1ec5n kings whenever they were on an inspection mission to the North. In many years that followed, the palace underwent continuous repair. In 1841, King Thi\u1ec7u Tr\u1ecb ordered the construction of several other edifices including a five-bay main palace and a rear hall, Th\u1ecb Tri\u1ec1u Hall, C\u1ea7n Ch\u00e1nh Hall and Chu T\u01b0\u1edbc Gate. A system of walls was put up for protection of the xinggong. Towards the 1870s, the xinggong was reflected in fairly great details in writings, photos and old maps drawn by the French and it was considered \u201cone of the masterpieces of An Nam\u2019s architecture\u201d<\/p>\n

N\u0103m 1831 vua Minh M\u1ec7nh \u0111\u00e3 ti\u1ebfn h\u00e0nh c\u1ea3i c\u00e1ch h\u00e0nh ch\u00ednh, chia \u0111\u1eb7t c\u00e1c t\u1ec9nh trong c\u1ea3 n\u01b0\u1edbc, trong \u0111\u00f3 c\u00f3 t\u1ec9nh H\u00e0 N\u1ed9i. Th\u00e0nh Th\u0103ng Long tr\u1edf th\u00e0nh tr\u1ecb s\u1edf c\u1ee7a t\u1ec9nh H\u00e0 N\u1ed9i.<\/p>\n

In 1831 Emperor Minh M\u1ec7nh initiated administrative reforms which established provinces nationwide, including the Province of Hanoi. Th\u0103ng Long Citadel became the seat of power of the province of Hanoi.<\/p>\n

Th\u0103ng Long – H\u00e0 N\u1ed9i Citadel was built by the Nguy\u1ec5n Dynasty in the Vauban style, on the foundation of the former citadel of the L\u00ea Dynasty. This style of citadel originates from France and was adopted in Vietnam towards the end of the 18th<\/sup> century. The citadel was square-shaped, measuring about five kilometers in perimeter. The citadel walls are more than 4 meters high and 16 meters thick, with the lower parts and upper parts built of blue stones and cuboid bricks respectively. The citadel featured five gates facing the north, east, west, southeast and southwest.<\/p>\n

\"HanoiCitadel02\"<\/p>\n

The royal decision in 1841 to appoint<\/em> the titles of Provincial Governor and Provincial Military Commander in preparation for major diplomatic events and reception of the king on his inspection to the citadel in the subsequent year. (Source: National Archives Centre 1\/ Nguy\u1ec5n Dynasty Imperial Archives).<\/em><\/p>\n

Into the second half of the 19th<\/sup> century, given the complicated regional and global contexts, the Nguy\u1ec5n Ruling House had to confront the imminent invasion by the French. After conquering Cochinchina, between 1873 – 1882, French colonizers twice attacked the Citadel of Hanoi in order to conquer Hanoi as well as Tonkin at large, taking control of the Red River which is conducive to trade with China. The Harmand Treaty (1883) signed between the Nguy\u1ec5n Dynasty and France was the result of such a wicked plot.<\/p>\n

The Citadel of Hanoi during this period of 1883 \u2013 1897 was subject to severe intervention from the French army. In the early years of its conquest of the citadel, the French army made use of the old edifices and built new military camps and barracks inside the citadel, turning the whole complex into its command post. However, on 28 July 1893, the Hanoi Town Hall, established in 1888, proposed the demolition of the citadel walls and half of the western corner of the citadel in order to build a new Western-styled street area. The plan to demote and demolish the Hanoi Citadel was completed in 1897.<\/p>\n

From 1897 to 1945 and prior to the French army\u2019s withdrawal from Hanoi in 1954, the Citadel of Hanoi served as the grand headquarters of the French army in Indochina.<\/p>\n

The Citadel of Hanoi today is the remaining part of the central axis of the Vauban citadel in the past, including the Flag Tower (K\u1ef3 \u0110\u00e0i), South Gate (\u0110oan M\u00f4n), K\u00ednh Thi\u00ean Palace Foundation, Ladies\u2019 Pavilion (H\u1eadu L\u00e2u) and North Gate. Together with the archaeological vestiges that have been discovered in the 18 Ho\u00e0ng Di\u1ec7u Site, it was inscribed on UNESCO List of World Cultural Heritage in 2010.<\/p>\n

Exhibition \u2018The Citadel of H\u00e0 N\u1ed9i \u2013 Glimpses of an epoch\u2019 has two themes:<\/p>\n