Discovering the Splendors of Hue Royal Antiquities Museum – Where Precious Artifacts Are Preserved

Established in 1923, the Hue Royal Antiquities Museum, formerly known as Musée Khải Định, now under the supervision of the Hue Imperial Capital Heritage Conservation Center headquartered at Long An Palace, stands as the earliest museum in Hue.

Exploring the Treasures of Hue Royal Antiquities Museum – Where Precious Artifacts Are Preserved

The museum was once the library of Quoc Tu Giam School and also the headquarters of the Huế Ancient City Loving Association, a gathering place for scholars researching Hue and Vietnam at the beginning of the 20th century.

The museum covers a total area of ​​6,330 square meters, including the main exhibition building with an area of ​​1,185 square meters and several auxiliary facilities: treasure storage, gardens, etc.

Formerly, the museum underwent several name changes: Hue Antiquities Gallery (1947), Hue Museum (1958), Antiquities Exhibition House (1979), Hue Antiquities Museum (1992), Hue Royal Art Museum (1995), and finally the Hue Royal Antiquities Museum as it is known today.

The main highlight of the museum is its central exhibition hall, formerly the historic Long An Palace, dating back to 1845 under the reign of King Thiệu Trị. The entire structural system of the exhibition hall is crafted from ironwood with 128 columns.

The columns are adorned with intricate carvings of mythical creatures and over 1000 Han script poems. The beam-end brackets are exquisitely carved with scenes of dragons or phoenixes, considered among the most beautiful in the Hue citadel.

The structure features a symmetrical double building with a unique snail-shaped roof architecture and blue stone tile adornments. The staircase system leading to the platform is also made of blue stone with finely crafted dragon motifs.

Notably, the Hue Royal Antiquities Museum houses a collection of matchlock guns produced in the Netherlands since the 17th century, either for trade or as gifts from the Dutch East India Company to the Trịnh lords in Đàng Ngoài. The presence of these guns enriches the museum's collection of matchlock guns from the Hue citadel.

Remarkably, the entire structure remains unpainted, preserving its original wooden state. This highlights the artistic value of wood carving and inlaying, further enhancing the value of the architectural structure.

Overall, the structure is truly an architectural masterpiece, with the most prominent feature being the fusion of architecture and decorative art through wood carving. The Long An Palace itself is considered the largest exhibit, a priceless artifact in terms of history and art.

The interior of the structure combines various decorative elements with painting techniques and materials such as embossing, inlaying with pearl and bone, ivory, and rosewood, adorning the compartments under the roof and the partition walls at the entrance.

Despite undergoing many ups and downs, changes in location and name over a long period of time, the Hue Royal Antiquities Museum (Long An Palace) fortunately still exists. The structure is considered the most beautiful palace architecture in the complex of Hue Citadel monuments.

Visitors to the museum can also admire numerous rare artifacts such as royal seals, royal palanquins, dragon beds, royal robes, queen's attire, queen mother's dresses, ebony cabinets, tea cabinets, calligraphy paintings, royal court documents, ceramics, silverware, bronzeware, and blue enamelware, some dating back hundreds of years.

There are also exquisite handicrafts made by skilled artisans under the orders of the court or as royal offerings. They are not mass-produced items, but each one is unique and precious, hence their rarity and uniqueness.

The museum also displays two Nguyen dynasty artifacts, namely the most prestigious civil mandarin hat and the diplomatic robe from the late 19th to early 20th century, closely associated with the Nguyen dynasty court life, possessing significant cultural and historical value.

The artifacts on display at the museum provide visitors with an overall view of the imperial life in Hue in the past, reflecting the turbulent periods of history and Hue's cultural exchange during times of great change.

The Hue Royal Antiquities Museum has become a captivating destination for sightseeing and exploration while visiting Hue. Therefore, book your Hue tour with Mytour to discover the museum at the earliest convenience with fantastic deals for our valued customers!

As recommended by Mytour

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References: Travel Guide by Mytour