What does preserving the Ancient Capital of Huế signify?

One cannot be engulfed in memories, yet calling upon the celestial emperors to question, 'Why choose to construct the Forbidden City there?'

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1. After defeating the Tây Sơn dynasty, ascending the throne, Nguyễn Ánh adopted the regnal name Gia Long, initiating a dynasty considered one of the most rigorous in Vietnamese feudal history. As the imperial capital, Huế symbolizes the authoritarian state. One notable structure in this ancient city is the Khiêm Tomb, the resting place of Emperor Tự Đức – the successor of Gia Long – covering an area of 12 hectares and associated with a lament: 'Eternal is the eternity/Building the city, bones, trenches, and the people's blood.' The resentment erupted as 3,000 soldiers and artisans, following the rallying cry of the Trưng brothers, attacked the capital in what history remembers as the 'Lamentation of the Lime-Spread Pestle Rebellion,' as the rebels' weapon of choice was the pestle.

Why preserve the Ancient Capital of Huế?

Is it justified to keep the Ancient Capital of Huế, according to the 'Hanoi Drivers Association' logic? Huế deserves to be demolished, to 'erase the image of a decaying feudal regime in the minds of the people' (excerpt from the official letter sent by the Hanoi Transport Association to the city government expressing support for building a bridge over Đàn Xã Tắc). However, in that 'decayed center of power,' just a few decades ago, researchers, conservationists, and the people of Huế suffered when the Nam Giao Esplanade – where the Nguyen dynasty emperors offered prayers to heaven and earth every spring – was destroyed.

2. The past – history is the memory of each individual, each nation. Regardless of whether the past is painful or beautiful, people never try to reject or forget it. Losing memories can only happen to those abnormal and pitiable. As for the famous historian Dương Trung Quốc, known for his wit and elegance, he must be in a state of uncontrollable emotions, expressing extreme anger to utter such bitter words: 'Only fools would suggest demolishing Đàn Xã Tắc to erase remnants of feudalism!'

As one of the ancient communal temples, Đàn Xã Tắc was established to worship the Village Deity (Thần Đất) and the Field Deity (Thần Nông) – the two deities of rice civilization. According to the Hán Việt Dictionary by Đào Duy Anh, 'Xã tắc' means 'Building a nation in the ancient times (...). People needed land for living, so they established a village to worship the earth deity, and they needed rice for sustenance, so they established a field to worship the agricultural deity. Losing the nation means losing the village, so 'Xã tắc' also means the nation.'

Professor Lê Văn Lan explained: Since ancient times, not only for the people but even for the dynasties, the capital of Vietnam and China, Đàn Xã Tắc holds an extremely sacred position. Preserving Đàn Xã Tắc is also preserving the spirit of Xã Tắc. Feudalism is not inherently evil. It is the second form among the economic and social forms of humanity since emerging from primitive societies. That form is an inevitable stage that civilized nations must go through.

In Vietnam, despite ongoing scientific debates, it is generally acknowledged that the feudal system formed and developed from the 10th to the 19th century under colonial rule (from the time of the Ngô dynasty to the Nguyễn dynasty). The economic and social form of feudalism associated with the feudal state completed its historical mission, officially ending on September 2, 1945, but in reality, it lost its role 56 years after Emperor Gia Long ascended the throne when it failed to lead and unify the will of the people to resist foreign invasion. In that century, the feudal dynasties achieved many brilliant peaks: Ngô Quyền opened the era of independence for the nation after 1,000 years under northern domination. The Lý dynasty established the capital Thăng Long. The three victories over the Yuan Mongol Empire were outstanding achievements in human history for the Trần dynasty. The feudal system in Vietnam reached its zenith during the Lê dynasty.

The Nguyễn Dynasty, despite sparking numerous debates, is the dynasty that expanded horizons and unified the nation into its present form today...

Avoid firing rifles into the past!

3. People cannot drown in memories. However, summoning the ancient emperors to question, 'Why choose to build Đàn Xã Tắc there?' is impossible. Therefore, the responsibility falls on the limited vision of the managers and planning experts.

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Source: Travel Guide with Mytour – by Nguyễn Thành Lân – nguoiduatin.vn