Đông Kinh under the Lê dynasty
In 1428, after gaining independence, Lê Thái Tổ chose Thăng Long
(the capital of the Lý and Trần dynasties) to be the capital of Đại Việt
and in 1430 he renamed it Đông Kinh.
Đông Kinh in the Lê dynasty was solidly built with high walls and deep
ditches around, and strictly separated between ramparts. The Imperial
city of Thăng Long consisted of the Imperial Citadel - the second
rampart inside the Imperial city, which was a working residence of
the Royal Court, The Forbidden city, the innermost rampart which
was located in the Imperial Citadel.
In the Forbidden city king Lê Thái Tổ gave an order for the
construction of a complex of new palaces, including Kính Thiên,
Vạn Thọ, Cần Chính and Tả Hữu. Kính Thiên palace was the central
palace, located in the middle of the Forbidden city. Under Lê Thánh
Tông’s reign, the Imperial Citadel was expanded on a very large
scale. Especially for the first time in history, king Lê Thánh Tông
ordered the drawing of a map of the entire Đại Việt territory called
the Hồng Đức map. The Hồng Đức map also consists of the Thăng
Long map which was completed in 1490.
Map of Thăng Long (Đông Kinh) under
Hồng Đức period, 1490
The remains at the archaeological area at 18 Hoàng Diệu
street
The remains at the archaeological area at 18 Hoàng Diệu
street.
The remains at the archaeological area at 18 Hoàng Diệu
street
A dragon-shaped, golden-enamel,
terracotta tile, the Early Lê dynasty,
15th century
The remains at the archaeological area at 18 Hoàng Diệu
street
A dragon-shaped, green enamel tile, the
Early Lê dynasty, 15th century
The remains at the archaeological area at 18 Hoàng Diệu
street
Terracotta pipe tiles decorated with dragon
pattern, the Early Lê dynasty, 15th century
The remains of a well in the Lê dynasty
The remains of a well in the Lê dynasty discovered in
the Central Sector of the Imperial Citadel of Thăng
Long - Hà Nội, 15th - 16th century
The remains of a well in the Lê dynasty
Terracotta dragon-head sculpture decorated on
the corner of the palace roof, the Early Lê dynasty,
15th century
The remains of a well in the Lê dynasty
Terracotta dragon-head sculpture decorated on
the corner of the palace roof, the Lê dynasty,
15th -17th centuries
The remains of a well in the Lê dynasty
Terracotta box brick decorated with dragon pattern,
the Early Lê dynasty, 15th - 16th centuries
Remnants and artifacts of the Lê Dynasty
The remains of a wooden boat of the Lê
dynasty discovered in the Central Sector
of the Imperial Citadel of Thăng Long,
15th - 18th century
Remnants and artifacts of the Lê Dynasty
The bowl with the word 長樂 (Trường Lạc), in the
Early Lê dynasty, discovered at the Imperial Citadel
of Thăng Long - Hà Nội
Remnants and artifacts of the Lê Dynasty
Artifacts of the Early Lê dynasty
discovered at the Imperial
Citadel of Thăng Long - Hà Nội
Artifacts of the Lê Dynasty
The collection of white enamel bowls and plates
decorated with five-clawed dragon pattern, the Early
Lê dynasty, 15th - 16th centuries
Artifacts of the Lê Dynasty
The collection of white enamel bowls and plates
decorated with five-clawed dragon pattern, the Early
Lê dynasty, 15th - 16th centuries
Artifacts of the Lê Dynasty
The collection of white enamel bowls and plates
decorated with five-clawed dragon pattern, the Early
Lê dynasty, 15th - 16th centuries
Artifacts of the Lê Dynasty
White enamel bowl and plate with the word 長樂
(Trường Lạc) the Early Lê dynasty, 15th - 16th centuries
Artifacts of the Lê Dynasty
White enamel plate decorated with blue flower pattern,
the Early Lê dynasty, 15th - 16th centuries
Artifacts of the Lê Dynasty
White enamel vase, the Early Lê dynasty,
15th century
Two white enamel bowls,
decorated with dragon pattern, the Early Lê dynasty, 15th century
Two white enamel bowls,
decorated with dragon pattern,
the Early Lê dynasty, 15th century.
Two white enamel bowls,
decorated with dragon pattern, the Early Lê dynasty, 15th century
The two ceramic bowls are very thin, like eggshells. The bowls are so
clear that light can travel through them. They are decorated with two
dragons flying in the clouds forming a circle on the side in a clockwise
direction; In the middle of the bowls is an embossed letter 官 (Quan).
The bowls are the most exquisite and high-class ceramic product used
by the Court of the Early Lê dynasty, and they were discovered in the
Imperial Citadel of Thăng Long - Hà Nội.
They were recognized as National Treasures by the Prime Minister of the
Socialist Republic of Vietnam on December 25, 2021
The Imperial Citadel of Thăng Long - Hà Nội
Two white enamel bowls,
decorated with dragon pattern, the Early Lê dynasty, 15th century
Two white enamel bowls,
decorated with dragon pattern,
the Early Lê dynasty, 15th century
The foundation of Kính Thiên palace
The foundation of Kính Thiên palace
The foundation of Kính Thiên palace
The most important part of Kính Thiên palace that
has existed until now is the foundation and stone
steps with 2 stone dragons carved on the
staircases. On December 31, 2020, the Prime
Minister of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam
recognized the steps of Kính Thiên palace as the
National Treasure.
The foundation of Kính Thiên palace
Kính Thiên palace was constructed in 1428 on the site of Càn Nguyên
palace at the beginning of Lý dynasty (11th - 13th centuries), later
renamed Thiên An palace. The Trần dynasty (13th - 14th centuries) still
kept the name, Thiên An palace. During the Early Lê dynasty (15th - 16th
centuries), Kính Thiên palace was once considered "one of the best
strutures of Annam architecture".
In terms of Feng Shui, Kính Thiên palace is located in Nùng mountain
or Long Đỗ - Navel of Dragon in the center of the Imperial Citadel. Its
location is where the energy of the universe converges; therefore, the
main palaces of the successive dynasties were built here.
Đoan Môn gate
Đoan Môn gate
Đoan Môn gate
Đoan Môn - the Southern gate, is the main entrance to the
Forbidden city, where Kính Thiên palace and other palaces
are located. The Đoan Môn gate, which still exists today,
was built by the Lê dynasty (15th - 18th centuries) and
restored under the Nguyễn dynasty (19th century). In
terms of of Feng Shui, Đoan Môn gate plays an important
role in ceremonial activities held at the Imperial Citadel.
General plan of the Imperial
Citadel of Thăng Long - Hà Nội
1 - 18 Hoàng Diệu
archaeological monuments
2 - Main Northern Gate
3 - Ladies' Pavilion
4 - The foundation of Kính Thiên Palace
5 - Main Gate
6 - Flag Tower
General plan of the Imperial
Citadel of Thăng Long - Hà Nội
1 - 18 Hoàng Diệu
archaeological monuments
General plan of the Imperial
Citadel of Thăng Long - Hà Nội
2 - Main Northern Gate
General plan of the Imperial
Citadel of Thăng Long - Hà Nội
3 - Ladies' Pavilion
General plan of the Imperial
Citadel of Thăng Long - Hà Nội
4 - The foundation of Kính Thiên Palace
General plan of the Imperial
Citadel of Thăng Long - Hà Nội
5 - Main Gate
General plan of the Imperial
Citadel of Thăng Long - Hà Nội
6 - Flag Tower