Introduction

Đông Kinh (Thăng Long - Đông Đô) and Lam Kinh (Lam Sơn) are two important places associated with the Lam Sơn uprising and the establishment of the Lê sơ dynasty in the history of Việt Nam.

Lam Sơn - Lam Kinh, the hometown of hero Lê Lợi, is where the Lam Sơn uprising was sparked off. This is the gathering place of heroes who participated in the uprising led by Lê Lợi (1418). Đông Đô - Đông Kinh (Đông Quan) was where the key battles of Lam Sơn army took place. The fact that the Ming army was besieged forced Vương Thông (the Ming General) to ask for peace and to withdraw his soldiers to their country (1427). Lam Sơn uprising ended in a victory.

Following the victory of Lam Sơn uprising and the Lý and Trần dynasties, king Lê Thái Tổ chose Thăng Long - Đông Đô to be the capital of Đại Việt (1428) and in 1430 he renamed it Đông Kinh.

Lam Sơn was renamed Lam Kinh where architectural works and tombs were built for the burial and worship of Emperors and Empress Dowagers of the Early Lê dynasty. The first kings of the Early Lê dynasty ordered the construction of many palaces here. Twice a year, the King and the Royal Families would come here as a way of expressing their respects to their ancestors.

To celebrate the 595th anniversary of the victory of the Lam Sơn uprising, the Thăng Long - Hà Nội Heritage Conservation Center and the Management Board of Lam Kinh Historical Relic jointly organize the exhibition “Đông Kinh - Lam Kinh under the Lê dynasty” which aims to give a general introduction about the role and relationship between the capital Đông Kinh (Thăng Long - Đông Đô) and Lam Kinh (Lam Sơn) under the Lê dynasty.

Lam Kinh Special National relic

Lam Kinh palace is located in front of Dầu mountain (also known as Lam Sơn mountain), on the left stands Bạch Hổ mountain while on the right stands Thanh Long mountain (or Miềng mountains). To the front, in the Southwest is Mục Sơn mountain. In the Southeast is Chủ mountain. The Chu river (or Lương Giang river) flows in front of Lam Kinh area creating a bright line that surrounds the entire area. The above-mentioned factors together with people have created favorable conditions for Lam Kinh to become a land of geniuses, a complex of historical and cultural relics associated with the environmental ecology of the national special-use forest, an ancient sacred space, a key tourist attraction of Thanh Hoá province and the whole country. Based on the unique and outstanding values of the relic site, on September 27, 2012, the Prime Minister signed Decision No.1419/QĐ - TTg recognizing Lam Kinh historical and architectural relic as a Special National relic.

Currently, many structures have been studied for restoration, including Lam Kinh palace and imperial temples, which have contributed to the revival of the old Lam Kinh complex.

Lam Kinh Special National relic

Lam Kinh Special National relic

Lam Kinh Special National relic

Map of Lam Kinh historical site

The World Cultural Heritage: The Central Sector of the Imperial Citadel of Thăng Long - Hà Nội

In 2010, on the occasion of a special ceremony to mark the 1000 years since the establishment of Thăng Long - Hà Nội, The Central Sector of the Imperial Citadel of Thăng Long - Hà Nội was recognized by UNESCO as a world cultural heritage.

The Central Sector of the Imperial Citadel of Thăng Long - Hà Nội has globally dominant values. For more than 1000 years, this place has been where the human values and artistic values including sculpture, architecture, construction, urban planning and landscape architecture converge. This is the most important part of the Imperial Citadel of Thăng Long - Đông Đô - Đông Kinh, the capital of Đại Việt nation under the Lý dynasty (1009 - 1225), Trần dynasty (1226 - 1400), Early Lê dynasty (1428 - 1527), Mạc dynasty (1527 - 1592), Lê Trung hưng (1593 - 1789) and Hà Nội citadel under the Nguyễn dynasty (19th century).

A system of structures on the ground and the foundations of palaces or multistoried buildings and items that were found in a great number from the ground of Central Sector of the Imperial Citadel of Thăng Long - Hà Nội reveal a rich and colourful history of a nearly 1000 year-old Imperial City, which is a witness to the development of Vietnamese civilization as a monarchy in Southeast Asia and East Asia.

The World Cultural Heritage: The Central Sector of the Imperial Citadel of Thăng Long - Hà Nội

The Imperial Citadel of Thăng Long - Hà Nội

The World Cultural Heritage: The Central Sector of the Imperial Citadel of Thăng Long - Hà Nội

Overall perspective of The Central Sector of the Imperial Citadel of Thăng Long - Hà Nội (view from the South).

Historic events

January 2, 1418, Lê Lợi proclaimed himself king (or Bình Định vương) and led an uprising in Lam Sơn.

Historic events

December 17, 1427, The last squads of the Ming invaders withdrew from Đông Quan citadel (Đông Đô). Lam Sơn uprising ended in a victory. April 15, 1428, King Lê Lợi came to the throne in Đông Đô Citadel and chose Thuận Thiên as his reign name. He also ordered to restore the old national name - Đại Việt.

1430, King Lê Thái Tổ renamed the Imperial cities, from Đông Đô to Đông Kinh and Tây Đô to Tây Kinh.

1433, King Lê Thái Tổ passed away and was buried in Vĩnh Lăng, Lam Kinh (Lam Sơn). King Lê Thái Tông had the palace built at Lam Kinh and since then Lam Kinh became the area for Imperial tombs of the Lê sơ dynasty. Every year in the spring and autumn, Kings and the Royal families paid a visit to this place expressing their gratitude to ancestors.

1448, King Lê Nhân Tông gave an order for High-Ranking Mandarin Lê Khả and the Department of Bách tác (Craft Workshop) to rebuild the Lam Kinh temple. Afer its completion, the temple was protected by the Court.

1456, During a ceremony in Lam Kinh, king Lê Nhân Tông named the main palaces Quang Đức, Sùng Hiếu and Diên Khánh.

1533 - 1789, Lam Kinh palace, for many times, underwent repairs and expansion.

Lam Kinh under the Lê dynasty

Lam Sơn - Lam Kinh is the sacred land of geniuses where the national hero, Lê Lợi was born. This is also where the Lam Sơn uprising against the Ming invaders broke out and also where the valuable cultural heritage of the Lê dynasty has been preserved.

After coming to the throne (in 1428), to honor his homeland, in November 1429, the king returned to Tây Đô to pay respects to his ancestors. In June 1430, Lê Thái Tổ renamed Đông Đô to Đông Kinh and Tây Đô to Tây Kinh. During this time, Lam Sơn was renamed Lam Kinh, and the land was a part of Tây Kinh.

On August 22, 1433, Great Ancestor, Cao Hoàng Đế passed away in Thăng Long citadel, and was brought back to be buried in Lam Kinh. Since then, this land became the area for the construction of Kings’ tombs, also the RIP place of the Kings and Queen Mothers of the Lê dynasty. At the same time, architectural structures began to be built on the homeland of the Lê dynasty.

Under the reign of the Lê dynasty (16th - 18th centuries), the palaces and temples at Lam Kinh were repaired many times. In particular, the Lam Kinh palace was rebuilt. The new palace was larger, and its foundation was raised

The Vow Gathering in Lũng Nhai

The Vow Gathering in Lũng Nhai

In the spring of February 1416, in Lũng Nhai, Lê Lợi and 18 heroes made offerings and blood to announce to heaven, earth and the sacred souls of mountains and rivers. The announcement reads as follows:
“We, Lê Lợi and 18 heroes including Lê Lai and Trương Chiến. We come from different regions, but we are sworn brothers. And we vow that no matter what happens we will always be together like brothers living in the same family... We will join hands to protect the locality so that the villagers can live in peace, we vow to live and die together, as well as not to break our vows”.

The Vow Gathering in Lũng Nhai

Chu river and Mục mountain seen from above

The temple of Trung Túc vương Lê Lai

The temple of Trung Túc vương Lê Lai at Lam Kinh relic. This is the memorial to the hero Lê Lai who risked his life to save king Lê Lợi when the Lam Sơn army was besieged by the Ming invaders and fell into the great danger.

The temple of Trung Túc vương Lê Lai

Painting of king Lê Lợi who handed over a robe to Lê Lai

The temple of Trung Túc vương Lê Lai

Gong performance during a festival held at Trung Túc vương Lê Lai temple

Vĩnh Lăng stone stele

Vĩnh Lăng stone stele

Vĩnh Lăng stone stele at Lam Kinh relic. The inscription which was composed by Nguyễn Trãi records the life, career and merits of king Lê Thái Tổ. At the same time, the inscription also shows the effective struggle strategy of Lam Sơn army during the ten-year arduous resistance against the Ming invaders.
In 2013, Vĩnh Lăng stone stele was recognized as the National Treasure by the Prime Minister.

Vĩnh Lăng stone stele

The entrance gate at Lam Kinh relic

Vĩnh Lăng stone stele

Painting of king Lê Lợi and the soldiers of Lam Sơn army who returned in glory after their uprising had won a victory

The tomb of Lê Thái Tổ at Lam Kinh relic

The tomb of Lê Thái Tổ at Lam Kinh relic

The tomb of Lê Thái Tổ at Lam Kinh relic

The entrance leading to Dragon Court at Lam Kinh relic

Lam Kinh palace after being restored

Lam Kinh palace after being restored

Lam Kinh palace after being restored

Lam Kinh Special National relic seen from above

Lam Kinh palace after being restored

“The Lam Kinh palace is located in front of mountains, faces a river, and is surrounded by mountains and forests. The imperial tombs of kings Lê Thái Tổ, Lê Thái Tông and Kings and Queens of the Lê dynasty were all built here. Each tomb has a stone stele”.
(Phan Huy Chú)

Lam Kinh palace after being restored

Stone steps in front of Lam Kinh palace

The remains of the Main palace at Lam Kinh

The remains of the Main palace at Lam Kinh

“In 1433, the construction of Lam Kinh palace was carried out. In 1434, king Lê Thái Tông sent Hữu bộc xạ (an official) Lê Nhữ Lãm to Lam Kinh to be responsible for the construction of the Queen Mother palace. That year, the Lam Kinh palace was burned. In September 1448, king Lê Nhân Tông gave an order for his High-Ranking Mandarin Lê Khả and the Department of Bách tác (Craft Workshop) to rebuild the Lam Kinh temple. Less than a year later, in February of this year, in 1449, the completion of construction was reported to the Court. In 1456, during a ceremony in Lam Kinh, king Lê Nhân Tông named the main palaces Quang Đức, Sùng Hiếu and - Diên Khánh - the Rear palace”.

The remains of the Main palace at Lam Kinh

Bordered foundation and Eastern steps of Lam Kinh palace

The remains of the temple at Lam Kinh relic

The remains of the temple at Lam Kinh relic

White enamel bowl decorated with dragon pattern, the Early Lê dynasty, 15th - 16th centuries ©Khu Di tích lịch sử Lam Kinh/ Lam Kinh Historic Site

The remains of the temple at Lam Kinh relic

White enamel vases decorated with flowers, the Lê dynasty, 15th - 17th centuries ©Khu Di tích lịch sử Lam Kinh/ Lam Kinh Historic Site

The remains of the temple at Lam Kinh relic

The remains of the Lam Kinh palace-the main palace

The tomb of king Lê Hiến Tông at Lam Kinh relic

The tomb of king Lê Hiến Tông at Lam Kinh relic

The tomb of king Lê Hiến Tông at Lam Kinh relic

The Bạch bridge at Lam Kinh relic site

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

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

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