World Heritage In Vietnam: Citadel of the Ho Dynasty

The Citadel of the Ho Dynasty (also called Tay Do castle or Tay Giai castle), constructed by the Ho Dynasty (1400-1407) is a citadel in Vietnam. It is situated in Vinh Loc District, Thanh Hoa Province's Tay Giai commune. With a blend of Vietnamese architecture and distinctive building methods from Viet Nam, Southeast Asia, and Eastern Asia, the citadel buildings serve as an exceptional example of a new form of Southeast Asian imperial metropolis. On June 27, 2011, it was added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Overview of Citadel of the Ho Dynasty

The Ho Dynasty citadel, which was constructed in the 14th century in accordance with feng shui principles, is evidence of how neo-Confucianism peaked in late 14th-century Vietnam and then expanded to other regions of east Asia. These guidelines led to its placement in a region of outstanding natural beauty, on an axis connecting the Tuong Son and Don Son mountains in a plain between the Ma and Buoi rivers. The citadel structures serve as a superb illustration of a contemporary imperial city design from Southeast Asia.

Outstanding Universal Value of Citadel of the Ho Dynasty

Brief synthesis

A 5078.5-hectare buffer zone surrounds the 155.5-hectare Citadel of the Ho Dynasty, which was constructed in 1397 and is made up of the Inner Citadel, the La Thanh Outer Wall, and the Nam Giao Altar. In Vinh Loc district, Thanh Hoa province of Vietnam, it is situated in line with geomantic principles in a setting of outstanding scenic beauty between the Ma and Buoi rivers. Large limestone blocks were used to build the Inner Citadel, which is an innovative application of architectural technology and geomantic city planning in an East Asian and South-east Asian setting. In order to depict a vision of royal power based on the acceptance of the Confucian philosophy within a predominantly Buddhist society, it exhibits the employment of architectural components in terms of space management and decoration created for a centralized imperial city. Being the political, economic, and cultural hub of North Central Vietnam from the 16th to the 18th century as well as serving as the capital of Vietnam from 1398 to 1407, it provides exceptional testimony to a pivotal time in Vietnamese and South-east Asian history when traditional kingship and Buddhist values were giving way to new trends in technology, trade, and centralized administration.

The property demonstrates the impact of Chinese Confucianism on a representation of centralized royal authority from the late 14th to early 15th centuries. By applying current geomantic city design ideas in an East Asian and Southeast Asian environment, it makes the most of the natural surroundings and includes distinctively Vietnamese and East and Southeast Asian characteristics in its monuments and landscape. It also represents new developments in architectural style with regard to technology.

Citadel of the Ho Dynasty is a superb illustration of an architectural ensemble in a landscape setting that exemplifies a flowering of pragmatic Neo-Confucianism in late 14th-century Viet Nam, at a time when it was spreading throughout East Asia and becoming a significant philosophical influence on government in the region. This is criterion (iv). The Neo-Confucian state's organizational strength is demonstrated by the use of huge stone blocks, and the Citadel of the Ho Dynasty's layout deviates from the typical Chinese design by shifting the primary axis.

Integrity

The Inner Citadel of the Ho Dynasty, the Nam Giao altar, and a portion of the La Thanh Outer Wall, three of the main elements that best exemplify the Ho Dynasty, guarantee the property's integrity. These components depict the presence of a citadel that has largely held up, with towering stone walls set inside an instantly identifiable environment. Additionally, excavations inside the bounds of the three components have revealed a rich supply of ancient evidence that has been preserved below beneath the current rice and other crops. All cultural features that made up a sizable imperial city in the late 14th and early 15th centuries are included in the buffer zone. These features include religious monuments, customary settlements, common homes, historic roads, markets, landing places, and scenic beauty spots that are a tangible representation of the property's cultural values.

Authenticity

The geo-cultural setting and landscape of the property meet the criteria for authenticity; the layout, architectural design, and building materials of the Inner Citadel's walls, four gates, sections of the moat, section of the La Thanh Outer Wall, and the archaeological remnants of Nam Giao Altar are well preserved. Archaeological digs on the property have uncovered well-preserved buildings from the Ho Dynasty.

Protection and management requirements

The Inner Citadel and Nam Giao Altar were recognized as national treasures by the Democratic Republic of Vietnam's Ministry of Culture in 1962, and they are now protected by the Law on Cultural Heritage of June 29, 2001. The designated portion of the La Thanh Outer Wall is currently receiving the same level of protection. The Law on Environmental Protection of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, number 52/2005/QH11, Chapter 4, Article 31 of 2005, protects the buffer zone. Under the supervision of the Management Board of the Citadel of the Ho Dynasty created by Decision 2264/QD-UBND, the property is directly managed by the People's Committees of the pertinent communes for the specific component sites (30 July 2007).

In November 2010, the property's detailed five-year Management Plan was delivered. Controlling urban development around the Inner Citadel, in Vinh Loc Town specifically along the axis between the Inner Citadel and Mount Don Son, and in the buffer zone generally needs to get special attention in order to protect all view lines along the axes between topographical features, as well as views inside the area enclosed by the line of the outer wall and the Ma and Buoi rivers. The creation of a risk-preparedness and management strategy as well as a plan for involving the community in the preservation and administration of the property require special consideration. Through a training and public-awareness-raising initiative, the local government and the populace are collaborating closely for the preservation and conservation of the property.

Outstanding Impressive Architecture

Citadel of the Ho Dynasty's fortress is a 14th-century architectural masterpiece with stunning walls and interior architecture. All of the main stone pieces are still intact and unaffected by time, weather, or subsequent urban development because of the unusual construction methods used. With a blend of Vietnamese architecture and distinctive building methods from Viet Nam, Southeast Asia, and Eastern Asia, the citadel buildings serve as an exceptional example of a new form of Southeast Asian imperial metropolis.

- Thanh Noi (Inner Citadel), Hao Thanh, La Thanh, and Nam Giao Altar are all part of the Citadel of the Ho Dynasty complex (for worshiping the Heaven).

The major structure of the Citadel of the Ho Dynasty, sometimes referred to as the Imperial Citadel, is Thanh Noi, and it contains the ruins of the royal palaces and temples. Its east and west sides are 883.5 meters long while its north and south sides are around 870.5 meters long. The South, North, West, and East domed gates, also known as the Front, Back, Left, and Right gates, are situated in the middle of each side of Thanh Noi. The most significant Front Gate, which has three entries, is located towards the south.

According to the records, palaces including Hoang Nguyen, Nhan Tho, Phu Cuc, Dong Cung, Dong Thai Mieu, Tay Thai Mieu, and Diem Canh existed in Thanh Noi. A portion of the citadel's wall and four gates, remnants of lakes, a pair of stone dragons with intricate carvings, the Hoa Nhai marble-paved road, stone balls, stone bullets, pottery, the Southern gate precinct, and priceless items with distinctive Tran-Ho dynasty cultural characteristics are among the remnants left in Thanh Noi today.

- The Hao Thanh system is a network of water trenches that surrounds Thanh Noi and is linked to the Buoi River by a canal at the southeast corner of the citadel.

- Residents lived inside the citadel's outer wall, La Thanh, which was constructed to defend Thanh Noi. Its perimeter was roughly 10 kilometers, and the building was based on the terrain's natural features.

- On the spiritual route that runs directly from Don Son Mountain's southwest corner to Thanh Noi's South Gate, the Nam Giao Altar is about 2.5 kilometers from the Citadel of the Ho Dynasty in the southeast. This is where you should offer sacrifices to the heavens and pray for calm rain and wind, a tranquil nation and content citizens, as well as a prosperous and everlasting dynasty.

Relics such as the display house, Nang Cave, An Ton Mountain, Dong Mon Communal House, temples of Binh Khuong, Tran Khat Chan, Giang Pagoda, Du Anh Pagoda, and Ho Cong Cave can be found all around the Citadel of the Ho Dynasty.

The Citadel of the Ho Dynasty was designated a unique national relic monument in 2012 and a World Cultural Heritage site by UNESCO in 2011.