Forbidden Purple City

Constructed in 1804, early in Emperor Gia Long's reign , it was first called Cung Thanh (City of Residences). It was later renamed Tu Cam Thanh (Forbidden Purple City) by Emperor Minh Mang, in 1822. Brick walls 3.72 metres high and 0.72 metres thick surround the City, which is about 1,230 metres in circumference. Its front and back sides are 324 metres each, while both left and right sides are a little more than 290 metres. It is connected to the Imperial City by seven entrances: The Dai Cung Mon (Great Golden Gate) on the front side, the Tuong Loan Mon (Flying Phoenix Gate) and Nghi Phung Mon (Ceremonial Phoenix Gate) at the back side, Dong An Mon (Eastern Peace Gate) and Hung Khanh Mon (Prosperity Increasing Gate) on the east, the Gia Tuong Mon (Good Enhancing Gate) and Tay An Mon (Western Peace Gate) on the west.

Passing the Great Golden Gate one sees the large court of the Can Chanh Dien (Palace of Audiences) with two huge bronze vessels cast by Lord Nguyen Phuc Tan. On both sides of the court are two magnificent buildings called Ta Vu and Huu Vu (Left and Right Houses).

At the end of the court stands the Can Chanh Dien, where the emperor worked everyday. To the east is the Van Minh Dien (Palace of Civil Affairs) and to the west is the Vo Hien Dien (Palace of Military Affairs). Behind the Can Chanh Dien is a screen separating it from the Can Thanh Dien (Emperor's Private Palace), built in 1811. Next comes a cluster of buildings known as the Khon Thai Cung (Queen's Private Apartment), reserved for the queen. On the right is the Thuan Huy Vien for the Tan (emperor's concubines). West of this palace are four others; Doan Thuan, Doan Hoa, Doan Trang and Doan Tuong, palaces used by maidservants. East of Khon Thai Cung is the small Tinh Quan Vien theatre, where the emperor was entertained with shows performed by maids.

To the east and between the Can Chanh and Can Thanh Palaces is the Quang Minh Dien (Palace of Brightness), reserved for the crown prince. West of it is the Trinh Minh Dien used by the emperor's first rank concubines.

Situated behind the Khon Thai Palace and on the main axis is the Minh Vien Dien (Pavilion of Good View), built in 1828 by Emperor Minh Mang. It was removed by Emperor Tu Duc and rebuilt by Emperor Duy Tan in 1913, using another design and given a new name, Du Cuu Lau (Pondering over Eternity Pavilion). Much later, Emperor Khai Dinh, who found the pavilion inappropriate, ordered another to be built, the Kien Trung Dien (completed in 1923).

The Forbidden Purple City is painted yellow. Within these yellow walls, men were not admitted (except the emperor and eunuchs), and girls chosen to be maidservants were not allowed to leave.

By NGUYEN DAC XUAN 
(Vietnam Cultural Window)