The statue - a unique and famous relic in Hue Citadel - has been abandoned for many years and has not been exploited for tourism, causing waste. Photo: Nguyen Luan

Two unique symbols of the Nguyen Dynasty

Located in the southwest of Hue Citadel, at the intersection of Ong Ich Khiem and Ton That Thiep streets, the two historical structures Hoa Duoc Kho and Quan Tuong Dai are unique symbols of the Nguyen Dynasty, demonstrating the military and scientific development of that time. Hoa Duoc Kho, with a layer of bricks nearly 80cm thick, used to be a place to store ammunition for the artillery system defending the Citadel.

The Nguyen Dynasty built 24 fortresses around the Upper Citadel, each with its own Fire Medicine Warehouse to ensure combat capability. This construction not only demonstrated the military level but also reflected the dynasty's methodical defense strategy.

During the 2019-2021 residential relocation project, the Fire Medicine Warehouses at Tay Thanh Dai and Nam Xuong fortresses were discovered, with their intact beauty, surprising many people with the sophistication and durability of Nguyen Dynasty architecture.

The monument is a testament to the fusion of Western science and traditional Vietnamese thinking. Built in 1827 under the reign of King Minh Mang, this structure was an astronomical observatory where the Imperial Astronomical Observatory officials used telescopes, compasses and sundials to forecast the weather and determine geographical coordinates. In feudal history, only two observatories were built: the Imperial Astronomical Observatory in Thang Long (now lost) and the Monument in Hue, which was completely restored in 2013. By the end of 2020, an automatic rain gauge was installed here, connected to the Hue-S application, combining historical heritage and modern technology. In 1837, King Minh Mang directed the application of Western methods to determine the exact coordinates of the Hue Capital (16°22'30" north latitude; 105° east longitude), reflecting the Nguyen Dynasty's vision beyond its time.

So that the heritage is not wasted

Despite their great historical and cultural value, the Fire Medicine Treasury and the Statue Monument are currently in a state of disrepair. Both structures are overgrown with weeds, and their interiors are filled with broken furniture and spiritual waste. The tiles of the Fire Medicine Treasury are broken, the walls are degraded, while the Statue Monument is locked, discouraging visitors from visiting.

This is a waste of heritage, not only abandoning its architectural and historical value, but also losing its tourism and educational potential. The Fire Medicine Storehouse and the Quan Tuong Monument, with their prime location and unique story, can absolutely be additional destinations for the journey to explore the Ancient Capital, bringing new experiences to visitors and helping them understand more about the military defense system and astronomy of the Nguyen Dynasty.

To exploit the Fire Medicine Warehouse and the Monument in a reasonable and systematic way, the Hue Monuments Conservation Center needs to find an early solution. First of all, it is necessary to clean up the garbage, reinforce the tiles and walls of the Fire Medicine Warehouse, and open the Monument for visitors to visit.

In addition, the Center needs to step up promotion to attract tourists. A well-organized media campaign, combined with specialized tours of Hue Citadel, can put these two structures on the official tourist map. Stories about the defense of the citadel, about King Minh Mang, and about the only remaining ancient observatory in Vietnam, need to be vividly told through signs, guides, or virtual reality (VR) technology applications, helping visitors visualize more clearly the unique past of these two structures.

Dr. Phan Thanh Hai - Director of the Department of Culture and Sports of Hue City, former Director of the Hue Monuments Conservation Center - once emphasized the significance of Quan Tuong Dai, the only ancient meteorological agency that has been restored, and the installation of a rain gauge here is a continuation of tradition. This continuity needs to be maintained more effectively by cooperating with schools to organize educational activities, helping to arouse the awareness of heritage conservation in the younger generation and turning the two works into a bridge between history and the present.

Source: https://laodong.vn/van-hoa-giai-tri/hoa-duoc-kho-va-quan-tuong-dai-di-san-can-duoc-thuc-tinh-1498377.ldo