15/12/2024
**13 Gates of the Imperial City of Huế**
The 13 gates of the Imperial City of Huế – the gates (or doors) are considered the face of architectural structures, with the primary function being the entry and exit points for the residents living in the area or within each building. They also serve a defensive role, preventing external invasions. According to ancient beliefs, gates are considered the dwelling places of deities who protect and safeguard the owners of the structures.
The Huế Imperial City consists of three main walls, each with a distinct function, all oriented towards the South (slightly to the East).
The names of the three walls, listed from the outermost to the innermost, are as follows:
- **Kinh Thành**: The outermost wall with 13 gates (11 land gates and 2 water gates).
- **Hoàng Thành**: The middle wall with 4 gates.
- **Tử Cấm Thành**: The innermost wall. Initially, there were only 7 gates, but later, 4 additional gates were added.
The 13 gates of the Huế Imperial City all have Chinese characters engraved on the front and back of the gates. These are the official names given by the Nguyễn Dynasty. However, locals often refer to them by names based on traditions or associations that make them easier to remember.
**The 11 Land Gates:**
For the land gates, the two gates, Chánh Tây and Trấn Bình Môn, are the official names assigned by the Nguyễn Dynasty, while the remaining 9 gates are known by their popular, traditional names.
On the southern side of the wall, there are 4 gates. Among these, 2 gates near the flag tower are called **Nam Vương Môn**, which were reserved exclusively for royal use. The folk names for these gates are "Cửa Ngăn" and "Cửa Sập."
(The image below shows 10 gates, with 2 missing: the 2 water gates and the Trấn Bình Môn gate which has not been photographed.)
Nguồn : LE DINH HOANG
