According to Hue monuments conservation centre, at this moment three of five documents was established to submit for recognizing as “National treasure”. Include: Nine urns, nine holy cannons, Dai Hong Chung (the great bell) of Thien mu pagoda. 

 

Nine urns are placed at the yard of The Mieu (Dynastic temple) in Imperial city. They were casted under the Minh Mang emperor in the end of 1835 and completed in the beginning of 1837. Each one has the weight is 2 tons, height is 2.5 meters and having 153 sculptural reliefs. Nine urns are called as copper Dai Nam nhat thong chi (History of unification of Great Vietnam).

 

 

In Nguyen dynasty nine urns represent for the immortal reign and the wealth of country. This meaning is shown by its name and sculptural reliefs. Name of the urn is also the name of the King after his death and worshiped at The Mieu. Value of Nine Urns firstly is the great stature and the level of casting bronze of Phuong Duc craftsman. About the art, each urn has 17 sculptural reliefs with topics: sky, sea, mountain, river, bird, fish, flower, weapon. All 153 pictures in Nine Urns is 153 independent complete sculptural reliefs, it is the combination of casting and carving in early 19th century.

Nine Urns are precious cultural legacy of Hue in particular and Vietnam in general. 

 

Nine holy cannons are placed at The Nhon and Quang Duc gate in Hue imperial city. They were casted in Hue from February 1803 to January 1804 by soldiers in Army Corps of Engineers and Infantry. Material was pieces of confiscated bronze weapon of Tay Son army then it was melted and casted to cannons for eternal memory. Nine cannons were named as 4 seasons: Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter  and 5 elements: Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, Earth.

 

 

Among Nine Holy Cannons the heaviest one is 18. 400 kg, the lightest is 17. 200 kg. The total weight of nine cannon is 140. 300 kg. Each cannon is placed on its wooden carriage which is meticulously carved. Those heavy canons moved by 4 iron hemmed wheels. Beside the historical significant Nine Holy cannons are the symbol of art. Technique of bronze casting, artistic design and bronze, wood carving are sophisticated, refined. 

 

 

 

The great bell was casted under Lord nguyen Phuc Chu ( 1710) to worship in National pagoda, the bell’s weight is about  2.000 kg now placed in Thien Mu pagoda. The great bell is 300 years old, it is also a precious treasure of Thuan Hoa Buddhism