What is Phu Van Lau ? The pavilion located right in front of the Perfume River
Location and Function of Phu Van Lau
Situated on the central axis aligned with Ngo Mon Gate – the main entrance to the Imperial Citadel – and right by the Perfume River, Phu Van Lau was originally built as the place to post the results of major imperial examinations and to announce edicts and important decrees from the court.
The Inscriptions of Respect
The architectural form of Phu Van Lau follows the principles of Yin-Yang and the Five Elements. Its two stories symbolize the concept of luong nghi (the dual forces of Yin and Yang). On the upper floor, the round and square windows clearly represent the ancient idea of “round sky, square earth.” The square-shaped base of the pavilion symbolizes the earth, while the circular sun motif atop the second roof represents the heavens. Though not a large structure, its location – directly on the main façade of the Imperial City – gives it special significance, embodying philosophical concepts in its very design.
This architectural symbolism is echoed in other structures on the same central axis of the citadel. The Flag Tower (Ky Dai), with its three levels, represents the Tam Tai (the three powers: Heaven, Earth, and Man). Ngo Mon Gate, with its five entrances, embodies the Ngu Hanh (the Five Elements: metal, wood, water, fire, and earth). In this way, moving from the outer to the inner parts of the citadel, the system of cosmic philosophy is manifested in stages – from the duality of Yin and Yang at Phu Van Lau, to the Tam Tai at the Flag Tower, and to the Ngu Hanh at Ngo Mon. Extending even further, Mount Ngu Binh, serving as the protective front screen of the capital, can be seen as symbolizing the Thai Cuc (the Supreme Ultimate). Altogether, these natural and man-made elements along the central axis of Hue seem to embody the entire progression of Vietnamese cosmology: from the Supreme Ultimate, to Yin and Yang, to the Four Phenomena, the Eight Trigrams, and ultimately to the myriad beings of the universe.
Symbolism in Architecture
This architectural symbolism is echoed in other structures on the same central axis of the citadel. The Flag Tower (Ky Dai), with its three levels, represents the Tam Tai (the three powers: Heaven, Earth, and Man). Ngo Mon Gate, with its five entrances, embodies the Ngu Hanh (the Five Elements: metal, wood, water, fire, and earth). In this way, moving from the outer to the inner parts of the citadel, the system of cosmic philosophy is manifested in stages – from the duality of Yin and Yang at Phu Van Lau, to the Tam Tai at the Flag Tower, and to the Ngu Hanh at Ngo Mon. Extending even further, Mount Ngu Binh, serving as the protective front screen of the capital, can be seen as symbolizing the Thai Cuc (the Supreme Ultimate). Altogether, these natural and man-made elements along the central axis of Hue seem to embody the entire progression of Vietnamese cosmology: from the Supreme Ultimate, to Yin and Yang, to the Four Phenomena, the Eight Trigrams, and ultimately to the myriad beings of the universe.
Celebrations Under Emperor Minh Mang
In 1830, on the occasion of Emperor Minh Mang’s 40th birthday celebration (Tu Tuan Dai Khanh), the court organized three days of festivities and banquets at Phu Van Lau. The emperor himself attended the events to watch special performances presented by delegations from various localities. For the occasion, Minh Mang invited one hundred elderly men from the capital and nearby provinces, each aged seventy or older. Together, their ages added up to exactly 10,000 years – symbolizing “van tho,” or “ten thousand years,” a traditional expression wishing longevity for the emperor. Those over one hundred years old were personally received by the king, who gifted each of them with a piece of cinnamon bark and a gold coin. All of the elders were then honored with an imperial banquet, and the emperor composed celebratory poems to mark the event.
