Nam Giao Esplanade

Nam Giao Esplanade - Esplanade of Sacrifice to Heaven and Earth, was built at An Ninh village in 1803 under Emperor Gia Long times. In 1806, it was moved to the present position within Truong An ward south of the Citadel. This Esplanade surrounded by a forest of pine trees is the unique one left in Vietnam.  In the old days, the emperors themselves and mandarins grew and cared for these pine trees. Because, for them, this was the most sacred place that needed to be kept well. Nowadays, the old trees no longer exist but a number of others were grown to replace the old. The Esplanade was designed with three terraces inbuilt into one another, symbolizing three agents: heaven, earth, and man.

According to the concept that "Emperor was the son of God", only the king himself had the right to worship his parents (heaven and earth), pray for timely rains and favorable weather as well as peace to the country. The first offering ceremony under Nguyen Dynasty was held in 1807 and from then on it was held annually in the spring until Emperor Thanh Thai Times in 1907, realizing that the ceremony was too costly, he ordered to hold it every three years.

The panorama of Nam Giao procession

The Ministries of Protocol and Administration were in charge of preparing for the ceremony. Usually, It took some months to prepare prior to the commencement of the ceremony. The emperor himself and mandarins had to come 3 days in advance for abstinence. Under Emperor Bao Dai's time, the duration of abstinence was reduced to 1 day.

The sacrifice animals were called "con sinh" or "con sanh". They were buffaloes, pigs, and goats. These animals were fatten with fine and clean foods prior to being brought to the sacrifice. Kham Thien Giam (Nature Observation Department) was assigned to choose a good day for the ceremony. The emperor himself promulgated the edicts to inform the public, to bestow a favor to mandarins, and permission to reduce imprisonment for crimes.

On both sides of the way from Imperial City to the Esplanade, the public had to make triumphal arches, and lay incense tables to welcome the emperor and his procession. The emperor and his procession would get out of Ngo Mon Gate, cross Huong River with a floating bridge made of boats (at that time, Truong Tien Bridge was not built), and get to Nam Giao Esplanade by the streets called "Nam Giao former way (that is presently Phan Boi Chau street) and Nam Giao new way (that is presently Dien Bien Phu street).

The main ceremony officially commenced at 2 a.m. and lasted around three hours. Many rites were carried out in turn at the terraces with the attention of mandarins and the music ensembles including musical instruments such as bells, drums, gongs, musical stones, … .128  dancers would dance "Bat Dat"; singers would sing 9 ritual songs texts in 9 different phases of the ceremony.

Imperial procession of the prayer to heaven at the Esplanade of Sacrifice to the Heaven and Earth (1942)

The last offering ceremony at Nam Giao Esplanade of the Vietnam monarchy was held under Emperor Bao Dai's time. It was at midnight and dawn of March 23, 1945 - 5 months prior to the monarchy's collapse.

Nowadays, Nam Giao Esplanade is one of the important historic monuments of the Nguyen Dynasty.

The topmost is circular, called "Vien Dan", symbolizing heaven. Its surrounding parapet was painted blue. Its surface was paved with "Thanh" stones that were pierced with circular holes. On the offering days, A blue conical tent called "Thanh Oc" was set up on these holes.

The right below is a square terrace, called Phuong Dan, symbolizing Earth. Its surrounding parapet was painted yellow. A yellow conical tent called "Hoang Oc" was set up on the offering day.
The lowest is also square. Its surrounding parapet was painted red, symbolizing man. All three terraces had doors and steps at four sides: East, West, South, and North.
Around these three terraces, there were structures such as "Trai Cung" (Abstinence House)- Where the emperor came for detoxing their soul and body some days prior to starting the offering ceremony, "Than Tru" (Kitchen) - Where to prepare animals for offering, "Than Kho" (Store) - where to store things for offering, and many other substructures.

Nam Giao Esplanade from above