Digging for the tomb of King Quang Trung after more than 200 years

The Ministry of Culture and Sports allowed researchers to dig five archaeological exploration holes to hope to find the palace of King Quang Trung more than 200 years ago.

After too many scientific conferences with endless arguments about King Quang Trung's tomb , an archaeological survey was conducted from October 6 in the area of ​​Duong Xuan mound, Hue City.

This archaeological survey is the desire and aspiration of many Vietnamese people, because it has been more than 200 years since King Quang Trung died (1792), it is still unclear where the king's tomb is located. Many posthumous searches lasted for 75 years.

The most sophisticated person is researcher Nguyen Dac Xuan (Hue), who has spent more than 30 years searching.

Xuan's research is based on the poetry of the two courtiers of King Quang Trung, Ngo Thi Nham, Phan Huy Ich and records of the French at the time of King Quang Trung's stay in Phu Xuan capital.

The key to Mr. Xuan's argument is : "The Danyang Palace is painted with a tomb of royal tombs" (Dan Duong Palace is a burial place for the king's remains) in the legend of the Sanskrit poem. Ngo Thi Nham's.

From the information in these documents, Mr. Xuan came to the first conclusion: there is a palace called Dan Duong of Quang Trung which is Duong Xuan district of Nguyen lord.

Researcher Nguyen Dac Xuan (third from the left) introduced an artifact discovered in the area of ​​Bong Su alcoholic area near Boat Lam temple - (Photo: Minh Tu).

The Danyang Palace is the living and working place of the king in Phu Xuan capital. This is also the burial place of the king's corpse when he died (1792), called Dan Duong Lang.

Next, Mr. Xuan conducted a field survey in the area of ​​Binh An hamlet of Duong Xuan mound, including the Chua Lam pagoda (the old Zen pagoda) and the surrounding area.

Here, Mr. Xuan found many artifacts including: stone beer, stone used to make pillars of houses, floor tiles, and bricks; wells are called "disorder wells" ; tombs are called "rebellious" .

From these research results, Mr. Xuan came to the conclusion: Dan Duong palace is located in the area of ​​Bo Lam Lam pagoda (150 Dien Bien Phu, Hue), Van Phuoc pagoda , now in Truong An ward, Hue city.

The views of Nguyen Dac Xuan received the support of many researchers, but there are many opinions that have not agreed, even strongly opposed.

The peak of the debate is at the conference of the Dynasties in Tay Son in Hue organized by Thua Thien - Hue province one year ago (October 30, 2015).

Facing this situation, Prof. Phan Huy Le - chairman of Vietnam Association of Historical Sciences - said that it is necessary to immediately implement an archaeological excavation in the field!

On April 15, 2016, Vietnam History and Science Association sent a dispatch requesting the People's Committee of Thua Thien - Hue Province to organize regional archaeological excavations related to the Danyang Palace. From the written request of this Provincial People's Committee, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism allowed archaeological exploration in the area of ​​Duong Xuan mound .

The archaeological survey was carried out by the Institute of Archeology and History Museum of Thua Thien - Hue, chaired by Associate Professor Dr. Bui Van Liem - Deputy Institute of Archeology Institute.

On the afternoon of October 6, the archaeological exploration group began a groundbreaking ritual in the presence of researcher Nguyen Dac Xuan and the Boat Lam monks. Associate Prof. Dr. Bui Van Liem said the decision of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism allowed to dig five archaeological exploration holes with an area of ​​22m2.

In the immediate future, two or three exploration holes will be opened in the grounds of Lam Lam Pagoda and the surrounding area. Expected today 7/10, the excavation began. According to the decision of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the exploration time limit is October 15.

Mr. Phan Tien Dung, director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism Thua Thien - Hue, said: "How the archaeological results will find the answer that many people expect: is this the Danyang palace of King Quang Trung or not? "