Mieu Temple

Historic Building in Hue

CC BY-SA 2.0 / Adam

The Mieu Temple, also known as Thế Miếu or Thế Tổ Miếu, is a significant Confucian royal ancestral shrine located within the Imperial City of Huế. Constructed between 1822 and 1823 by Emperor Minh Mạng, the temple was built to honor and worship the emperors of the Nguyen Dynasty, from Gia Long to Khai Dinh.

The temple features a roof made of yellow glazed tiles, a symbol of royalty. Inside, altars are dedicated to each of the emperors, initially adorned with gold ingots, which have since been replaced with gilt and lacquer ornamentation. Each altar typically includes a portrait or photograph of the respective emperor, serving as a tribute to their legacy. However, not all emperors are represented; those who had brief reigns, such as Duc Duc and Hiep Hoa, and Bao Dai, who died in exile in 1997, do not have altars in the temple. Additionally, the altars for the three anti-French sovereigns—Ham Nghi, Thanh Thai, and Duy Tan—were only added after Vietnam’s independence in 1954.

Nine Dynastic Urns

Adjacent to the temple are the nine dynastic urns, known as cửu đỉnh, which were cast between 1835 and 1837 on the orders of Emperor Minh Mang. These urns are dedicated to the first nine Nguyen emperors and are symbolic of their power and legacy, drawing inspiration from the legendary Nine Tripod Cauldrons of ancient Chinese dynasties.

The Mieu Temple appears in our Complete Guide to Visiting Hue!

This website uses affiliate links which may earn a commission at no additional cost to you!