Ceremonies of Nam Giao - 1924

The Nam Giao, sacrifice to Heaven and Earth, which took place every three years, was undoubtedly the most important celebration of all those that took place at the court of Hué, both due to the splendor and majesty of the ceremonies and its highly symbolic significance : through this sacrifice, in fact, the sovereign periodically renewed in a way his union with the celestial powers that confirmed his ’mandate’.

Photograph of Dang Chau in Hué reproduced on a postcard by Thanh Ba, publisher in Hué.

ANNAM - Hué - Nam Giao Ceremonies - 1 - The procession passes through the Ngo Mon gate.

The royal litter, in which His Majesty Khai Dinh is seated, advances from the Ngo Mon gate towards the Thai Hoa Palace

ANNAM - Hué - Nam Giao Ceremonies - 2 - Procession, elephant, Dong Ba street.

After leaving the citadel, the procession, still preceded by the two parade elephants, travels down Dong Ba street, which runs along the Perfume River, which it will cross via the Thanh Thai bridge (Clemenceau bridge).
ANNAM - Hué - Nam Giao Ceremonies - 3 - Procession in the citadel.

The royal guard soldiers, in their flamboyant uniforms, are stationed in one of the alleys of the Citadel. They carry flags and banners (particularly a banner featuring the constellations). The procession, after passing through the Ngo Mon gate, heads towards the South-East gate (Mirador VIII) through which it will exit the Citadel. To the left of the group, one of the official photographers, wearing a soft hat.

ANNAM - Hué - Ceremonies of Nam Giao - 4 - Procession, elephant at the citadel gate.

A part of the procession, carrying the offering tables, has exited the Citadel through the Southeast gate (Watchtower VIII) and crossed the moat.
ANNAM - Hué - Ceremonies of Nam Giao - 5 - Procession, elephant at the citadel gate.

A part of the procession, which has exited the Citadel through the Southeast gate (Watchtower VIII), crosses the moat. The royal palanquin, where the sovereign sits, is accompanied by lantern bearers, banners, and by linh.

ANNAM - Hué - Cérémonies du Nam Giao - 6 - Cortège, en ville

A part of the procession, featuring parasol bearers, flag bearers, and musicians dressed in green, is parading down one of the streets of the city. Several small orchestras are incorporated into various parts of the procession. In this image, one can see gong players and flute players, holding their instruments in their crossed arms.

ANNAM - Hué - Nam Giao Ceremonies - 6 - Tam-Tam Players

ANNAM - Hué - Nam Giao Ceremonies - 4 bis - Shield Dances

ANNAM - Hué - Nam Giao Ceremonies - 7 - Procession in the City

A part of the procession (carrying umbrellas and standards) and musicians, players of cymbals, flutes, and violin, in a street of the city.

ANNAM - Hué - Nam Giao Ceremonies - 8 - Procession in the City

A part of the procession in the streets of the city. It is a small orchestra advancing with gong players, drummers, and cymbals, along with a bass drum that beats in time to the movements of the participants.
ANNAM - Hué - Ceremonies of Nam Giao - 9 - South Gate of the Nam Giao Esplanade

The south gate of the fourth enclosure of the Nam Giao esplanade, made up of four masonry pillars decorated for the ceremony with flags and banners. The Nam Giao mound has four successive enclosures pierced with gates at the four cardinal points. The fourth enclosure is the outer enclosure. The procession has not yet arrived ; at the end of the path, the terraces of the sacrifice esplanade and the pavilion erected on the upper terrace can be seen.
ANNAM - Hué - Nam Giao Ceremonies - 10 - Ceremony - The Guests

Western guests, standing under parasols, attend a ceremony taking place in the ’Yellow House’. On the North Avenue that runs along the fourth enclosure, one of the houses served as a reception hall for the Europeans invited to the ceremony.
ANNAM - Hué - Nam Giao Ceremonies - 11 - Ceremony

The central walkway of the terrace of the third enclosure, with altars to the Deities and archaic musical instruments. In the background, the Yellow House and the Azure House can be seen.
ANNAM - Hué - Nam Giao Ceremonies - 12 - Ceremony
On the terrace of the third enclosure, on either side of the central walkway, altars have been set up in front of which the officiants will prostrate themselves. A staircase with a few steps provides access to the second enclosure (square mound) on which the ’Yellow House’ has been erected.
ANNAM - Hué - Ceremonies of Nam Giao - 13 - Ceremony, the esplanades

A triple staircase allows access to the square mound (second enclosure) on which the "Yellow House" has been erected. One can see the roof of the "Azure House" installed on the round mound of the first enclosure.
ANNAM - Hué - Ceremonies of Nam Giao - 14 - Ceremony, the offering tables

View of the altars set up on the terrace of the third enclosure.

ANNAM - Hué - Ceremonies of Nam Giao - 15 - Ceremony, the offering tables

The altars set up on the terrace of the third enclosure.
ANNAM - Hué - Ceremonies of Nam Giao - 16 - Ceremony - The esplanades

General view of the esplanades taken from the fourth enclosure. On the terrace of the third enclosure, the troupe of civil dancers among the parasols and archaic musical instruments.
On the terrace of the second enclosure, one can see the ’Yellow House’ and, in the background, the roof of the ’Azure House’.

"The Nam Giao mound consists of four masonry enclosures forming as many terraces. The fourth enclosure, located entirely outside, is at ground level and planted with pines. It has four openings located in the middle of each face, exactly oriented towards the four cardinal points. The three inner enclosures are raised one above the other. The first, located right in the middle, is circular ; the other two are square. They all have four openings, also oriented towards the four cardinal points and preceded by stairs. The balustrade that surrounds the middle round mound is painted blue ; the one for the second enclosure is painted yellow. The first enclosure, or round mound, measures about 42 meters in diameter ; the second, or square mound, is about 85 meters on each side ; the third 165 meters. The fourth, outer, measures 390 meters from North to South and about 265 meters from East to West. Starting from ground level, the third enclosure is elevated by 0.85 meters, the second by 1 meter above the third, and the first an additional 2.80 meters, which places the latter at approximately 4.65 meters above ground level."
L. Cadière bulletin des amis du vieux Hué 1915.

ANNAM - Hue - Nam Giao Ceremonies - 17 - Ceremony, the esplanades

On the terrace of the third enclosure, the military dancers, holding a spear and a long wooden shield, perform their act. In the background, we can see the "Yellow House" and the "Azure House".

ANNAM - Hue - Nam Giao Ceremonies - 18 - Ceremony, Gate, Esplanades

The esplanades, viewed from the gate of the fourth enclosure. In the foreground, the richly decorated gate for the ceremony ; in the background, the Yellow House in the second enclosure. "The second esplanade is called ’Tertre Carré’ or ’Tertre des Suivants’, because secondary Spirits are venerated there, which are like followers of the great Spirits of Heaven and Earth. Between the South staircase and the corresponding one of the upper mound, the Yellow House (Hoang Ôc) is erected. It houses the outdoor incense altar and two service tables. It is in front of this altar that the emperor, before the arrival of the Spirits, at the start of the sacrifice, offers incense.
(L. Cadière in BAVH 1915 / 2).

ANNAM - Hué - Nam Giao Ceremonies (19) - Ceremony, the ’Blue House’, the first enclosure.

’The first enclosure is called ’Round Mound’. Its surface, circular, is almost entirely covered by a structure with a cone-shaped roof, whose walls and roof themselves are draped with blue fabrics. This is the ’Azure House’ (Thanh Ôc). It resembles a large tent. The main elements of this enclosure are Altars or worship tables. The two main altars are placed on the same line, on the North side ... The one on the left is dedicated to the Sky. It is, at least theoretically, blue, and all objects attached to it should be, in principle, round in shape.... The one on the right is dedicated to the Earth : its tablet bears the inscription ’August Spirit of the Earth’. Its color is yellow ; the objects attached to it are square in shape. ’
L. Cadière in BAVH 1935 / 2).

ANNAM - Hué - Nam Giao Ceremonies (20) - Ceremony, sacrifice of the oxen, the kitchen of the deities.

The sacrifice of the victims offered during the ceremony takes place near the ’Kitchen of the Deities’. This small building is located outside the fences, in the North-East corner, next to the Deities’ Store. The courtyard of the Kitchen has three gates, with the main one situated to the East. In the kitchen, the victims are slaughtered, scalded, and flambéed : buffaloes, goats, and pigs, and other dishes destined for the Deities are prepared. A small bundle of hair and a little blood from the buffalo offered in sacrifice at the Earth altar will be buried at the North-West corner of the third enclosure, to invite the Earth Deities to participate in the ceremony.

ANNAM - Hué - Nam Giao Ceremonies (21) - Procession, elephants, in the city.

The procession moves along the Nam Giao avenue, which runs straight in a perfect North-South direction, from the bridge over the Phu Cam canal to the North entrance of the Nam Giao esplanade. The procession crosses the level crossing of the railway. Altars have been set up on either side of the avenue along the entire route.
ANNAM - Hué - Nam Giao Ceremonies (22) - Procession, in the city, horsemen.

Horsemen of the royal guard advance, armed with lances.

ANNAM - Hué - Nam Giao Ceremonies (23) - Procession, palanquin.

The palanquin, in which the sovereign is seated, proceeds along an alley of the citadel. It is accompanied by soldiers of the royal guard, standard bearers, and parasol bearers.

ANNAM - Hué - Ceremonies of Nam Giao (24) - The sovereign’s litter.
The royal litter, in which His Majesty Khai Dinh is seated, advances, carried by a dozen bearers.

ANNAM - Hué - Ceremonies of Nam Giao (25) - The procession heads towards the Thai Hoa palace.

The procession heads towards the Thai Hoa palace, from the King’s Cavalier. The royal litter, carried by a dozen bearers, moves forward, preceded by lantern bearers. Along the edge of the path, a few musicians strike small drums.