Exploring the Nguyen Dynasty calendar

HNN.VN - Kham Thien Giam - an institution specialized in observing and studying astronomy, weather forecasting, calendar making, and timekeeping to determine the agricultural seasons for the people, was constructed by the Nguyen dynasty during the reign of Emperor Gia Long.

Over its existence of more than 100 years, Kham Thien Giam has suffered significant deterioration, but within the main chamber area, there remains a large wall depicting constellations annotated with clear Han characters. In the center of the wall, there is a precious depiction of celestial bodies in the form of a precious “bagua map” (eight trigrams map). Another notable structure still remaining its trace is Quan Tuong Dai, built during the reign of Emperor Minh Mang to observe celestial phenomena. It is the second known astronomical observatory in the feudal history of Vietnam.

Thua Thien Hue Weekly is pleased to present a series of photos captured by Bao Minh, which not only provides insights into the ancient calendar system of the Nguyen dynasty but also spreads the “green message” - appreciating environmental conservation efforts and wishing for favorable weather conditions.