Bảo tàng lịch sử Quốc gia

Set of paintings, do paper, polychrome, 1885 AD., Nguyen dynasty, author Nguyen Van Nhan.

The set of 6 paintings represents the court organization in the Nguyen dynasty. Each painting portrays one of the six constituent parts of the court: the Privy Council which was the most powerful and important institution of the Nguyen court; it planned the most important matters and directions of the country and was the highest consulting body on military, security and political, etc. matters; the scene of a meeting in Thai Hoa palace which was one of the most important rites of the Nguyen dynasty; the Ministry of Public Affairs which took care of examining people’s merit and drafting royal decrees; the Ministry of Rites which administered the matters of rites, rituals and examinations, etc.; the Ministry of Finance which took care of money, finances and tax matters; and the Ministry of Public Works which oversaw and coordinated the construction and repair of roads, bridges, dykes and monuments. These paintings are evidence that the administrative organization of the Nguyen dynasty was clearly delineated in terms of functions and tasks of each organization and orderly operated, contributing a great deal to the development of the country in this period.