In order to contribute to the work of restoration of the central part of the site of Chua Dau, from the end of March to the end of July 2006, the Museum of History of Vietnam and the Service of Culture and Information of Ha Tay have together carried out the excavation aiming at gathering scientific informations relative to the creation and to changes of this architectural construction.
In order to contribute to the work of restoration of the central part of the site of Chua Dau, from the end of March to the end of July 2006, the Museum of History of Vietnam and the Service of Culture and Information of Ha Tay have together carried out the excavation aiming at gathering scientific informations relative to the creation and to changes of this architectural construction.
Though the extent of this excavation is limited to an area of 200m
2, the different earth layers and the architectural traces discovered in the pits have proved that the central part of Chua Dau has passed through many periods of construction, reparation and upgrading. A first estimating has shown the existence of three architectural layers in the earth of the place.
The most ancient layer is the third layer and is dated from the dynasty of Tran (13 – 14th century). The remains of this layer consist only of a segment of foundation, of 1,1m long, 0,25m high, and consist of many remains of bricks, near a water sink and a heap of materials. However, the discovery of this architectural layer and of the couple of dragons at the steps of the palace Tien Duong shows that the most ancient date of construction of the site of Chua Dau is under the dynasty of Tran (13 – 14th centuries).
In the centuries XVI – XVII (second layer), the archaeological results have totally determined the extent and the structure of the foundations of the central part in the form of the letter Cong, comprising the two palaces Thieu Huong and Thuong Dien, connected together by a corridor, dated from the beginning of the 17
e century, profitting to the maximum of the materials of the dynasty of Mac (16
e century). The foundation is constructed with large dark red bricks, with dimensions varying from 36 – 38cm long, 12 -14cm wide and 8.5 - 9.5cm thick. The bricks are disposed alternatively, and hermetically without mortar. It is to be noted that many bricks are decorated in relief with dragons in form of horse saddle, with mice guarding flowers of lotus, with carps transformed into dragons… on one side or one face of the bricks. The bricks at the corners have the end decorated with sacred animals and flowers of lotus. Certainly, under the Mac, there has been a great reparation. Though there are no documents reporting the reparations under the dynasty of Mac, the inscription of the stele Sung Khanh 1
st of Mac Mau Hop (1566) noting the property of nearly 100 mau ef ricefield, and the quantity of materials of the Mac scattered in the pit are evident proofs of a period of important restoration under the Mac.
However, toward the beginning of the 17th century, the pagoda Dau underwent a still more important restoration, presided by the palace lady Ngo Thi Ngoc Duyen. The stele Duong Hoa 5th (1639) reported: “in the 10th month of Binh Ty (1636), she takes money from the treasure of the palace and from her own treasure to construct the two palaces Tien Duong and Thieu Huong, and to repair the damaged places. The construction ended in two tears, producing a somptuous palace”. This is reflected in traces of diminished foundations in the structure of Thuong Dien, as well as the decorated bricks of the Mac disposed inside and hidden by non decorated bricks, which changed their initial function. Probably, under the restored Le, when the power has passed from the Mac to the Trinh (under the name of Le), the decorations bearing the print of the Mac are no more appropriate to appear on architectural constructions as important as pagoda Dau. Moreover, the president of the restoration is the palace lady Ngo Thi Ngoc Duyen, wife of Thanh Do Vuong Trinh Trang. How could she admit that prints of the Mac appear on a construction paid by her?
It can be asserted that the actual imposing extent of Chua Dau has begun since the 16 – 17th centuries.
At the beginning of the 19
th century, the architectural plan of Chua Dau continues to be enlarged with new larger constructions. At the central part of the pagoda, the discovery of the architectural plan under the Nguyen has shown that the three constructions Thieu Huong, the corridor and Thuong Dien have all an enlarged area in comparison with the time of Mac and restored Le.
Thus, the discovery of the three architectural layers of different dates has shown the role and importance of the central part of Chua Dau. Each reconstruction and restoration is an pccasion of enlarging. The determination of the two architectural plans of the time of Mac-restored Le and of the time of Nguyen with rather complete informations on the extent and the structure makes much easier the work of restoration of the site. It is one of the big results of the excavation.
Nguyen Ngoc Chat