Hue, Viet Nam, October 31, 2009
2009年10月31日，越南順化
Being a defiant independent state, Viet Nam emphasizes its sovereignty by duplicating Chinese imperial protocols. I guess Dai Noi is the Vietnamese equivalent of Chinese Da Nei, which means "Great Interier/Inside the Palace"
我猜Dai Noi是「大內」的意思。
By the outer wall.
城外。
Outside the Meridian Gate.
午門外。
Meridian Gate
午門
After passing the Meridian Gate, you see these two signes/進午門後，是兩座牌坊：
This phrase is a reference to an ancient Chinese book stating the way of an emperor, which is "Righteous without Bias."
典出尚書洪範：「無偏無黨，王道蕩蕩；無黨無偏，王道平平；無反無側，王道正直。」
Between these two signs, there are Koi ponds/在兩道牌坊之間，有錦鯉池：
This is another reference to another ancient Chinese book, stating the natural of an emperor: As high and bright as heaven, and forever lasting.
典出中庸第二十六章：「高明，所以覆物也；悠久，所以成物也。」
At this point, if you turn around, you will see the following writings on the back of the same two signes/此時，如果您轉身，可以看到剛剛經過的兩個牌坊的背面：
Another reference to the same book as the last one: Express your feelings properly, then Heaven and earth will stay at their proper position, and everything will be nurtured and grow.
典出中庸第一章：「致中和，天地位焉，萬物育焉。」
This quote is one of the central concept of confucianism: base on kindness, and follow the path of justice.
典出孟子盡心上：「居仁由義，大人之事備矣。」
It is my impression that the writings on the way in are how the emperor wanted to be perceived; On the way out, were the way the emperor preparing himself for the world.
我認為，進宮時所見二句，是越皇想要對外展現的形象；而出宮二句則是對內的自我期許。
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