Definition

1. Noun:
   • Royal step-over place: A temporary or secondary palace used by a Vietnamese king or emperor during his travels or inspection tours away from the capital's main palace.
   • Royal residence: A place of residence for the monarch while on a journey, serving as an operational base and lodging.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Nhà vua thường dừng chân tại hành cung trên đường tuần du. (The king often stopped at the royal step-over place during his inspection tour.)
  • Hành cung này được xây dựng từ thế kỷ 19. (This royal residence was built in the 19th century.)

Advanced Usage

• The term is historical and architectural, primarily used in the context of feudal Vietnam's Nguyễn Dynasty and earlier periods.
• "Hành cung" signifies not just a building but a symbol of royal authority extending beyond the capital city.

Variants and Related Words

• Cung điện (n): palace. Refers to the main, permanent royal palace, typically in the capital.
• Tử cấm thành (n): the forbidden purple city. The innermost imperial city within a capital complex.

Synonyms

• Royal lodge: A simple residence for a monarch during travel.
• Itinerant palace: A palace used during royal journeys.
• Secondary palace: A palace of lesser importance than the main capital palace.

Related Terms

• Ngự giá (v): the act of the emperor traveling by palanquin or procession.
• Tuần du (v): to tour, to make an inspection tour (used for royal travels).

1. Royal step-over place