 Though
built early in Emperor Gia Long's reign (1819), it was first decided by Emperor Minh Mang
to be the site to publicly display his important edicts. After having been announced at
the Throne Palace or the Noon Gate, the edict was put in a canopied palanquin and carried
by soldiers to the pavilion. On that occasion, the Thua Thien Province mandarins and
thousands of local elders crowded to pay homage to the edict. Since 1821, after the
Proclamation Ceremony, lists of successful candidates were posted there. In order to
enhance the significance, two stone steles were erected on both sides of the pavilion,
inscribed with Chinese characters meaning "Tilt Your Hats and Dismount"
reminding passers-by to tilt their hats and get off their horses when passing this
monument.
There had once been a tiger - elephant duel on the pavilion grounds in 1829 to
entertain Emperor Minh Mang. In his fortieth and fiftieth birthday anniversaries, many
entertainment were also held there. These practices were maintained by Emperors Thieu Tri
and Tu Duc in their birthday anniversaries. Emperor Thieu Tri
listed the Perfume and the Pavilion of Edicts among 20 most
beautiful sights of the capital city of Hue. It was him who ordered in 1843 the
construction of a stele house on the right of the pavilion for engraving his poem
"Morning Boating 2222 on the Perfume River".
The pavilion was destroyed by a typhoon in 1904 and restored later by Emperor Thanh
Thai.
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