Belonging to Duy Phu commune, Duy Xuyen district, My Son sanctuary is 45 km west of Hoi An, 70 km South of Da Nang.
In 1898, a French soldier named M.C. Paris, found out My Son temples in a secret narrow valley among dense forests. Not long after that, scientists and archeologists from French Far Eastern Archaeological Scholar Institute came and researched epitaphs, architecture and sculptures in My Son. They revealed that My Son was the most grandiose vestige in Viet Nam, continuously built for more than 1000 years. My Son temples were built from the 4th century under the reign of king Bhadravaman, until late 13th century, and early 14th century under the reign of King Jaya Simhavaman III (Che Man).
My Son used to be a group of more than 70 temple towers. Each temple has a typical architecture which reflects a historical stage of the Champa kingdoms. Most of the architecture and sculptures were influenced by Indian culture. Most of the temples point to the East, the sun direction. Champa people thought that the East was the place where the gods lived. Only a few towers point to the West or both East and West this meant that when the king died he would be conferred as a god and present his affection to his ancestor.
Due to natural disasters and war-related damages, only about 20 temple towers still remain in My Son. However, most of the remaining epitaphs, archaeology analysis and relies preserved in My Son and some domestic museums such as Danang Cham museum, Ho Chi Minh historical museum sufficiently make us dramatically admire the art of architecture and sculpture of the ancient Champa people. Especially, up to now, the technic of sticking building materials without any mortar in construction of temple towers in My Son still a secret stimulating fondness for curiosity, discovery and research of scientists as well as of everyone.
Although My Son is not as majestic and spectacular as Angkor ( Cambodia), Pagan (Myanma), Borobudua ( Indonesia)..., My Son possesses an important role in South East Asia’s civilisation of art. In December 1999, Hoi An ancient town along with My Son were recognised as the world cultural heritages by UNESCO. Hundreds of thousands of tourists and researchers visit My Son every year.
Dong Duong institute of Buddhism
Dong Duong Buddhism institute lies in Binh Dinh commune, Thang Binh district, about 60 km Southwest of Da Nang and about 40km Northwest of Tam Ky city.
Built in 875 under the dynasty of King Indravaman II, this was the Buddhist institute of the Champa kingdom. It was one of the most important relics of Buddhist architecture in the Champa kingdom. Due to war and time, what remains today is only a piece of a low wall, some architectural decorative pieces and the foundation of the old building. However, scientific research documents and archaeological artifacts in Dong Duong show that it was once one of the most typical Buddhist architecture of Champa kingdom in Southeast Asia with seminaries and a Buddhist alter. The altar is in a rectangle shape 330 meters long, 240 meters wide. In 1901, the archaeologist, L. Finot found 229 relics, one of which was a bronze Buddhist statue, 1m high and influenced by Indian style-Amaravati. It’s one of the most beautiful statues in South-East Asia, now displayed in Ho Chi Minh History Museum.
Chien Dan towers
Chien Dan towers represent a group of three towers and each door points to the East. Their foundations are all square in shape, wide-based with narrow steps to the top. There isn’t decoration on the body of the towers, but on the top of the towers were decorated an edging line with many masks of Kala. In Chien Dan, many sculptured artifacts with high value were discovered, especially the Yoni alter and "human animal" statues such as Naga snake, Hamsa grouse, Garuda Bird, Gajasiha elephant, etc which were influenced by Chanh Lo sculpture style (in the end of 11th century, early 12th century). The towers lie beside national highway 1, about 5km to the north of Tam Ky city.
Khuong My towers
Khuong My towers in Tam Xuan I commune is located near the National Highway No.1 and 2 km away from Tam Ky city to the Southwest. Khuong My towers is a group of three towers in line from the north to the South. Their specific architecture reflects a traditional Champa style with three levels, the upper level representing the stereotype of the lower one with a sandstone top.
Khuong My Towers show the first style of Champa architecture influenced by the Khome design (curled and deep carved leaves and lozenges representing diagonal and stylish flowers). This is the specific design of Khome art dated from the 9th and 10th centuries.
Here, archaeologists had found many original sculptures (at present are displayed at Da Nang Cham Museum) and many jars of hundreds years old.
Bang An tower
Located on Dien An commune, Dien Ban district along the 609 road, 30km to the South of Da Nang and about 12km to the West of Hoi An city.
According to an inscription found here, this tower was built in the 12th Century by king Bhadravaman II and was named as Linga Paramesvara (meaning the supreme God - a name for Siva), as an offering for God Siva. This is the only tower which has an octagonal face- a unique structure- resembling no other towers which still exist.
Coming to Bang An tower you will see huge Linga, 21.5m high and standing against the vast sky. It symbolizes a continuous moving cycle of life.
Ancient Capital of Tra Kieu (The Lion Citadel)
Sinhapura Tra Kieu (the Lion Citadel) was once the capital city and the political center of Champa, serving in that capacity from the 4th to the 11th centuries.
According to the bibliography, Tra Kieu earlier was surrounded by a fairly grandiose system of citadel and rampart, defence works, fortress and temples in oriental military style. Tragically, through many centuries, so far what remains now is foundation of broken walls. Based on the discovered foundation, it is estimated that the imperial city‘s circumference was about 4 km. In the front of the imperial city, there were many beautiful sculptures architecture which majestically located on the low hills. Siva saint and Visnu, who were considered as the Guardian angels of Champa dynasty at that time, were worshiped in all the temples in Tra Kieu imperial city. Prominently standing out from the architectures and sculptures in Tra Kieu are lively stony lion and elephant statues. Now, some of these are displayed at Da Nang Cham museum and Tra Kieu Church
In 1898, a French soldier named M.C. Paris, found out My Son temples in a secret narrow valley among dense forests. Not long after that, scientists and archeologists from French Far Eastern Archaeological Scholar Institute came and researched epitaphs, architecture and sculptures in My Son. They revealed that My Son was the most grandiose vestige in Viet Nam, continuously built for more than 1000 years. My Son temples were built from the 4th century under the reign of king Bhadravaman, until late 13th century, and early 14th century under the reign of King Jaya Simhavaman III (Che Man).
My Son used to be a group of more than 70 temple towers. Each temple has a typical architecture which reflects a historical stage of the Champa kingdoms. Most of the architecture and sculptures were influenced by Indian culture. Most of the temples point to the East, the sun direction. Champa people thought that the East was the place where the gods lived. Only a few towers point to the West or both East and West this meant that when the king died he would be conferred as a god and present his affection to his ancestor.
Due to natural disasters and war-related damages, only about 20 temple towers still remain in My Son. However, most of the remaining epitaphs, archaeology analysis and relies preserved in My Son and some domestic museums such as Danang Cham museum, Ho Chi Minh historical museum sufficiently make us dramatically admire the art of architecture and sculpture of the ancient Champa people. Especially, up to now, the technic of sticking building materials without any mortar in construction of temple towers in My Son still a secret stimulating fondness for curiosity, discovery and research of scientists as well as of everyone.
Although My Son is not as majestic and spectacular as Angkor ( Cambodia), Pagan (Myanma), Borobudua ( Indonesia)..., My Son possesses an important role in South East Asia’s civilisation of art. In December 1999, Hoi An ancient town along with My Son were recognised as the world cultural heritages by UNESCO. Hundreds of thousands of tourists and researchers visit My Son every year.
Dong Duong institute of BuddhismDong Duong Buddhism institute lies in Binh Dinh commune, Thang Binh district, about 60 km Southwest of Da Nang and about 40km Northwest of Tam Ky city.
Built in 875 under the dynasty of King Indravaman II, this was the Buddhist institute of the Champa kingdom. It was one of the most important relics of Buddhist architecture in the Champa kingdom. Due to war and time, what remains today is only a piece of a low wall, some architectural decorative pieces and the foundation of the old building. However, scientific research documents and archaeological artifacts in Dong Duong show that it was once one of the most typical Buddhist architecture of Champa kingdom in Southeast Asia with seminaries and a Buddhist alter. The altar is in a rectangle shape 330 meters long, 240 meters wide. In 1901, the archaeologist, L. Finot found 229 relics, one of which was a bronze Buddhist statue, 1m high and influenced by Indian style-Amaravati. It’s one of the most beautiful statues in South-East Asia, now displayed in Ho Chi Minh History Museum.
Chien Dan towersChien Dan towers represent a group of three towers and each door points to the East. Their foundations are all square in shape, wide-based with narrow steps to the top. There isn’t decoration on the body of the towers, but on the top of the towers were decorated an edging line with many masks of Kala. In Chien Dan, many sculptured artifacts with high value were discovered, especially the Yoni alter and "human animal" statues such as Naga snake, Hamsa grouse, Garuda Bird, Gajasiha elephant, etc which were influenced by Chanh Lo sculpture style (in the end of 11th century, early 12th century). The towers lie beside national highway 1, about 5km to the north of Tam Ky city.
Khuong My towersKhuong My towers in Tam Xuan I commune is located near the National Highway No.1 and 2 km away from Tam Ky city to the Southwest. Khuong My towers is a group of three towers in line from the north to the South. Their specific architecture reflects a traditional Champa style with three levels, the upper level representing the stereotype of the lower one with a sandstone top.
Khuong My Towers show the first style of Champa architecture influenced by the Khome design (curled and deep carved leaves and lozenges representing diagonal and stylish flowers). This is the specific design of Khome art dated from the 9th and 10th centuries.
Here, archaeologists had found many original sculptures (at present are displayed at Da Nang Cham Museum) and many jars of hundreds years old.
Bang An towerLocated on Dien An commune, Dien Ban district along the 609 road, 30km to the South of Da Nang and about 12km to the West of Hoi An city.
According to an inscription found here, this tower was built in the 12th Century by king Bhadravaman II and was named as Linga Paramesvara (meaning the supreme God - a name for Siva), as an offering for God Siva. This is the only tower which has an octagonal face- a unique structure- resembling no other towers which still exist.
Coming to Bang An tower you will see huge Linga, 21.5m high and standing against the vast sky. It symbolizes a continuous moving cycle of life.
Ancient Capital of Tra Kieu (The Lion Citadel)Sinhapura Tra Kieu (the Lion Citadel) was once the capital city and the political center of Champa, serving in that capacity from the 4th to the 11th centuries.
According to the bibliography, Tra Kieu earlier was surrounded by a fairly grandiose system of citadel and rampart, defence works, fortress and temples in oriental military style. Tragically, through many centuries, so far what remains now is foundation of broken walls. Based on the discovered foundation, it is estimated that the imperial city‘s circumference was about 4 km. In the front of the imperial city, there were many beautiful sculptures architecture which majestically located on the low hills. Siva saint and Visnu, who were considered as the Guardian angels of Champa dynasty at that time, were worshiped in all the temples in Tra Kieu imperial city. Prominently standing out from the architectures and sculptures in Tra Kieu are lively stony lion and elephant statues. Now, some of these are displayed at Da Nang Cham museum and Tra Kieu Church
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