Chăm Pa culture had great influences on Vietnam’s cultural values of significance. The once capital of Chăm Pa Kingdom from 4th to 15th century was “Thánh địa Mỹ Sơn”, called “Mỹ Sơn Sanctuary" or "Valley of Kings" by French historians.
In those days, Mỹ Sơn became centre for spirituality and worship during the reign of the Chămpa Kingdom. Exemplifying the height of Chăm architectural achievement, The Mỹ Sơn Sanctuary is a large complex of religious monuments originally consisting of more than 70 structures; the vestiges of 25 of which remain today. The builders of Mỹ Sơn were the nobility of the Chămpa Kingdom who derived their cultural and spiritual influences almost exclusively from India. Location
Mỹ Sơn is located inside the valley complex of Quang Nam Province, southern Vietnam around 69 kilometers southwest of Da Nang city. From the 4th to 15th centuries, it was an imperial city during the Chăm dynasty. Besides Hoi An
old town, an ancient destination of historical value in Da Nang, My Son
in Quang Nam is also a place of historical and culture-oriented
tourism.
History
If
you are enjoying a tour to My Son Holy Land, what can not be missed is
the historical story of the sanctuary to be told to you by guides. The
Chăm people (người Chăm or người Chàm in Vietnamese) belong to an ethnic
group in Southeast Asia. They formed the core of the Muslim communities
in both Cambodia and Vietnam. Chăm is remnant of the Chăm Pa Kingdom
(7th to 15th centuries), closely related to the Malay race.
From
the 4th to 15th centuries, a unique culture which owed its spiritual
origins to Indian Hinduism of Cham developed on the coast of
contemporary Viet Nam. This is graphically illustrated by the remains
of a series of impressive tower-temples located in a dramatic site of My
Son, which was the religious and political capital of the Chăm Pa
Kingdom for most of its existence.
According
to records on the stone stele, the prime foundation of the ancient Mỹ
Sơn architectural complex was a wooden temple to worship the Siva
Bhadresvera genie. In the late 16th century, a big fire
destroyed the temple. Step by step, historical mysteries were unveiled
by scientists. Through stone stele and royal dynasties, they proved Mỹ
Sơn to be the most important Holy Land of the Chăm people during the
mentioned centuries, reflecting the style and history of Chăm People.
Cultural values
Religion
It
is the religious role of Mỹ Sơn Holy land that draws people’s
curiosity. This archeological site represents the longest continuous
occupation for religious purposes, not only of the Chăm Kingdom, but
also within Southeast Asia as a whole.
Situated
inside the 2-kilometer wide valley in Quang Nam province, the My Son
Sanctuary temple complex was ever the central praying and worship
ceremony place of Cham Pa reigns. My Son is also a tool to assist the
reigns to contact with God and Saints. The land accordingly become the
significant religious and cultural center of Cham Pa reigns.
The site was inhabited from the 4th to the 15th
century AD, far longer than any of the other Indian-influenced sites in
the region including the famous sites of Angkor Wat in Cambodia,
Borobudur in Indonesia, Pagan in Myanmar, or Ayutthaya in Thailand.
Chăm-style Architecture
The
other foremost absorbing element of My Son, besides religious element,
is its unique Cham-style Art of Architecture, which was comprehensively
affected by Indian style. Each historical period has its own identity,
so that each temple worshiping a genie or a king of a different dynasty
has its own architectural style of different impression. All of the Chăm
towers were built on a quad-rate foundations and each comprises three
parts: a solid tower base, representing the world of human beings, the
mysterious and sacred tower body, representing the world of spirits, and
the tower top built in the shape of a man offering flowers and fruits
or of trees, birds, animals, etc., representing things that are close to
the spirits and human beings.
According
to many researchers of the ancient Chăm towers, the architectural art
of the Chăm towers at Mỹ Sơn Sanctuary is the convergence of different
styles, including the continuity of the ancient style in the 7th-8th centuries, the Hoa Lai style of the 8th-9th centuries, the Dong Duong style from the mid-9th
century, the Mỹ Sơn and Mỹ Sơn-Binh Dinh styles, etc. Among the
remnants of many architectural sites excavated in 1898, a 24 meters high
tower was found in the Thap Chua area and coded AI by archaeologists
and researchers on Mỹ Sơn. This tower is a masterpiece of ancient Chăm
architecture. It has two doors, one in the east and the other in the
west. The tower body is high and delicate with a system of paved
pillars; six sub-towers surrounding the tower. This two-story tower
looks like a lotus flower. The top of the upper layer is made of
sandstone and carved with elephant and I ion designs. In the lower
layer, the walls are carved with fairies, water evils and men riding
elephants. Unfortunately, the tower was destroyed by US bombs in 1969.
The
sanctuary comprises more than 70 architectural works. They include
temples and towers that connect to each other with complicated red brick
designs. The main component of the Chăm architectural design is the
tower, built to reflect the divinity of the king. Bricks are main
material for the construction of the Cham Towers. However, it has yet
been unable to figure out the reasonable explanation for the linking
material, brick baking method, and construction method of the Cham Pa.
Even these days, this still remains as an attractive secret to
contemporary people.
Although
there are not many remnants left, those that remain display the typical
sculptural works of cultural value of the Chăm nationality.They are
also vivid proof, confirming the history of a nationality living within
the Vietnamese community boasting of a rich cultural tradition.
Why is it worth a visit?
Honorably
recognized as a World Heritage in 1999, My Son Holy Land is captivating
in various cultural values. Therefore, it is extremely useful and
meaningful for those interested in Southeast Ahsian culture, which owes
its core to ancient Cham culture, to drop off the land. Although time
and the wars have destroyed some towers, the remaining sculptural and
architectural remnants still reflect the style and history of the art of
the Chăco\m people. Their masterpieces mark a glorious time for the
architecture and culture of the Chăm, as well as of Southeast Asia.
Are
you a Cham culture researcher? Are you an architect? Are you an
archeologist? Or are you just a normal tourist? Well, whichever of those
you are, you should soon pay a visit to this holy land to have
understanding of a Vietnam’s ancient cultural element of unique sacred
and mysterious beauty.
Every hotel and travel agency in Hoi An is selling excursions to Mỹ Sơn for unbelievably cheap prices. For a more rewarding experience it would be a good idea to get there before the tour buses arrive. You can hire a car and driver in Hoi An for around $20 and aim to be there at sunrise (truly atmospheric).
Or, you can
check out some itineraries offered by travel agencies via the internet
and choose the most suitable one. Even if you want to arrange a day
trip from Hoi An to My Son yourself, taking a look at some of these
itineraries to take note of the time and transport organization would
still be a good idea. Most of tours to My Son Holy-land are one day trip
that start from Hoi An ancient town. For those who want to focus on My
Son only, check out this My Son Holy-land itinerary. For those who want to explore both My Son and Hoi An, this classic trip here would be more suitable.
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