(Dan Tri) - Binh Dinh province is preserving and conserving 13 national treasures of Champa culture, dating back nearly 1,000 years. All of these treasures are original, unique, rare, and unique in form.
In 2015-2024, through the recognition of national treasures according to the Prime Minister's decision, Binh Dinh is honored to have 13 national treasures which are Champa stone sculptures. Of which, 8 treasures are on display and introduced at Binh Dinh Provincial Museum, the remaining 5 treasures are kept in localities in the province. The 13 national treasures are all original, unique, rare artifacts with unique forms. The treasures are of great value for research and awareness of cultural and historical issues related to Champa culture in Binh Dinh. This is not only an important scientific document for archaeology, but also of great value for research on history, culture, fine arts, and religion of the nation. In the Champa cultural exhibition space at Binh Dinh Provincial Museum, the relief of the goddess Mahishasuramardini is the first national treasure recognized by the Prime Minister in 2015. The relief of the goddess Mahishasuramardini is made of fine-grained siliceous stone, light yellow-gray, dating from the early 12th century. This relief was discovered in 1989, at the ruins of the Forbidden Forest tower, in Binh Nghi commune, Tay Son district, Binh Dinh. This is a beautiful relief, completely expressed in terms of composition, the most unique and largest ever discovered in the art of Champa stone sculpture. With its unique content and great artistic values, in 2003, the relief was selected by the Vienna Museum of Art History (Austria) and the Royal Museum of Art and History of Brussels (Belgium) to exhibit with the theme "Vietnam - past and present" for international friends to enjoy. The Brahma relief, made of fine-grained silica stone, light black, dated 12th-13th century, was recognized as a national treasure in 2016. The Brahma relief was discovered by experts in 1985, at the Duong Long tower relic, in Binh Hoa commune and Tay Binh commune, Tay Son district, Binh Dinh province. In Champa sculpture, Brahma is often carved with 3 heads, 4 hands holding sacred symbols and sitting on a lotus throne or Hamsa goose. However, the Brahma relief of Duong Long tower has 8 hands, of which 2 main hands are in a mudra position in front of the chest, with a necklace around the neck, with stylized lotus petal motifs. This is the difference between the Brahma relief of Duong Long tower and other Brahma reliefs in Champa sculpture and is considered a unique feature of the Brahma relief of Duong Long tower.
The pair of statues of the Garuda bird killing a snake were discovered in 2011, at the ruins of Thap Mam, in the Van Thuan area, Nhon Thanh ward, An Nhon town, Binh Dinh province. The Garuda bird killing a snake is made of fine-grained, light gray siliceous stone, dating from the mid-13th century and was recognized as a national treasure in 2017. In the mythology of Brahmanism, Garuda is a divine bird considered the king of all birds. Garuda has a mortal enemy, the Naga snake, because Garuda's mother was killed by the mother of the Naga snake, so whenever Garuda encounters a Naga snake, the divine bird immediately tears it apart in revenge. Later, Garuda was captured by the god Vishnu and became his mount. The national treasure is a relief of the goddess Sarasvati made of fine-grained, light black siliceous stone, dating from the 12th century, discovered by locals on the hillside of Phu Loc tower area, Nhon Thanh ward, An Nhon town in 1988. Currently, this relief is displayed and introduced in the Champa cultural space at Binh Dinh Museum. The sculpture is a decorative part of the architectural arch (tym - pan), carved in one piece in a pointed arch space. The content depicts the image of the goddess Sarasvati - the patron goddess of art and literature, the wife of Brahma (the god of Creation) - one of the three supreme gods of Brahmanism.
Two Dvarapala guardian statues (also known as the Black and Red statues) made of fine-grained siliceous stone, dating from the 12th-13th centuries and recognized as national treasures in 2020. These two statues are kept at Nhan Son Pagoda, Nhon Hau Commune, An Nhon Town. The two guardian statues are closely related to the ruined Tam Thap Mound architecture. In the system of statues according to Hindu mythology, the guardian god is a gate god whose function is to guard the gate or door in religious architecture. Guardian statues are often depicted in pairs, placed symmetrically on both sides of the entrance to Champa temples and towers (Photo: Binh Dinh Museum). The statue of the god Siva at Linh Son Pagoda, made of fine-grained siliceous stone, dating from the 15th century, was recognized as a national treasure in 2018. The statue was discovered underground in Hai Giang village, Nhon Hai commune, Quy Nhon city. The local people built a temple to worship the god, called Phat Loi pagoda (also known as Linh Son pagoda). In 2011, Linh Son pagoda moved to Hoi Thanh village, Nhon Hoi commune, Quy Nhon city. The statue of the god Siva at Linh Son Pagoda is one of the unique portrait statues in Hindu art of Southeast Asia, and is also the first work of a series of statues expressing the symbolic image of the combination of god and king in Champa sculpture. Relief of the guardian deity Ma Chua, discovered in 1992 at the architectural ruins of Go Ma Chua in Dai Hoa village, Nhon Hau commune, An Nhon town, Binh Dinh. The statue is made of fine-grained, light gray siliceous stone, dating from the 12th century and was recognized as a national treasure in 2021. While guardian statues are often depicted in round form, in a standing position, the guardian statue at Go Ma Chua is depicted in a semi-circular relief with only three sides carved, the back is still attached to the architectural block and is depicted in a kneeling position.
The pair of stone elephant statues from Do Ban citadel (one male, one female) made of fine-grained, light gray siliceous stone, dating from the second half of the 12th century, were recognized as national treasures in 2023. The pair of stone elephant statues are being preserved and introduced in the historical and cultural space of Champa at Do Ban citadel - the ancient capital of the Champa kingdom, in Nhon Hau commune, An Nhon town, Binh Dinh province. Elephants are familiar animals, close to humans. According to Hindu mythology, elephants are considered sacred animals, the mount of the god Indra (God of Thunder - God of War or Guardian God), one of the main gods worshiped.
Earlier this year, two stone lion statues of Do Ban citadel were recognized as national treasures by the Prime Minister. These two stone lion statues are both male, made of fine-grained silica stone, light gray-brown in color, dating from the late 11th century. These two statues were discovered in 1992 in Ba Canh village, near Canh Tien tower in Do Ban citadel area, Nhon Hau commune, An Nhon district (now An Nhon town). In Hindu legend, the lion is one of the incarnations of Vishnu - one of the three supreme gods of Hinduism. The lion is a sacred animal that has the feat of killing the evil spirit Hiranyakashipu and worshiping Brahma, so Vishnu granted immortality. The two lion statues are often depicted in symmetrical pairs placed on both sides of the entrance to Champa temples and towers.
On November 21, at Binh Dinh Provincial Museum (Quy Nhon City), the Department of Culture and Sports held a ceremony to announce the decision to recognize two stone lion statues of Do Ban citadel as national treasures and introduce national treasures of Binh Dinh province. Leaders of Binh Dinh Provincial People's Committee and the Department of Heritage presented the Prime Minister's decision recognizing two Do Ban stone lion statues as national treasures (Photo: Doan Cong). Mr. Ta Xuan Chanh, Director of the Department of Culture and Sports of Binh Dinh province, said that Binh Dinh used to be the most prosperous capital of the Champa kingdom (11th-15th century), leaving behind many priceless tangible cultural heritages, including many temples, citadels, thousand-year-old pottery kilns, sculptures, artifacts, antiques, etc. In particular, 8 Champa tower clusters with 14 tower blocks are still quite intact. "Champa sculpture is not only a cultural symbol, but also contains elements of art, history, beliefs, philosophy, reflecting the talented hands and creativity of the ancient Champa people," said Mr. Chanh.
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