Phu Yen announced the decision to recognize the Kala Ba Mountain Relief as a national treasure.

Previously, Deputy Prime Minister Le Thanh Long signed Decision No. 1712/QD-TTg dated December 31, 2024 on recognizing 33 artifacts and groups of artifacts, including the Kala Nui Ba relief, dating from the 14th century, currently kept at the Phu Yen Provincial Museum, as national treasures.

Authorized by the Prime Minister, Mr. Dao My, Vice Chairman of Phu Yen Provincial People's Committee, presented the Prime Minister's decision recognizing the Kala Nui Ba Relief to a representative of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Phu Yen province. Photo: Huu Toan

32 years ago, during an excavation of the Ba Mountain relic, My Thanh Dong 1 village, Hoa Phong commune, Tay Hoa district (Phu Yen), researchers and archaeologists discovered the Kala relief in the excavation pit. This treasure is basically intact, with only a small chip at the tip. The Ba Mountain site is 60m high, located on the right bank of the Da Rang River, with the foundation of Champa architecture, square plan, side 9.5m.

Front of Kala Nui Ba Relief

The Kala Nui Ba relief is a Champa stone sculpture made of Daxit Riolit stone, 60cm high, 44cm wide base, 17cm thick, and weighs 105.5kg. The Kala Nui Ba relief looks straight ahead with a wide mouth, 8 teeth, thick beard, two big round eyes, thick eyelashes, a prominent forehead, a big round nose, a short and broken nose bridge, a thick mane with 4 layers, elaborately crafted, meticulous and sharp lines, harmonious and symmetrical composition, prominent shapes, clearly expressing the spirit of Kala's face, looking very fierce and full of legends.

Ba Mountain, My Thanh Dong 1 village, Hoa Phong commune, Tay Hoa district (Phu Yen) - where the Kala relief artifact was found, recognized as a national treasure.

The age of the Kala Relief was determined to be around the 14th century based on the age of the Nui Ba Tower relic - where the treasure was found, especially the Kala Nui Ba Relief is unique.

In Champa sculpture, Kala is the manifestation of the god Siva, the destroyer and creator of the universe in Hinduism. Kala means time, symbolizing destruction for regeneration and death for rebirth. In Champa culture, Kala reliefs have special value, are an important component, have a close organic relationship, and are unified with temple architecture.

Source: https://cand.com.vn/Chuyen-dong-van-hoa/phu-yen-cong-bo-quyet-dinh-cong-nhan-bao-vat-quoc-gia-phu-dieu-kala-nui-ba-i763715/