My Son: A World Cultural Heritage
In early centuries, a brilliant Champa civilization developed in Central Vietnam. Quang Nam province was then known as Amaravati, the heart of the Champa kingdom, for along period of time. My Son tower temples are located in Duy Phu commune,Duy Xuyen district, 45 km West of Hoi An and 70 km South West of Da Nang.
In 1898, M.C.Paris, a French man discovered the tower temples in a valley covered by thick forests. Later, scientists from the French Far East Institute came and started the research on the architecture and sculpture. Their study proved that My Son is the most brilliant and unique heritage of Champa civilization built in over 1,000 years. The construction started in the 4th century by King Bhadravarman (349-361) and completed in late 13th and early 14th centuries under the reign of King Jaya Simhavarman III (Che Man). My Son relics comprises of over 70 tower temples with unique architechture and sculpture for each period of Champa history. Most of them are influenced by Hinduism. The tower temples look to the East, facing the sunrise, as the shrine of Gods. Meanwhile those look to the West, or both West and East, are for the after-life of the Kings and in honour of the ancestors.
Although damage by weather and war have reduced My Son relics to only some 20 towers, documentations in Da Nang Champa Museum and Ho Chi Minh City Museum are sufficient to win the admiration for Champa civilization. Until now, scientists fail to explain the mystery how can My Son towers stand without adhesive material sticking bricks together.
Though smaller than Angkor (Cambodia), Pagan (Myanmar), Borobudur (Indonesia), My Son occupies an important position in the culture and arts of South East Asia. In February 1999, together with Hoi An, My Son was recognized by UNESCO as a world cultural heritage. Hundred thousand of tourists and researchers keep visiting My Son every year.
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