Meaning “aloe tree” transcribed from the Sanskrit word Chandan, Chien Dan is one of the ancient towers of Champa. The ancient Tower of Chien Dan now belongs to the village of Chien Dan, Tam An commune, Tam Ky town, Quang Nam province. Running along Highway 1A 10km north of Tam Ky town, 60km south of Da Nang, we can easily see the ancient tower, Chien Dan.
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Chien Dan Tower is one of the ancient towers of Champa (Photo: ST)
Tourism in Hoi An has long been very famous for many ancient landmarks with many cultural values. This is also a promised land with ancient towers with a lifespan of thousands of years. Nestled humbly to the west of National Highway 1A, the ancient Chien Dan tower chooses a perfect position with a population of three Cham towers standing parallel to each other, aligned in the north-south axis, the main doors they all turned east on a high hill.
Architectural imprints of history
In Chien Dan, it still retains the appearance of an ancient Cham tower: a square tower with roof floors, in which the central tower is higher than the rest, the arches are pointed upwards like a spear. . The ancient tower Chien Dan has an elegant and classic look similar to the style of My Son Sanctuary , but at the same time it has a transition feature with the style of Binh Dinh Cham Tower. It can be said that the ancient tower Chien Dan is a strange and unique combination of ancient Cham artisans.
The main entrance of the tower faces to the east. (Photo: ST)
Built at the end of the X century – the beginning of the 11th century, the ancient Chien Dan tower does not retain its intact structure. In addition to the central tower, still retaining the complete appearance of ancient Cham architecture with the body and roof top, the two North-South towers on either side still retain only one body. According to researchers, Nam Chien Dan tower was built first, next is the central tower and finally the North tower.
The South Tower and the North Chien Dan tower were not intact. (Photo: ST)
Each tower is called a Kalan, which is the most important striking architectural part of the tower, also known as the sub-universe. The body of the Chien Dan tower has no decorative pattern. The base of the tower is kept firmly with the foundation covered by sandstone, while there are vivid stone sculptures inspired by the Indian epic Ramayana. The baseboard decoration in the Middle tower is still the most intact, which are sophisticated carved works. The sculptures are shown in various shapes, including soldiers holding weapons in guarding or fighting positions, pictures of naked dancers dancing gracefully in ancient Champa dances. There are also pictures of goddesses, mascot statues such as Naga snake, Garuda bird, elephant, lion, stele …
Reliefs at the base of the tower, vivid depiction of the epic Ramayana. (Photo: ST)
Chien Dan dancers’ dance moves are modeled after the dancers at the radio worshiping Tra Kieu. (Photo: ST)
The statue of humans and animals in Chien Dan also preserves some features of the art of Tra Kieu, in the late X century, especially the image of elephants with their heads turned sideways with big shoulders. It can be said that the sculptures of the Chien Dan ancient tower are highly valued for both historical and artistic value, which is the interest of researchers as well as tourists.
Animals also appear on the plaques. (Photo: ST)
Preserving many valuable historical artifacts
According to archaeologists, at present, there is no cluster of three ancient towers with as much artifacts unearthed as the ancient Chien Dan tower. In 1989, Mahisasuramardini sandstone tympan (buffalo-headed demon killer) was found, depicting the goddess Devi (an incarnation of the goddess Uma) with six arms, the upper arms clasped on the head, four the other arm holds a bow, arrow, trident, ring. The goddess kicked a buffalo on the back, her right leg bent, and her right leg stretched out in a very powerful position.
An ancient stone stele was erected in the compound of the tower. (Photo: ST)
Some typical sculptures discovered at the end of 2000 include: embossed chamois of two deities, statue of a cross-legged seated goddess, a cross-legged sitting male idol, a leaf-shaped relief, a statue Brahman monk, musician statue or Makara head ornament spewing out the body … All the ancient artifacts excavated are mostly made of earth yellow sandstone with different sizes. In particular, in mid-1997, a stele of this tower was unearthed by archaeologists. It is a large rock, ground on one side, on which there are 8 ancient lines of Sanskrit – originating from the Indian script. Over time, the sculptures in Chien Dan have clearly evolved and developed.
Some artifacts are left inside the main tower. (Photo: ST)
The ancient Tower of Chien Dan is nowadays majestic and modest, standing in the middle of the flow of history as a witness to a mighty ancient era. If you have a chance to visit Quang Nam, this old but not old land will be a worthy choice to explore!
The meaning of the name of the Tower Chien Dan
According to Sanskrit, the transcription of the word Chien Dan is the word Chandan meaning aloe tree.
The ancient people used this name to name the cluster of three Cham towers standing parallel to each other on the North-South axis, but facing the same direction to the East, including: North Tower, Middle Tower and South Tower. This unique religious work was created for the purpose of worshiping three gods: SIVA, VISHNU, BRAHMA in Champa culture.
The towers also have another common name is Kalan. This is considered the most important architecture in the Hindu temple-tower complex because it represents a separate sub-universe, consisting of 3 parts:
– The base of the tower called Bhurloka represents the mundane world.
– The body of the tower is called Bhuwarloka, which means the spiritual world. It is also the intermediate area – where people purify themselves to be able to contact their ancestors, towards the spirit of merging with the gods.
The roof of the tower is called Swarloka. This part represents the divine world. This is where the gods gather. That is why they all face east. This part of the Chien Dan tower was built during the 11th and 12th centuries.
When was the Chien Dan Tower built?
The ancient Tower Chien Dan was built in the late X century – the beginning of the XI century. Over a long period of existence, affected by weather and war, the tower no longer retains its original structure. However, the central area still has a complete shape, characteristic of ancient Cham architecture, most clearly shown in the body and roof tip. Particularly two towers North – South located on both sides, only one body remains. According to researchers in history and archeology, Nam Chien Dan tower was built first, then the tower in the center and finally the North tower.
Unique architecture with bold historical imprint
As a religious – cultural work, a famous Quang Nam tourist destination, Chien Dan tower , although damaged quite a lot, brings an irresistible charm and charm to visitors. Because hidden in that thousand-year-old work, is an elegant and classic appearance that reminds people of My Son Sanctuary, and also has the style of the towers in Binh Dinh.
Above all, this tower still retains the intact look of an ancient Cham tower with a square tower with roof floors. Especially, the central tower area is much higher than the rest of the towers. In addition, all of the arches were pointed upward like a spear. With the strange and unique combination of many different Cham residence styles through the skillful hands of ancient artisans, has created impressive works in present-day Quang Nam.
If we analyze more about the architecture of the Quang Nam Chien Dan tower , each tower in this population is called a Kalan, also known as the sub-universe. All three towers have the same shape with the square base, the roof of the tower shrinking upwards. Most of the wall cladding is moderately protruding. Each tower has 3 fake doors with the upper part with a linden-shaped curved arch and an entrance.
The body of this ancient tower differs from other towers in that there is no decorative pattern. In return, the base of the tower is built extremely firmly, even the foundation and on the roof-fringed lines are covered with sandstone and touch a series of Kala faces.
Up to the present time, Chien Dan is the place to keep the largest number of sandstone sculptured artifacts in the group of 3 towers in Quang Nam including: Chien Dan, Khuong My, Bang An. Indeed, over nearly 10 centuries, this place still remains intricate and vivid works inspired by the famous Indian epic Ramayana.
Most of the sculptures in the ancient tower are shown in a variety of shapes, including soldiers holding weapons in guard or fighting postures, or naked dancers dancing in ancient Champa. old with a flexible and flexible appearance. Besides, there are pictures of goddesses, mascot statues, symbols in Cham culture such as Naga snake, Garuda bird, elephant with horizontal head with big shoulders, lion, stele, …
Particularly, the statues at the Chien Dan tower are shown quite monotonous, rustic, not as diverse or vivid as the stone carvings at the base of the tower. From the point of view of researchers, most of them do not have the gentle charm of Tra Kieu style, nor are there any cumbersome decorative details such as the Dark Tower style but more simple and healthy.
Chien Dan ancient tower with unique architecture, human and animal statues still preserves the beauty of Tra Kieu art from the end of the X century, which is highly appreciated by researchers for artistic as well as historical value. This place also receives the special attention of many domestic and foreign tourists. If you have the opportunity to come to Quang Nam, do not miss the opportunity to visit and visit this ancient relic.
Photo: Internet
