Central city gets two more National Treasures
Stature of Ganesha, one of the best-known and most worshipped deities in the Hindu pantheon, is on display
Located right in the city center, the Danang Museum of Cham Sculpture is a must-stop for those interested in discovering the treasures of ancient Champa cultural heritage in the Central and Central Highlands regions.
Da Nang Museum of Cham Sculpture has the full name of Champa Sculpture Museum or is known by another name, Cham Museum. The museum is located at No. 2, 2/9 Street, Hai Chau District, Da Nang, opposite the Vietnam Television Center. This location is very easy to find and also very convenient to travel to. This place has become a tourist destination with cultural – historical value that many tourists choose to visit.
Da Nang Museum of Cham Sculpture (Photo: 1004eunjj)Museum of Cham Sculpture was put into operation in 1919 after 5 years of construction. Currently, this place is storing and displaying many cultural artifacts from the Champa period with the largest size. The museum has a total area of up to 6673 m2, of which about 2,000 m2 is a place to display ancient relics. In addition, there is an area for documents and pictures about the Cham culture and other cultures. Coming here, you have the opportunity to discover the ancient flourishing kingdom of Champa and the quintessence of Cham sculpture.
Inside the museum (Photo: h_mlinh112)Ticket price: 60k/person/way.
Hours of operation: 7:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. daily.
In particular, the museum has an exemption and reduction policy for a number of priority objects.
(Photo: vxthao_2803)The idea of building the Museum for the purpose of preserving Champa sculptures in Da Nang has been around since 1902. In which, it must be mentioned that EFEO’s project has a great contribution from the director. Department of Archeology, Henri Parmentier. After many efforts and efforts, the first building was also built in 1915, completed in 1916, and opened to visitors in 1919.
Museum of the pastThe original design of the building was drawn up by two French architects, Auclair and Delaval, based on the suggestion of Henri Parmentier about using some lines of the Champa temples. Although it has undergone many renovations and expansions, the features of the original architecture are almost still preserved today after more than 100 years.
In 2011, the Da Nang Museum of Cham Sculpture was ranked in the list of first-class museums of our country. Thereby, affirming the role and contribution of the Museum in preserving, displaying, and promoting the value of Champa cultural heritage in particular and of Vietnam in general.
The museum has undergone several renovationsThe architectural style of the Da Nang Cham Sculpture Museum is designed in the Gothic style. The highlight of the main building is the arc-shaped roof, the pointed tip makes the whole museum stand out in the heart of the city. In addition, there are large rooms, many windows to welcome light,… All of them are imbued with the original French culture that has been preserved since its inception and is still carefully preserved to this day.
(Photo: ony.98)When you come here, you will feel a very ancient space with yellow walls tinged with moss over the years, combined with the natural green of the surrounding plants. Adding to that is the pure white color of porcelain flowers spreading a gentle scent everywhere, creating an atmosphere of intimacy and familiarity.
Thanks to the architectural style of installing many windows, most of the museum’s display areas are flooded with natural light. There are many groups of visitors who like to come here to walk around to see the trees, see the artifacts inside, and learn more about the mysterious artifacts. In addition to possessing beautiful and unique architecture, the museum also has a rich system of antiques of valuable value.
(Photo: susu.na29)Currently, the Da Nang Museum of Cham Sculpture is storing more than 2,000 large and small antiques, of which about 500 are on display, the rest are carefully preserved in the warehouse.
(Photo: vilovely25)The sculptures are mostly original, made from 3 main materials: terracotta, sandstone, and copper. They date from the VII – XV centuries, reflecting the daily life, culture, spirituality and beliefs of the Cham Pa community. Most of the works describe the gods in Hinduism such as: the happy god Laksmi, the god Shiva, the snake god Naga, etc. Besides, there are also works related to human life.
Artifacts of Champa culture on displayThe works in the museum are not only unique in terms of materials but also show the pinnacle of sculptural art in terms of shape, content, and thought. Antiquities are arranged into galleries according to the geographical area they were unearthed such as: My Son, Quang Nam, Quang Tri, Tra Kieu, Quang Ngai,… That division not only helps tourists. It’s convenient for visitors to visit, but it’s also easy to recognize where they were born.
My Son Temple Bodhisattva StatueWhen traveling to Da Nang and visiting the Da Nang Museum of Cham Sculpture, you will get rid of all your daily worries. Not only can you immerse yourself in the silence with nostalgia for a flourishing Champa kingdom in the past, but you can also expand your knowledge of culture, history, and sculpture.
Photo: Internet