'Reviving' many ancient tower complexes in My Son

The project to preserve and restore the three groups of towers H, K, and A in the My Son temple complex, funded by the Indian government, has been officially completed and handed over after six years of implementation.

The project to preserve and restore the A, K, and H tower groups at My Son was launched in 2017 according to the Memorandum of Understanding dated October 28, 2014, between the Government of Vietnam and the Government of India on "Preservation and Restoration of the My Son Sanctuary World Heritage Site". After six years of implementation (from 2017 to 2022), Indian experts, in coordination with Vietnamese technical staff and the My Son Cultural Heritage Management Board, have carried out excavations and restorations of the three tower groups H, K, and A, restoring them to their original appearance as when they were discovered by the French. These architectural groups were severely damaged by time and war.

A sandstone altar with a monolithic Linga-Yoni is located in tower area A1. Photo by Mạnh Cường.

 

During the excavation and restoration process, nearly 740 valuable artifacts of various kinds were discovered, including unique artifacts of Champa sculpture, serving the purpose of exhibition and research on Champa history and culture. In particular, during the removal of the buried soil layer inside tower A10, experts discovered a sandstone altar with a complete, monolithic Linga-Yoni. This is the largest monolithic Linga-Yoni set of Champa sculpture found to date and has been recognized as a national treasure.

Mr. Phan Ho, Director of the My Son Cultural Heritage Management Board, said that after a long period of preservation and restoration, towers A, K, and H were completed and handed over on the morning of December 20th. The project was always implemented cautiously by all parties involved. First, they selected groups of towers with small scale and simple architectural structures, such as the K group, then groups of medium scale like the H group, and finally the large and complex A group. In particular, the restoration method adhered to the principles of monument preservation and archaeological restoration, emphasizing the preservation of original elements, and focusing on repositioning, reinforcement, and strengthening. The materials used in the restoration were highly compatible, making maximum use of old materials such as bricks and stones; new bricks used in the restoration were rigorously tested. According to Mr. Phan Ho, among the three groups of towers included in the conservation and restoration project, group A has the largest scale and architecture. Because it is the main temple and the largest in My Son, the restoration process requires extra caution, especially for tower A1. The restoration process has successfully rebuilt the entire brick foundation and curb around the base of the tower, restored the western door frame and the two eastern door pillars; created steps for the main entrance to the A1 worship hall; repositioned a part of the false pillar at the northwest corner; and rearranged the A1 altar to provide a basis for the scientific documentation proposing its recognition as a national treasure. Mr. Subhash Prasad Gupta, Deputy Ambassador of India to Vietnam, affirmed: “The more than 200 Cham temples scattered throughout Vietnam tell a vivid story, demonstrating the connection between the civilizations of the Vietnamese and Indian peoples. In particular, the My Son temple complex is the best example of this cultural and civilizational link between our two nations.” Mr. Subhash Prasad Gupta also stated that a high-level meeting between the Indian Prime Minister and the Vietnamese Prime Minister confirmed that India will assist Vietnam in implementing three more projects: the restoration and preservation of the F tower complex, the Dong Duong Buddhist monastery (Thang Binh District, Quang Nam Province), and the Nhan Tower in Phu Yen Province. Mr. Tran Van Tan, Vice Chairman of the Quang Nam Provincial People's Committee, said that the project implementation process has been lengthy and faced many obstacles, especially the impact of the two-year Covid-19 pandemic. However, thanks to the determination of all project participants, the concerted efforts of the team of experts and technical staff, after 6 years of implementation, the project was completed, ensuring adherence to the principles of monument preservation and receiving high praise.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/hoi-sinh-nhieu-nhom-thap-co-o-my-son-1851533865.htm