Hopes for timely 'rescue' of the Light Tower, which is on the verge of collapse.

Recent moves by the Da Nang city government to consider the restoration of the Sáng Tower (gate tower) alone are raising hopes of timely "rescue" for the only remaining architectural structure of the Đồng Dương Buddhist Monastery, a special national historical site, while the overall conservation project remains slow to implement after many years.

Following the administrative merger, Dong Duong commune (formerly part of Thang Binh district, Quang Nam province) was established with a name that coincides with the Dong Duong Buddhist Monastery, a special national historical site. This name partly reflects the special place Dong Duong holds in the community's mind and the will to honor and preserve the heritage.

A remaining section of the ancient wall of the Sáng Tower is carrying the last hope that the Đồng Dương Buddhist monastery will not disappear completely.

PHOTO: HOANG SON

However, nearly a decade after being recognized as a special national monument (in 2016), the Dong Duong Buddhist Monastery remains only a solitary section of the ancient wall of the Sáng Tower, covered in moss amidst overgrown grass.

For many years, urgent appeals to "rescue" the Sáng Tower have been repeatedly made, while the overall project to preserve and promote the value of Đồng Dương Buddhist Monastery has yet to be implemented. Ms. Phan Thị Nhi, since her time as Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Thăng Bình District (formerly), has been deeply concerned and anxious about the increasingly serious deterioration of the Sáng Tower. After the administrative reorganization and her appointment as Secretary of the Party Committee of Đồng Dương Commune, Ms. Nhi became even more worried as the monument is under the direct management of the local authorities. "The falling bricks on the Sáng Tower show that the remaining structure lacks cohesion and could collapse at any time. If the Sáng Tower collapses, what will be left of Đồng Dương Buddhist Monastery? I urgently request that relevant departments and levels of government find a solution to save this part of the tower before it's too late," Ms. Nhi said.

Dong Duong Buddhist Monastery is the origin of the masterpiece bronze statue of Bodhisattva Tara, famous for the legend of the two objects she held in her hands going missing.

PHOTO: HOANG SON

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According to Ms. Nhi, since 2010, the People's Committee of Thang Binh District has directed specialized agencies to construct wooden supports to protect the Sang Tower gate and limit the deterioration of the monument. However, due to the impact of weather and natural disasters, these supports were completely destroyed by 2013. In October 2013, metal supports were erected to protect the Sang Tower, and they remain in place to this day. In 2016, the People's Committee of Quang Nam Province (formerly) provided nearly 5 billion VND in funding to build a protective fence around Area 1, including two components: the fence, the gate, and the internal road leading to the monument.

URGENT INTERVENTION AND CONSERVATION ARE NEEDED.

In early 2024, the former Thang Binh District reported that within the 5.3-hectare protected area, there were still 11 households living there, along with 112 graves and various types of land used for agricultural production, forest land, and religious sites. Each year, the local authorities could only allocate about 20 million VND for clearing and cleaning the area around the Sang Tower.

The Tower of Light has survived thanks to the support of an "iron hand" for over 10 years.

PHOTO: HOANG SON

The Đồng Dương altar from the Đồng Dương Buddhist monastery is a national treasure currently on display at the Da Nang Cham Sculpture Museum.

PHOTO: HOANG SON

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A leader of the Da Nang City Relics and Scenic Spots Management Board said that following a meeting between the Vice Chairman of the Da Nang City People's Committee, Nguyen Thi Anh Thi, and relevant departments (in November last year), the unit is working with the Institute of Conservation of Relics to develop a plan for the Dong Duong Buddhist Monastery National Special Relic Site. Following Ms. Anh Thi's directive, the relevant authorities are adjusting the implementation timeframe from 2023-2025 to 2023-2026 for the project to repair, reinforce, restore, and promote the value of the Sang Tower. Notably, for this project specifically, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism is required to urgently implement conservation interventions in the area around the base of the tower, including: repairing and preventing the collapse of the existing tower's main structure; repairing and restoring the foundation around the tower, restoring the steps of the main entrance and the two side entrances; dismantling the existing iron support structure, preventing termite infestation, preserving and reinforcing the brick surface, and treating invasive weeds on the original brick walls…

Regarding the project to preserve and promote the value of the Dong Duong Buddhist Monastery National Special Monument, the Da Nang City People's Committee has assigned the Department of Construction and the Department of Finance to research and support the resolution of obstacles related to project planning documents and procedures, and implementation costs; and to advise competent authorities on the planning of the monument area, including the contents of the project on the Sang Tower, in order to determine the scientific basis for the preservation and restoration of the monument.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/hy-vong-cap-cuu-kip-thoi-thap-sang-dang-cho-sap-185251222235253326.htm