My Son - the most magnificent religious site.

The ancient Champa people imbued their spirituality into the rocks and relied on nature to create the magnificent, solemn, and majestic My Son. Visiting My Son, tourists not only have the opportunity to admire dozens of temples and towers showcasing various architectural and sculptural styles, but also to immerse themselves in the enchanting Champa dances.

My Son Sanctuary. (Photo: VNA)

A museum of priceless architectural and sculptural art for humanity.

Located approximately 70km from Da Nang city, in Duy Phu commune, Duy Xuyen district, Quang Nam province, the My Son Sanctuary lies in a valley about 2km in diameter, surrounded by rolling hills and mountains, featuring a complex of Cham temples and shrines. It was once a site of religious ceremonies and the burial ground of kings, officials, and royal family members of the ancient Cham dynasties. In 1999, the My Son Sanctuary was recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. Here, the Cham civilization is embodied in enduring material evidence, evident in the temple and tower structures, containing historical, cultural, architectural, and artistic values ​​established over a long period. It is considered on par with other famous sites in Southeast Asia such as Angkor Wat (Cambodia), Ayutthaya (Thailand), Pagan (Myanmar), and Borobudur (Indonesia).

Spanning many centuries, My Son is a complex of more than 70 temples and towers, showcasing diverse architectural and sculptural styles typical of each historical period of the Champa kingdom.

The My Son Sanctuary is considered the most magnificent and distinctive religious site of the Champa people because it was built continuously for over 1,000 years, from the 4th century by King Bhadravarman (reigned from 349 to 361) to the late 13th and early 14th centuries under King Jaya Simhavarman III (Che Man). Spanning many centuries, My Son is a complex of more than 70 temples and towers showcasing various architectural and sculptural styles typical of each historical period of the Champa kingdom. Most of the architectural works and sculptures at My Son are influenced by Hinduism. The towers are all pyramidal in shape, symbolizing the sacred Mount Meru, the abode of Hindu gods. The tower gates usually face east to receive sunlight. The outer walls of the towers are often decorated with intertwined leaf patterns in the shape of S. The decorative elements include sandstone sculptures of Makara (a mythical beast, a sea monster with sharp fangs and a long trunk), Apsara dancers, lions, elephants, the mythical bird Garuda, and praying figures. The entire sanctuary consists of two hills facing each other in an east-west direction, situated at the confluence of a stream whose branches have become natural boundaries dividing the area into four zones: A, B, C, and D. This division aligns with feng shui principles and avoids fragmenting the overall architectural structure. The temples at My Son are divided into several clusters, built according to the same principles. Each cluster consists of smaller towers or auxiliary structures surrounding the main temple (Kalan). The main temple symbolizes Mount Meru – the center of the universe, the gathering place of the gods. The main temples enshrine a set of Linga or images of the god Siva – the protector of the Champa royal dynasties. The auxiliary temples enshrine deities who oversee the celestial directions. The auxiliary structures are tiled-roof towers, where pilgrims performed rituals and stored offerings. Time and war have severely damaged the site. But what remains still plays an extremely important role in the world's historical, cultural, architectural, and artistic heritage. According to architect Kazik (Kazimiers-Kwiatkowski), "This is an invaluable museum of architectural and sculptural art for humanity. The ancient Champa people infused their spirituality into the earth and stone; and relied on nature to create a magnificent, solemn, and majestic My Son."

Lost in the ancient Cham culture

Visiting My Son, we can still see ancient sandstone steles inscribed with characters over 1,000 years old, yet still remarkably clear and beautiful... We can still see the core, outstanding characteristic of Cham sculpture: the vibrant energy of the people, with their inner feelings sometimes soaring and exhilarating, sometimes calm and pensive, and sometimes troubled and tormented. What remains here still possesses the mysterious beauty of the unique architecture of the Champa people. This is what attracts domestic and international tourists to visit and explore , leaving them amazed and admiring the architecture, sculpture, and decoration of the ancient Champa people. In particular, the technique of bonding materials without mortar in the construction of the temples and towers at My Son remains a mystery to this day… Not only does it boast distinctive architecture, but it also contains the unique cultural features of the Cham people, with their gentle and graceful Cham dances. In the ceremonial dance, Cham dancers carry candles, water, flowers, fruits, and betel nuts on their heads to offer to the deities. Their graceful movements, celebrating the beauty and exquisite curves bestowed by nature, easily captivate visitors to My Son. In addition, visitors can enjoy many unique artistic activities such as folk performances, fire-biting dances, ceremonial dances, and water-carrying dances. This is also a destination that attracts many photographers and backpackers who love mystery and uniqueness to explore and discover. Visitors can stop to experience some nearby places: such as Tra Kieu Church, Our Lady of Tra Kieu, and the Sa Huynh - Champa Cultural Museum. Or enjoy local specialties such as: tapioca dumplings, Tam Ky chicken rice, Quang Nam green eel porridge, rice cakes, and Quang noodles... with family and friends. Visiting My Son during the festival, tourists will witness Cham religious dignitaries performing rituals to pray for peace at the towers according to traditional customs. They can also enjoy other traditional ceremonies such as ceremonial costumes, palanquin processions, water processions, cultural exchanges, performances of Cham traditional musical instruments, and graceful and skillful Cham dances. Especially during the Katê festival, you will witness the enchanting dance – the "soul of the stone" dance – which will transport you to ancient Cham culture, with images of girls in dazzling, shimmering costumes, accompanied by the mesmerizing sounds of the Paranung drums and Sarainai flutes...

Source: https://nhandan.vn/my-son-khu-di-tich-ton-giao-ky-vi-nhat-post855304.html