Why not restore the Cham tower pattern of Khuong My?

After restoration, the pattern "disappeared"

The Khuong My Cham tower relic (Tam Xuan 1 commune, Nui Thanh district, Quang Nam ) consists of a cluster of 3 adjacent towers built in the late 9th and early 10th centuries, recognized as a national monument in 1989. With a "lifespan" of thousands of years, the tower cluster is now seriously degraded.

Many patterns on the tower cluster were not restored after restoration.

At the end of October 2019, the People's Committee of Quang Nam province approved the project to preserve the North and Middle towers with a total cost of 12.6 billion VND, invested by the Quang Nam Provincial Investment and Construction Project Management Board; the construction unit is the Institute of Science and Technology ( Ministry of Construction ).

In December 2022, the project was completed. But about 6 months later, the bricks on many new wall sections were covered with moss and "salted" on the surface (Thanh Nien reported on May 22, 2023 in the article "Thousand-year-old Cham Towers are "salted" after restoration"). Up to now, according to records, the "salted" and mossy condition has been basically cleaned and sanitized, but another problem has arisen that continues to concern public opinion: The characteristic decorative patterns on the wall pillars and wall sections of these two towers have not been restored, but replaced with flat bricks.

The patterns on the Khuong My Cham tower are considered to be an indication of the artistic and sculptural style of the ancient Cham people, so they are very valuable. In places that have not been restored, the strips of herbal patterns rolled into consecutive S-shaped letters can still be clearly seen, interspersed with decorative wall panels from the base to the top of the wall.

Patterns still remain on the Cham tower of Khuong My

IF RECOVERY WILL IT BE "FAKE"?

The representative of the Khuong My Cham tower restoration unit said that the carvings and patterns on the tower's surface were not included in the restoration plan. "The approved design estimate for the restoration of the Khuong My Cham tower did not include the restoration of patterns, so the construction unit did not carry out the restoration," said Mr. Nguyen Cong Thanh, Deputy Director of the Quang Nam Province Construction Investment Project Management Board. Even if they were included in the restoration plan, the patterns could not be restored because there was not enough documentation.

The Institute of Construction Science and Technology uses manual methods to treat and scrub the surface of bricks that are moldy and salted.

According to our research, before implementing the Khuong My Cham tower restoration project, the Department of Cultural Heritage (Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism) sent a document to the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Quang Nam province on the agreement on the content of conservation, restoration, and rehabilitation, including scientific cleaning of the tower surface, crack treatment, reinforcement of the masonry surface, and anti-corrosion preservation of the masonry; restoration and rehabilitation of the masonry (without restoring the patterns); termite prevention, and paving the floor in the tower with restored Cham bricks... However, the Department's document also stated that the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism needs to guide the investor to supplement solutions to protect the existing patterns on the brick shell.

Mr. Dang Khanh Ngoc, Director of the Institute for Monument Conservation (Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism), expressed his concern about the "saltification" situation after the restoration of the Khuong My Cham tower. If not promptly and thoroughly handled, it will affect the durability of the bricks and components in the masonry of the monument; in the long term, it can destroy the surface of the monument's bricks. According to Mr. Ngoc, the solution to prevent "saltification" and moss in the Khuong My Cham tower relic cluster needs to be comprehensive, handled from top to bottom, and both causes must be handled (rainwater seeping down from the roof and groundwater seeping up from below).

A leader of the Quang Nam Center for Monuments and Landscapes Conservation said that according to regulations for national-level monuments, before restoration, the entire dossier must be sent to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. After that, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism will have a written agreement, allowing what to do, and requesting what to adjust and repair. "Regarding the restoration of the Khuong My Cham tower, after receiving the design dossier from Quang Nam province, the Department of Cultural Heritage has issued a written agreement, in which it is clearly stated that the patterns cannot be restored," this person affirmed.

This person believes that not restoring some of the patterns on the towers "does not lose any value", however, we must try to keep the patterns intact. On the side of the Khuong My Cham tower cluster, there are still many patterns; during the restoration process, the construction unit kept them intact and did not dare to touch them. For the patterns on the corners of the towers that are corroded or damaged, flat bricks will be used during the restoration, which is in line with the requirements of the Department of Cultural Heritage.

"It's better not to restore, to restore but to make "fake patterns" is wrong. The Department of Cultural Heritage is subtle in this matter, what remains is required to be kept intact, what is no longer is recommended not to restore. Because even if restored, those patterns will not have the same historical and humanistic value as before. For example, 10 parts with 1-2 parts chipped, trimming to make them complete is okay, but if completely renewed, it is not allowed and is considered fake," this person said.

Source link: https://thanhnien.vn/vi-sao-khong-phuc-hoi-hoa-van-thap-cham-khuong-my-185230525231334763.htm