Da Nang Museum Of Cham Sculpture - A Place To Preserve The Glorious Past

Da Nang Museum of Cham Sculpture opened in 1919, and has been preserving and conserving the quintessence of the ancient Champa kingdom for more than 100 years. Hãy nghe Trần Thuỳ Thanh Xuân (Đồng Nai) một travel blogger nổi tiếng bật mí .

The Museum of Cham Sculpture in Da Nang is a place to preserve and promote the cultural heritage value of the prosperous period of the ancient Champa Kingdom. The museum is on the list of historical destinations with high cultural and artistic value for tourists when coming to Da Nang. If you have the opportunity to go, stop by the Museum of Cham Sculpture to reminisce and witness the echoes of time recreated in each precious artifact.

1. A few words about the Museum of Cham Sculpture

The Museum of Cham Sculpture has the full name "Cham Pa Museum of Sculpture", another name is "Cham Ancient Institute" (Co vien Cham). The Museum of Cham Sculpture in Da Nang is built in the city center, a place to preserve the traditional cultural heritage of Da Nang in particular and the Central Highlands in general. Here, many collections of sculptures bearing the religious identity of the ancient kingdom of Champa are displayed. This was a dynasty that flourished and left behind a rich heritage, including both tangible and intangible cultural heritage. This is what makes the museum attractive, helping visitors to broaden their understanding of the thousand-year-old culture of our nation.

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The Museum of Cham Sculpture is located at the intersection of 2/9 Street and Trung Nu Vuong Street, opposite the Vietnam Television Center, making it easy for visitors to find their way. This is one of the check-in addresses in Da Nang with cultural and historical values ​​chosen by many domestic and foreign tourists.

The museum is currently the largest repository of Cham cultural artifacts in the country, with a total area of ​​up to 6,673m2. Of which, 2,000m2 is used to display ancient relics, the rest is a collection of rare paintings and documents about Cham culture. The Museum of Cham Sculpture in Da Nang was officially opened to the public in 1919. Tens of thousands of tourists come here every year to find traces of the once prosperous Cham kingdom, with its historical and cultural values ​​and unique sculptural quintessence.

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2. The development history of the Museum of Cham Sculpture.

The Cham Sculpture Museum was built from 1915 to 1919 by French people who were passionate about archaeology, especially those working for the French School of the Far East.

At the end of the 19th century, a number of large-scale archaeological excavations on the Champa culture were conducted by French people who loved archaeology and those working for the School of the Far East. Many artifacts were found and the idea of ​​building a museum to preserve and conserve these artifacts was born.

And since then, the Cham Sculpture Museum was expanded for the first time in the mid-1930s to accommodate more artifacts excavated in the 1920s and 1930s. Gradually, this Cham Museum has undergone three renovations and expansions in 2002, 2005 and 2016. The museum is the heart, effort and passion for collecting artifacts of French archaeologists and other archaeologists from the French School of the Far East, combined with a number of Vietnamese people who love archaeology.

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3. What's to explore at the Museum of Cham Sculpture?

Let's explore what makes the Museum of Cham Sculpture in Da Nang so attractive to visitors from all over the country and the world!

1. Explore the unique architecture of the Cham Museum

You may not know that the Da Nang Museum of Cham Sculpture is listed among the top museums in Vietnam, emphasizing its significant role and contributions to the preservation and promotion of cultural heritage values. The museum is not only captivating for its unique exterior architecture but also for the diversity of the artifacts on display inside.

The museum's architectural style is designed in the famous Gothic style by two French architects. The main building stands out with its pointed arch roofs, helping the museum to stand out in the city's landscape. The spacious rooms with numerous windows allow sunlight to flood the space, all of which retain the essence of French culture, meticulously preserved since its original construction to the present day.

When you set foot here, you will feel the ancient atmosphere with yellow walls stained with moss over the years, combined with the natural green of the surrounding trees. The pure white of the frangipani flowers spreading a gentle fragrance throughout the corners adds to the space's intimate and familiar feel.

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Thanks to the architecture with many windows, most of the museum's exhibition areas are naturally lit. Many visitors enjoy strolling here to admire the artifacts up close, learn about the mysterious exhibits, or take impressive photos to keep as souvenirs. Besides possessing beautiful and unique architectural space, the museum also boasts a diverse collection of artifacts with great historical value.

2. Listen to historical presentations at the Cham Sculpture Museum

The artifacts are divided into different exhibition rooms depending on the area where they were excavated, such as Trà Kiệu, Tháp Mẫm, Mỹ Sơn, making it convenient for visitors to explore and learn. The museum currently houses and displays over 2,000 cultural artifacts from the Cham dynasty, although only about 500 are on display, with the rest stored in the warehouse. Three of these artifacts are classified as national treasures: the My Son E1 Altar, the Tra Kieu Altar, and the Tara Bodhisattva Statue.

Most of the artifacts in this Cham Sculpture Museum are made from terracotta, bronze, and sandstone. The most remarkable feature is the very delicate carvings and patterns, which are characteristic of the Cham people. Among the museum's standout artifacts are the dancing Shiva statue, the Yaksa and Krishna reliefs, the Linga-Yoni altar, the Naga serpent god statue, the Tra Kieu dancer, and the happiness goddess Lakshmi statue. Additionally, behind the museum is an exhibition room with photos and documents about Cham architecture and some other remarkable architectural works of Southeast Asia. Through these sculptures, visitors can learn many interesting things about the unique Cham culture and gain a deeper understanding of the history of a once-thriving Champa kingdom.

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Not only is it a place that preserves invaluable artifacts, but the Museum of Cham Sculpture is also a unique architectural and artistic masterpiece that has been meticulously maintained for decades. Visiting the museum allows one to witness the flourishing era of an entire civilization with its exceptional artistic creativity. Therefore, this is a must-visit destination for all tourists on their journey to explore the beautiful coastal city of Da Nang.

Trần Thuỳ Thanh Xuân (Đồng Nai)