The Champa Museum in Da Nang

The Champa Sculpture Museum was built by the French School for Far Eastern Studies in 1915 and opened as a public Museum in 1939. It has a large collection of sandstone and baked clay objects, indeed the largest there is, which is not too surprising as Da Nang is at the centre of the Champa kingdom and the finds exhibited come from the surrounding Provinces. There is a very special interest in this culture for here we can still see the meeting of three diverse societies: Hindu, Buddhist and Confucian. And begin to see how their art interacts.

April 2011

Champa Museum Entrance
Champa Museum Entrance
Champa Museum Entrance The pleasant treed entrance to the Museum gives the impression of a small building, but to the rear it rises to two stories, with considerable gallery space. Plinth of 10th Century Pedestal - 1
Plinth of 10th Century Pedestal - 1
Plinth of 10th Century Pedestal - 1 One of the first major objects is this decorated plinth with different sets of figures on each side. The style is Hindu to untrained eyes - like mine, but the restraint, grace and motifs mark it out as a Cham work. Plinth of 10th Century Pedestal - 2
Plinth of 10th Century Pedestal - 2
Plinth of 10th Century Pedestal - 2 Bronze figure from the year 900 - front Bronze figure from the year 900 - front Bronze figure from the year 900 - front Bronze figure from the year 900 - rear Bronze figure from the year 900 - rear Bronze figure from the year 900 - rear Male figure from the My Son Site Doors to Gardens Doors to Gardens

Carvings in the museum are all very well preserved, the best having been taken from their original sites a hundred or more years ago. But it is interesting to see the original works in situ. Here, (last image) is a deity from My Son, now under cover. And next one still in its original position From the My Son Site From the My Son Site From the My Son Site

Blending of different cultural styles
Blending of different cultural styles
Blending of different cultural styles Female form important to Cham art
Female form important to Cham art
Female form important to Cham art A Thai-like dancer A Thai-like dancer A Thai-like dancer And the male form as well. lingam and breasts abound on the sites. And it is fun to see that modern tourists have not lost their interest in such objects Lingam and breasts motif Lingam and breasts motif Lingam and breasts motif Many lingam on the My Son Site
Many lingam on the My Son Site
Many lingam on the My Son Site Examples of movement - 1
Examples of movement - 1
Examples of movement - 1 Many of the works on display are representations of gods and their deeds. In these examples the power of their motion is shown by repeating the arm. Examples of movement - 2
Examples of movement - 2
Examples of movement - 2 God Visnu from circa yr 1100
God Visnu from circa yr 1100
God Visnu from circa yr 1100 Some of the gods are familiar such as this very fine carving of Garnisha - the elephant god. He seems to have something of the Buddha in his way of sitting and this is not surprising as although many works are of Hindu deities and stories, there are also many representations of the Buddha. Ganesha Ganesha Ganesha Buddhist ensemble
Buddhist ensemble
Buddhist ensemble This set of Buddhist figures have been reassembled in the Museum. They were in a series of temples that were built in the late 800s. Buddhist ensemble - detail
Buddhist ensemble - detail
Buddhist ensemble - detail Stele - Stone with writing Stele - Stone with writing Stele - Stone with writing Hindu Dragons? - 1
Hindu Dragons? - 1
Hindu Dragons? - 1 Hindu Dragons? - 2
Hindu Dragons? - 2
Hindu Dragons? - 2 Soldier's bracelet - 2300 yrs ago
Bronze Soldier's bracelet-2300 yrs
Bronze Soldier's bracelet-2300 yrs Sedan Chair - Nineteenth Century
Sedan Chair nineteenth Century
Sedan Chair nineteenth Century The upper floors of the museum have varied collection of items from the area ranging from ancient bronze work to items from the estates of the 19th century Emperors Pottery from 18th Century Pottery from 18th Century Pottery from 18th Century Coins from ship of c. 1600 Coins from ship of c. 1600 Coins from ship of c. 1600 The Museum seems open for most of most days, it is right by the river, a kilometre or so south of the central bridge. Coffee shops in Trung Nu Vuong - the road at the west of the buildings.