The Chinese control of Vietnam
was more or less contemporaneous with the Cham Kingdom .
They tolerated its presence and used it as a source of income via tribute and,
from time to time, plunder. However, once the Vietnamese had driven their
oppressors back across the border, they turned their attentions southwards and
began a long war of attrition that culminated in the demise of the kingdom and
the assimilation of most of its people.
The My Son Sanctuary complex of religious monuments originally comprised of more than 70 structures of which 25 remain in varying degrees of ruin. The Cham people erected monumental towers on square or rectangular foundations. They comprised of three elements:
the base represented the world of humans
the tower body represented the world of spirits
the tower head (typically lotus shaped) represented the realm between the two worlds. The structures were usually built of baked bricks and sandstone.
The builders of My Son derived their cultural and spiritual influences almost exclusively from
The building techniques are less certain. The thin red bricks used in their construction indicate a very high level of skill. Various theories have been put forward to account for the unerring accuracy of the brickwork. One suggests that they were stuck together by some form of vegetable glue. Another proposes that the towers were erected with the bricks in a dried state and were fired in situ by piling wood against the edifice to create an enormous outdoor ‘kiln’. For anyone who has closely inspected the remarkable regularity of the joint and bonding courses, both seem unlikely explanations.
Unfortunately, the
The process of decay has continued since, and what remains is in a poor state of repair. The site’s designation as a UNESCO World Heritage Area has reinvigorated interest in its conservation and has already attracted significant resources to that end, notably from
Despite its neglected appearance, My Son is worth a visit. It is in an attractive valley, well away from any other buildings, in the mists of a wooded area. It’s usually quiet, peaceful, and very evocative. Even in their ruined state, the towers are impressive, and the scale of the endeavour makes its religious significance obvious.
If you visit the site, remember to take sunscreen because the valley is a sun trap, and if you see anyone climbing on the remains of the towers to take photographs, please remind them of their responsibility to help in its conservation!