Đồng Dương tower

The Đồng Dương Tower was built in the 9th century, this was the period when Buddhism strongly influenced Champa. The tower was built by Indravarman II, the king who has followed Buddha. Early twentieth century, archaeologists have excavated and identified here is a former large Buddhist institute of Champa kingdom, was built in the IX-X century Many artifacts were found in this area has been put on the preservation and exhibition at the Museum of Cham Sculpture in Da Nang. Currently in area, the foundation of Buddhism traces of these have been buried, only seeing part of a tower, called the gate tower.

Dong Duong Buddhist institutions when it was first discovered (file photo released by the French Museum)

The Đồng Dương Tower is a monument to the most important of Champa, including the tower system is located close to each other, situated in the village of Đồng Dương, Thang Binh district, Quang Nam Province. Tower was built in the period of Champa was influenced by Buddhism, it have special properties compared to other towers in the Cham tower system, it is known as the Buddhist institute building into the city. Đồng Dương tower system was located in downtown areas of major Indrapura Indrapura dynasty period.

Based on the archaeological excavations of the French researchers in the early 20th century, has shown special architecture of this tower:
The tower of Đồng Dương is 155 meters wide and 326 meters long, it has all three groups of buildings are separated from each other by the wall and successive axis from west to east. In three clusters, only clusters west and clusters in the east are still many vestiges of architecture and sculpture

Archaeological excavations at the Buddhist Institute (French museum)

The west cluster includes of the central church tower, the tower side and a small temple along the surrounding wall, the main temple tower was a traditional tower of Champa includes basement, floors. Around the walls of the tower was decorated with the image of towers and heads of elephant.

The interior of the tower is in square shape and two large window on the north and the south, in the worship space station has a large stone church - one of the most beautiful sculptures and a lot of value on Buddhism. Beside the tower of this west cluster, there are traces of other architectures such as South Tower, North Tower, South West Tower, North West Tower, Center Tower, the smaller shrines around the wall, the gate tower...

At the cluster center, the architecture was almost ruined, just only traces in the walls, entrance doors, ... One of the most important architecture of this cluster is a long house go along to the east - west. The house was lighted by two rows of windows on both sides by long walls, although not so many vestiges of architecture and sculpture as in the west cluster, but some statues like Dvarapala stone statue, is not only the most beautiful, most impressive of the Đồng Dương but also the art history Champa

At the east cluster, was the architecture that functions as a true Buddhist institute, in this cluster beside the long house there's no trace of any tower. The long house was built on two rows of eight columns, two major columns, the columns were of brick and in square shape.

Altar of Vihara in this cluster has Buddha Sakyamuni statue, the front of the pedestal is decorated with statues with four head and eight arms, seated above the seated Buddha with hands on knees, around the statue with the small stone represents the standing and kneeling monk and Arhat

"As announced in 1901 by L.Finot, was discovered at Đồng Dương 229 artifacts, including the famous bronze Buddha statue with 1m high - one of the most ancient Buddha statues and one the most beautiful bronze statue in Southeast Asia. A year later, in 1902, a French archaeologists, H.Partmentier were excavating Đồng Dương and discovered a largest cluster and the most unique of Champa architectures in the Southeast Asia ... ".

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