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Officially opened on 28th April 2004, the enlarged buiding is home to a new collection of approximately 150 works of various styles of Cham art mainly collected after 1975. The  collection is now classified into sub-collections named are in accord with their origins: Quang Tri, Tra Kieu, Quang Nam, An My, Chien Dan, Binh Dinh – Thap Mam, Qua Giang – Khue Trung and Phu Hung.
 
 
 1. Goddess.
Date: 8th century
Material: Sandstone
ID No:  [802] / D43]
Location: An My
 
This sculpture is also known as the An My goddess in relation to its origin. The goddess is portrayed as having a square face, plump cheeks, open eyes with pupils, wide nose, thick lips and a light, gentle smile which seems to make her look calm and benovelent. Behind the goddess’s head is a halo. The necklace is adorned with lively chains of flower; however, the two full breasts seems a little disproportionate compared with the whole sculpture composition.
 
This goddess is still unidentified iconographically due to the lack of certain attributes.
 
2. Hanuman.
Date: 11th – 12th century
Material: Sandstone
ID No: [927 / D69]
Location: Phu Hung
 
Hanuman, a monkey deity, is one of the main characters in the Indian epic, the Ramayana. He is Rama’s faithful general and famous for his learning, agility and speed and is widely revered by the Indian people.
 
This round sculpture shows Hanuman as sitting in the Java posture. His face looks quite funny and friendly.
 
3. Elephant.
Date: 11th – 12th
Material: Sandstone
ID No: [939 / D81]
Location: Phu Hung
 
Partly due to their prevalence in daily life as well as in war time, elephants appeared quite often in Cham sculptural works and generally look lifelike. Sometimes they are adorned with flowers on their heads in an amusing way.
 
4. Decorative object.
Date: 11th – 12th century
Material: Sandstone
ID No: [825 / D54]
Location: Chien Dan
 
The architectural ornament excellently depicts a Makara spitting out a charming dancer from its gaping maw. The dancer has a supple posture with two arms raised, one leg bent to the right  and the other raised to the left. Architectural ornament is the significant theme of the Chien Dan collection, which was found in Chien Dan temples in Tam Ky, Quang Nam Province in 1989.

 

 

5. Stele.
Date: 10th century
Material: Sandstone
ID No: [DN 183]
Location: Khue Trung
 
Cham inscriptions are of great importance when exploring its history, people and culture. This stele, whose four sides are minutely carved, is one of 120 found in central Viet Nam so far. Old Cham inscriptions are basically based on Sankrit, an ancient Indian language.
 
6. Tara.
Date:  9th century
Material: Bronze
ID No: [535 KL103]
Location: Dong Duong
 
Tara embodies the feminine aspect of compassion. She is devoted to alleviating the suffering of people. The statue, found accidentally in 1978 by the locals, is the largest known Cham bronze. It is an intense expression of the artistic originality of the period, fusing Indian and Chinese influence with authentic Cham tradition. The broad shoulders seem to contrast with the ample breasts and the disproportionately long arms. The garment consists of two overlapping skirts and the hairstyle is so meticulous.
 
The bronze is believed to have been the main altar of Dong Duong monastary. Together with other Buddhist artefacts found in this area, it reflects the great period of Buddhism of Champa in the 9th and 10th centuries.
 
7. Nandin.
Date:  7th -8th century
Material: Sandstone
ID No: [7.2]
Location: Quang Nam
 
The holy bull Nandin, or Nandi, is the faithful attendant and follower of Shiva. On most of paintings and sculptures of Shiva, the bull, or sometimes its head, is visible.
 
In Cham art, the animal was also depicted as accompanying Shiva, or in the form of round statues which were put in the garden or in front of temples.
 
(01/10/2008)
 

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