View source for Mỹ Sơn

{{Short description|Ruins of Hindu temples in Quảng Nam province, Vietnam}}
{{Redirect|My Son|other uses|My Son (disambiguation)}}
{{Infobox Mandir
| name               = Mỹ Sơn
| image              = My Son.jpg
| alt          =
| caption            =
| map_type        = Vietnam
| map_caption        = Location in Vietnam
200
| coordinates        = {{coord|15|46|N|108|07|E|type:landmark_region:VN_source:dewiki|display=inline,title}}
| country            = [[Vietnam]]
| province           = [[Quảng Nam Province|Quảng Nam]]
| district           =
| location           =
| elevation_m        =
| deity      = [[Shiva|Śiva]], Bhadresvara
| festivals=
| architecture       = [[Cham (Asia)|Cham]]
| temple_quantity  =
| monument_quantity=
| inscriptions       =
| year_completed         = 4th century AD
| creator            =
| website            =
| footnotes           ={{Infobox UNESCO World Heritage Site
| child         = yes
| official_name = My Son Sanctuary
| criteria      = {{UNESCO WHS type|(ii), (iii)}}(ii), (iii)
| ID            = 949
| year          = 1999
| area          = {{convert|142|ha|sqmi|abbr=on}}
| buffer_zone   = {{convert|920|ha|sqmi|abbr=on}}
}}
}}

'''Mỹ Sơn''' ({{IPA|vi|mǐˀ səːn}}) is a cluster of abandoned and partially ruined [[Shaiva]] [[Hindu temple]]s in central [[Vietnam]], constructed between the 4th and the 13th century by the Kings of [[Champa]], an Indianized kingdom of the [[Cham people]].<ref>{{cite web|title=KINGDOM OF CHAMPA|url=https://facultystaff.richmond.edu/~ebolt/history398/KingdomOfChampa.html|access-date=2012-05-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120503061157/https://facultystaff.richmond.edu/~ebolt/history398/KingdomOfChampa.html|archive-date=2012-05-03|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>Andrew David Hardy, Mauro Cucarzi, Patrizia Zolese ''Champa and the Archaeology of Mỹ Sơn'' 2009</ref> The temples are dedicated to the veneration of God in accordance with [[Shaivism]], wherein God is named [[Shiva]], or The Auspicious One. In this particular complex, he is venerated under various local names, the most important of which is '''Bhadreshvara'''.

Mỹ Sơn is located near the village of Duy Phú, in the administrative district of [[Duy Xuyên District|Duy Xuyên]] in [[Quảng Nam Province]] in [[Central Vietnam]], 69&nbsp;km southwest of [[Da Nang]], and approximately 10&nbsp;km from the historic Champa capital of [[Trà Kiệu]]. The temples are in a valley roughly two kilometres wide that is surrounded by two mountain ranges.

From the 4th to the 13th century AD, the valley at Mỹ Sơn was a site of religious ceremony for kings of the ruling dynasties of Champa, as well as a burial place for Cham royalty and national heroes. It was closely associated with the nearby Cham cities of [[Indrapura (Champa)|Indrapura]] (Đồng Dương) and Simhapura (Trà Kiệu). At one time, the site encompassed over 70 temples as well as numerous [[stele]] bearing historically important inscriptions in [[Sanskrit]] and [[Cham language|Cham]].<ref>Ngô Văn Doanh, ''My Son Relics'', p.3-4.</ref>

Mỹ Sơn is perhaps the longest inhabited archaeological site in [[Mainland Southeast Asia]], but a large majority of its architecture was destroyed by US bombing during a single week of the [[Vietnam War]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://globalheritagefund.org/what_we_do/site_significance/completed_projects/my_son_vietnam|title=My Son, Vietnam|publisher=Global Heritage Fund|year=2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110203191330/http://globalheritagefund.org/what_we_do/site_significance/completed_projects/my_son_vietnam|archive-date=2011-02-03}}</ref>

The Mỹ Sơn temple complex is regarded one of the foremost [[Shaiva]] Hindu temple complexes in Southeast Asia and is the foremost heritage site of this nature in Vietnam. It is often compared with other historical temple complexes in Southeast Asia, such as [[Borobudur]] of [[Java]] in [[Indonesia]], [[Angkor Wat]] of [[Cambodia]], [[Wat Phou]] of [[Laos]], [[Bagan]] of [[Myanmar]] and [[Phimai Historical Park|Prasat Hin Phimai]] of [[Thailand]]. As of 1999, Mỹ Sơn has been recognized by [[UNESCO]] as a [[World Heritage Site]]. At its 23rd meeting, UNESCO accorded Mỹ Sơn this recognition pursuant to its criterion C (II), as an example of evolution and change in culture, and pursuant to its criterion C (III), as evidence of an Asian civilization which is now extinct.

== History ==
The over 70 temples and tombs extant at Mỹ Sơn have been dated to the period between the 4th century and the 13th century AD. However, the inscriptions and other evidence indicate that earlier now defunct constructions probably were present from the 4th century.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/949/|title=My Son Sanctuary|first=UNESCO World Heritage|last=Centre|website=UNESCO World Heritage Centre}}</ref> The complex may have been the religious and cultural centre of historical [[Champa]], while the government was based in nearby [[Trà Kiệu|Simhapura]] or [[Indrapura (Champa)|Đồng Dương]].

=== Bhadravarman and Bhadreśvara ===
[[Image:Linga 1 (My Son).jpg|left|thumb|This linga-like stone column is dated to the 10th century. It stands next to the temple known as "B4."]]
The earliest historical events documented by the evidence recovered at Mỹ Sơn relate to the era of King [[Bhadravarman I]] (literally "Blessed armour" but also meaning the ''[[Jasminum sambac]]'' flower; {{cjkv|v=Phạm Hồ Đạt}}), who ruled from 380 until 413, and who spent the latter part of his reign waging war against the population of Chinese-occupied northern Vietnam.<ref>Georges Maspero, ''The Champa Kingdom'', p.29.</ref> At Mỹ Sơn, Bhadravarman built a hall containing a [[lingam]] to worship [[Shiva]] under the Sanskrit name ''Bhadreśvara'' "Blessed Lord", a composite created from the king's own name and the word ''īśvara'' "lord" commonly used to refer to Shiva.<ref>Ngô Văn Doanh, ''My Son Relics'', p.56.</ref>

King Bhadravarman caused a [[stele]] to be erected at Mỹ Sơn the inscription on which recorded his foundation. The stele indicates that the king dedicated the entire valley of Mỹ Sơn to Bhadreśvara. The text ends with a plea from Bhadravarman to his successors: "Out of compassion for me do not destroy what I have given."<ref name=Maspero>Maspero, G., 2002, The Champa Kingdom, Bangkok: White Lotus Co., Ltd., {{ISBN|9747534991}}</ref>{{rp|29}}  Drawing upon the doctrines of [[saṃsāra]] and [[karma]], he added, "If you destroy [my foundation], all your good deeds in your different births shall be mine, and all the bad deeds done by me shall be yours. If, on the contrary, you properly maintain the endowment, the merit shall belong to you alone."<ref>Ngô Văn Doanh, ''My Son Relics'', p.192-193.</ref> Bhadravarman's successors heard his plea, it seems, for Mỹ Sơn became the religious hub of Champa for many generations.

=== Sambhuvarman ===
[[Image:My Son A1 schematic diagram.jpg|thumb|right|The great temple "A1" dedicated to the god Sambhubhadresvara by King Sambhuvarman in the 7th century is now a pile of rubble: scholars were able to make this diagram before its destruction during the Vietnam War.]]
The original temples of Bhadravarman were mainly composed of wooden materials such timber logs. Unfortunately, the temple complex was comsumed by a great fire occurred in 535/536 AD, during the reign of [[Rudravarman I]] (r. 527–572). In the 7th century, King [[Sambhuvarman]] (Phạm Phạn Chi in Vietnamese, Fan Che as transcribed from the Chinese), who reigned from 572 until 629 and son of Rudravarman, rebuilt the temple, reinstalled the god under the name Sambhu-Bhadresvara, and erected a stele to document the event.<ref name=Higham>Higham, C., 2014, Early Mainland Southeast Asia, Bangkok: River Books Co., Ltd., {{ISBN|9786167339443}}</ref>{{rp|326}} The stele affirmed that Sambhu-Bhadresvara was the creator of the world and the destroyer of sin, and expressed the wish that he "cause happiness in the kingdom of Champa."<ref>Ngô Văn Doanh, ''My Son Relics'', p.14,196.</ref> The stele also applauded the king himself, claiming that he was "like a terrestrial sun illuminating the night" and that his glory rose "like the moon on an autumn evening."<ref name="Georges Maspero p.44">Georges Maspero, ''The Champa Kingdom'', p.44.</ref>

Ironically, perhaps, Sambhuvarman's reign was marred by one of the most devastating invasions ever suffered by the country of Champa. In 605 AD, the Chinese general Liu Fang led an army [[Sui–Lâm Ấp war|southwards]] from the area of what is now northern Vietnam, defeated the elephant-riders of Sambhuvarman, and sacked the Cham capital, making off with an enormous booty that included over one thousand Buddhist books as well as the gold tablets commemorating the reigns of the previous eighteen kings.<ref>Georges Maspero, ''The Champa Kingdom'', p.43.</ref> Heading back north with their heist, the Chinese invaders were struck by an epidemic that felled a large number of them, including Liu Fang. Sambhuvarman, for his part, returned home to his kingdom, began the process of rebuilding, and made sure to send regular shipments of tribute to the Chinese court, in order through appeasement to prevent a recurrence of the recent disaster.<ref name="Georges Maspero p.44"/>

French scholars investigating Mỹ Sơn at the beginning of the 20th century identified a then still existent edifice distinguished for "its majestic proportions, the antiquity of its style, and the richness of its decoration" as the temple of Sambhu-Bhadresvara constructed by King Sambhuvarman.<ref>M.L. Finot, "Les inscriptions de Mi-Son," p.910.</ref> The edifice, which is known to scholars as "A1", was practically destroyed by US aerial bombing in the Vietnam War and is now little more than a formless pile of bricks.

=== Prakasadharma ===
[[Image:My Son pedestal.jpg|thumb|right|Circular pedestal at E1 bearing the inscription: "This kosa is offered to Vikrantavarman, the most powerful King of kings"]] 
King [[Vikrantavarman I|Prakasadharma]] (Po Kia Pho Pa Mo, as transcribed from the Chinese) ruled Champa from 653 AD to approximately 687.<ref>Georges Maspero, ''The Champa Kingdom'', p.45.</ref> Upon ascending to the throne, he also assumed the name Vikrantavarman.<ref name=Higham/>{{rp|326}} During his reign, he expanded the borders of Champa toward the South and sent ambassadors and tribute (including tame elephants) to China. Inscriptions link him not only to Mỹ Sơn, but also to the nearby urban settlements of Trà Kiệu and Đồng Dương. He began the religious practice of donating "kosas" or decorated metallic sleeves to be placed over a lingam. Unusually for a king of Champa, he was devoted not only to [[Shiva]], but also to [[Vishnu]].<ref>Ngô Văn Doanh, ''My Son Relics'', p.66-70.</ref>

One of the most important steles to be found at Mỹ Sơn is that erected by Prakasadharma in 657 AD. The purpose of the stele was to commemorate the king's establishment of a god identified as the ruler of the world, i.e. [[Shiva]], with a view to overcoming the seeds of [[karma]] that lead to rebirth. The stele is important because it sets forth the king's ancestry and is of great help in reconstructing the sequence of Champa's rulers. Among his ancestors, notably, the king claimed a Cambodian king named [[Isanavarman I]]. And like the Cambodian kings, he traced his ancestry to the legendary Kamma Kshtriya King from Kakatiya kingdom and the [[nāga]]-princess [[Queen Soma|Soma]].<ref>Ngô Văn Doanh, ''My Son Relics'', p.197-203.</ref>

=== Later developments ===
[[Image:My Son Tower detail.jpg|right|thumb|A Cham artist of approximately the 10th century depicted a Cham temple tower in this fragment located in the museum at My Son.]]
Subsequent kings renovated the older temples and constructed additional ones. For many centuries, the building of temples and shrines of varying sizes continued, and Mỹ Sơn served as the religious and cultural center of the [[Champa|Cham]] civilization in central Vietnam, as well as the burial place of kings and religious leaders.<ref name=Coedes/>{{rp|71,123,125,154–155,164–165}}

Most of the extant temples at Mỹ Sơn, such as the Isanabhadresvara, were built in the late 10th century and 11th century AD by king [[Harivarman II]] (r. 989–997) and later king [[Harivarman IV]] (r. 1074–1080).<ref name=Coedes>{{cite book|last= Coedès|first= George|author-link= George Coedès|editor= Walter F. Vella|others= trans.Susan Brown Cowing|title= The Indianized States of Southeast Asia|year= 1968|publisher= University of Hawaii Press|isbn= 978-0-8248-0368-1}}</ref>{{rp|125}} The inscriptions from this period have not survived, except in fragmentary form.<ref>Ngô Văn Doanh, ''My Son Relics'', p.71.</ref> At the beginning of the 10th century, the Cham center of power was at Đồng Dương, not far from Mỹ Sơn. By the end of the century, it had been displaced southward to [[Bình Định Province]] on account of military setbacks in wars with the [[Viet]]. However, Cham kings continued periodically to renovate the temples at Mỹ Sơn and even to build new foundations. The latest significant Cham record at Mỹ Sơn is a pillar inscription of King Jaya Indravarman V dated 1243 AD. By the early 15th century, the Cham had lost their northernmost lands, including the area of Mỹ Sơn, to the Viet.<ref>Ngô Văn Doanh, ''My Son Relics'', p.170-171.</ref>

=== Modern scholarship ===
Following the conquest of central Vietnam by Vietnamese emperor [[Le Thanh Tong]] which reduced the status of Champa kingdoms to autonomous subordinate regions and the decline and eventual fall of [[Champa]], the Mỹ Sơn complex fell into disuse and was largely forgotten. Vietnamese people settled and built villages, towns, cities on conquered Cham lands. It was rediscovered in 1898 by the Frenchman {{ill|Camille Michel Paris|fr|Camille Paris}}.<ref>Ngô Văn Doanh, ''My Son Relics'', p.4-5.</ref> A year later, members of the scholarly society called [[École française d'Extrême-Orient]] (EFEO) began to study the inscriptions, architecture, and art of Mỹ Sơn. In 1904, they published their initial findings in the journal of the society called ''[[Bulletin de l'École française d'Extrême Orient]]'' (BEFEO). [[Henri Parmentier]] gave a description of the ruins at Mỹ Sơn, and [[Louis Finot (archeologist)|M. L. Finot]] published the inscriptions that had been found there.<ref>Henri Parmentier, "Les monuments du Cirque de Mi-Son"; M.L. Finot, "Les inscriptions de Mi-Son."</ref>

=== Restoration ===
In 1937, French scholars began to restore the temples at Mỹ Sơn.<ref>{{Cite web |last=visitqnam |date=2022-09-12 |title=The amazing story of My Son Sanctuary |url=https://www.visitquangnam.com/experiences/culture/amazing-story-of-my-son-sanctuary/ |access-date=2024-05-11 |website=Visit Quang Nam - A green travel guide |language=en-GB}}</ref> In 1937 and 1938, the main temple known as "A1" and the smaller temples surrounding it were restored. Other major temples were restored between 1939 and 1943. However, many historical buildings were destroyed during the [[Vietnam War]]. The temples were part of a [[People's Army of Vietnam]] and [[Viet Cong]] base area and consequently United States aircraft bombed the region in August 1969. The surrounding area is still rendered dangerous through the presence of unexploded [[land mine]]s.

The majority of the temple sites in the centre of the complex have survived to this day. However, worries persist regarding the structural soundness of the remaining temples, some of which are vulnerable to collapse. Although many statues have been removed to France or to historical museums in Vietnam, such as the [[Museum of Cham Sculpture]] in [[Da Nang]], others can be viewed in an in-situ museum that has been set up with the funding of benefactors from Germany and Poland. In 1981, the [[Conservation and restoration of cultural heritage|restoration works]] were carried out by a team of Polish conservators from [[Lublin]], headed by [[Kazimierz Kwiatkowski]] ''Kazik''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hanoi.msz.gov.pl/resource/7b19619c-6873-42d6-83a8-1edd74f80eb4:JCR|format=pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171003075141/http://www.hanoi.msz.gov.pl/resource/7b19619c-6873-42d6-83a8-1edd74f80eb4:JCR|archive-date=2017-10-03|title=Kazimierz Kwiatkowski, Remembering an Extraordinary Man|access-date=2023-08-14}}</ref>

From 2002 to 2004, the Ministry of Culture of Vietnam allotted around US$440,000 to maintain the site. A draft plan of [[UNESCO]] was funded by the Government of Italy and sponsors from Japan to prevent further degradation. These efforts are also funded by the [[World Monuments Fund]].

India has supported conservation and restoration of the UNESCO world heritage site of ‘My Son’ in Quang Nam Province of Central Vietnam, which represents historical links between the two countries. Towards the conservation of Cham monuments at My Son, a request was received from Vietnam and as a follow up to this, the ASI Technical Team prepared a Preliminary Observation Report as mandated by the Ministry of External Affairs. Subsequently a [https://www.mea.gov.in/Portal/LegalTreatiesDoc/VN14B1842.pdf Memorandum of Understanding] was signed between the Government of India and Government of Vietnam on 28th October 2014.<ref>http://www.mea.gov.in/TreatyDetail.htm?1842 {{Bare URL inline|date=August 2024}}</ref> Thereafter, a Technical Team of the ASI conducted survey and prepared detailed estimates and documentation work.
 
India has extended assistance through the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) in conservation of three blocks of Cham temples in Central Vietnam’s UNESCO World Heritage Site at My Son in Quang Nam Province, which have been restored by [https://www.indembassyhanoi.gov.in/docs/1673410822ASI%20Booklet%20on%20Restoration%20and%20Conservation%20of%20A,%20H%20&%20K%20Group%20of%20Temples%20at%20My%20Son.pdf ASI during 2017-22] at an outlay of US$ 2.25 million. The completion of conservation and restoration of [https://www.indembassyhanoi.gov.in/docs/1672814825_A%20Billboard%20(3).jpg A], [https://www.indembassyhanoi.gov.in/docs/1672814852_H%20Billboard.jpg H] and [https://www.indembassyhanoi.gov.in/docs/1672814868_K%20Billboard.jpg K] group of temples by ASI was marked on 20 December 2022 at the My Son complex site in Quang Nam province. 
<ref>{{cite web | url=https://vietnamnews.vn/life-style/1439664/my-son-heritage-site-restoration-project-evidence-of-viet-nam-india-friendship.html | title=Mỹ Sơn heritage site restoration project: Evidence of Việt Nam-India friendship }}</ref>
<ref>{{cite web | url=https://icd.gov.vn/details/dic/962/tin-noi-bat/du-an-trung-tu-khu-den-thap-my-son-bieu-tuong-cua-tinh-huu-nghi-viet-nam---an-do/11.icd | title=Dự án trùng tu Khu Đền tháp Mỹ Sơn – Biểu tượng của tình hữu nghị Việt Nam - Ấn Độ }}</ref>


<gallery>
File:My Son E4.jpg|The ruined E4 Temple, destroyed by bombing.
File:Bomb craters, Mỹ Sơn.jpg|Bombs dropped by the USAF during the [[Vietnam War]] made craters that are still visible.
File:My Son E group.jpg|Two ruined library houses at the E group, the one behind recently been rebuilt by [[anastylosis]].
File:My Son F1.jpg|F1 Temple undergoing excavation and restoration.
File:Champa Civilization - Vietnam (2).jpg|My Son Temple in 2022
</gallery>

== Archeology and architecture ==
[[Image:My Son C1.jpg|right|thumb|The only main temple building (C1) remaining intact.]]

=== Types of buildings ===
All of the remaining buildings at Mỹ Sơn are believed to be religious buildings. They are of the following types:<ref>Tran Ky Phuong, ''Vestiges of Champa Civilization''.</ref>
* A ''kalan'' is a brick sanctuary, typically in the form of a tower, used to house a deity.
* A ''mandapa'' is an entry hallway contiguous with a sanctuary.
* A ''kosagrha'' or "fire-house" is a construction, typically with a saddle-shaped roof, used to house the valuables belonging to the deity or to cook for the deity.
* A ''gopura'' is a gate-tower leading into a walled temple complex.

[[Image:My Son map2.JPG|right|thumb|This map shows the relative locations of the temple groups.]]

=== System for the identification of buildings ===
When he began his studies of Mỹ Sơn in 1899, Henri Parmentier found the remnants of 71 temples. He classified them into 14 groups, including 10 principal groups each consisting of multiple temples.<ref>Ngô Văn Doanh, ''My Son Relics'', p.5.</ref> For purposes of identification, he assigned a letter to each of these principal groups: A, A', B, C, D, E, F, G, H, K. Within each group, he assigned numbers to the edifices comprising it. Thus "My Son E1" refers to the edifice at My Son belonging to group "E" that has been assigned the number "1."<ref>Ngô Văn Doanh, ''My Son Relics'', p.5-6.</ref>

=== Architectural styles ===
[[Image:My Son G.jpg|right|thumb|Group G temple.]] 
Art historians have classified the architectural and artistic legacy of Champa into seven artistic [[Art of Champa#Periods and styles of Cham art|styles]] or phases of development.<ref>Ngô Văn Doanh, ''My Son Relics'', p.9.</ref> Six of the styles are represented at Mỹ Sơn, and two are believed to have originated from there. They are known as the [[Art of Champa#Periods and styles of Cham art|Mỹ Sơn E1 Style]] and the [[Art of Champa#Periods and styles of Cham art|Mỹ Sơn A1 Style]]. In particular the temple known as "A1" is often referred to as the architectural masterpiece of the Cham. The six styles of Cham architecture represented at Mỹ Sơn are the following:
* The [[Art of Champa#Periods and styles of Cham art|style of Mỹ Sơn E1]] and F1 dates to the 8th century AD. The temple known as "E1" is now ruined. The style which it established is represented today by two works of art that formerly belonged to the temple but today are housed in the [[Museum of Cham Sculpture]] in [[Da Nang]]: a [[pedestal]] and a [[tympanum (architecture)|tympanum]].
* The style exemplified by My Son A2, C7 and F3 is similar to the style of Hòa Lai from the turn of the 9th century.
* The [[Art of Champa#Periods and styles of Cham art|Đồng Dương style]] of the late 9th century is reflected in Mỹ Sơn A10, A11-13, B4, and B12. This style is named after the Vietnamese town that occupies the site of the 9th century city and [[Buddhist]] monastery of Indrapura. The archeological site of the monastery has been largely destroyed; French scholars of the early 20th century were able to create diagrams of its layout and the disposition of its buildings. Numerous striking works of sculpture belonging to this style survive in Vietnamese museums.
[[Image:My Son A1 Yoni.jpg|right|thumb|This pedestal and the outline of a wall are all that remain of the once magnificent temple called "A1."]]
[[Image:2024 - Mỹ Sơn Group B, C and D - img 01.jpg|right|thumb|The storehouse known as "B5" is the outstanding surviving exemplar of the My Son A1 style.]]
* The [[Art of Champa#Periods and styles of Cham art|Mỹ Sơn A1 style]] of the 10th century is exemplified by Mỹ Sơn B5, B6, B7, B9, C1, C2, C5, D1, D2, and D4. It is the most heavily represented style at My Son, and is known for its elegance and grace. The style's namesake and most important architectural exemplar, the once magnificent tower known as "A1," is largely ruined. It is a mound of earth, surrounded by rubble and the outline of a wall, at the center of which stands a whitish pedestal. A scale model of the former temple created by Japanese researchers as well as a schematic frontal view are exhibited in the [[Museum of Cham Sculpture]] in [[Da Nang]]. The most striking of the remaining buildings belonging to the style may be the storehouse B5, which exemplifies the saddle-shaped roof peculiar to Cham artchitecture. The My Son A1 style is sometimes also known as the Tra Kieu Style, after the nearby town of Trà Kiệu which may be the site of the historical Cham city of Simhapura.<ref>M. L. Finot, "Les inscriptions de Mi-Son," p.915.</ref> Many architectural ornaments from this style survive and are displayed in the Museum of Cham Sculpture.
* A transitional style of the early 11th century to the middle of the 12th century is exhibited in Mỹ Sơn E4, F2, and the K group of sites.
* The [[Art of Champa#Periods and styles of Cham art|style of Bình Định]] that prevailed in Cham architecture from the end of the 11th century, when the center of the Cham polity was displaced southward from the area around My Son to Vijaya in [[Bình Định Province]], to the start of the 13th is represented by Mỹ Sơn B1 and groups G and H.

=== Building techniques ===
Most of the temples at Mỹ Sơn were made of red brick, and only one (the temple labelled "B1") was made of stone.<ref>M.L. Finot, "Les inscriptions de Mi-Son," p.912.</ref> Even the decorative carvings on the Cham temples were cut directly onto the bricks themselves, rather than onto sandstone slabs inserted into brick walls as is observable for example in the 9th century Cambodian temple of [[Bakong]].

To this day, the construction techniques used by the Cham builders are not completely understood.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.orientalarchitecture.com/myson/mysonmapindex.htm|title=Myson map Index|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080616101650/http://www.orientalarchitecture.com/myson/mysonmapindex.htm|archive-date=2008-06-16|access-date=2023-08-14|url-status=dead}}</ref> Issues that have not been completely resolved include issues about the firing of the bricks, the mortar between the bricks, and decorative carvings found on the bricks.
[[Image:My Son temple detail 2017.jpg|right|thumb|The temples at Mỹ Sơn are made of a reddish brick. Decorative carvings have been cut directly into the bricks.]]
* At what point in the building process were the bricks hardened by fire? Were the bricks hardened first, and then arranged in order to build the structures, or were the structures built out of partially hardened bricks, after which the entire structures were heated by fire to finish the hardening of the bricks? The hypothesis that the entire structures were reheated following assembly is supported by evidence that the mortar between the bricks was at some point subjected to high temperatures. The contrary hypothesis is supported by the observation that the structures bear no signs of scarring from large intense fires such as would be needed in order to reheat them as whole.<ref>Ngô Văn Doanh, ''My Son Relics'', p.29-30.</ref>
* How were the bricks stuck together? One hypothesis is that the builders at Mỹ Sơn developed a way to glue bricks together using tree resin native to central Vietnam. Another hypothesis is that the builders used a sticky mortar made from the same clay as the bricks themselves. The latter hypothesis is supported by chemical tests that have found no trace of any organic substance between the bricks, but instead have found mineral substances similar to those present in the core of the bricks. Today the mortar that once held the bricks together has largely decayed, and even a strong wind can knock loose bricks from the structures.<ref>Ngô Văn Doanh, ''My Son Relics'', p.27-29.</ref>
* At what point in the process were the decorative carvings made? Were the walls constructed and then carved, or were the bricks carved first and then assembled so as to create the walls? An examination of the carvings reveals no broken lines as would be expected if the bricks were carved first and then assembled; and as a result scholars have concluded that the Cham craftsmen made their carvings directly onto finished brick walls.<ref>Ngô Văn Doanh, ''My Son Relics'', p.30-31.</ref>

=== Inscriptions ===
[[Image:Prabhasadharma stele.jpg|right|thumb|220px|Stele at Temple E, erected by King [[Vikrantavarman I|Prakāśadharman]]-Vikrantavarman in 657 AD.]] 
The people of [[Champa]] maintained written records in both [[Sanskrit]] and old [[Cham language|Cham]]. They wrote on perishable materials, such as large leaves, and also created inscriptions in stone. They used scripts borrowed from [[India]]. None of the writings on perishable materials have survived. However, numerous stone inscriptions have been preserved, transcribed, and translated into modern languages.<ref>Ngô Văn Doanh, ''My Son Relics'', pp.182-185.</ref>

Many of Champa's most important inscriptions are on [[stele]]s, that is to say on slabs or pillars of stone erected precisely for the purpose of hosting inscriptions. Scholars have found approximately 32 steles at Mỹ Sơn, dated between the 5th and the 12th century AD.<ref>Ngô Văn Doanh, ''My Son Relics'', p.182.</ref>

The subject-matter of Cham inscriptions is mostly political and religious. They are written from the perspective of kings or very high potentates seeking to affirm their legitimacy and their relationship to the divine. Many of the inscriptions document a gift to a god, such as a gift of land, of people, or of treasure, or a foundation dedicated to a god, such as the foundation of a temple, an altar, or a pedestal. The inscriptions also provide us with important information such as the name of the country (typically ''Campadesa'' in the Sanskrit inscriptions, ''nagara Campa'' in the Cham inscriptions), and the names of some of its most important cities: ''Simhapura'' ("Lion City"), ''Virapura'' ("Knight City"), ''Rajapura'' ("King City"), ''Vijaya'' ("Victory"). Finally, a number of the inscriptions allude to or describe interesting historical events, such as the ongoing wars between [[Champa]] and [[Angkor|Cambodia]] in the 12th century.<ref>Ngô Văn Doanh, ''My Son Relics'', p.185-187.</ref>

== See also ==
* [[Champa]]
* [[Art of Champa]]
* [[Architecture of Vietnam]]
* [[Austronesian peoples#Architecture]]

== References ==
Recent introductory works
* Ngô Văn Doanh, ''My Son Relics''. Hanoi: [[Thế Giới Publishers]], 2005. Ngô's recent introductory work summarizes the results of previous scholarship, though is somewhat dated now. English translations of several inscriptions are found at the end.
* Ngô Văn Doanh, ''Champa: Ancient Towers: Reality and Legend''. Hanoi: Thế Giới Publishers, 2006. This is Ngô's introduction to those vestiges of Cham architecture found in places other than Mỹ Sơn.
* Tran Ky Phuong, ''Vestiges of Champa Civilization''. Hanoi, Thế Giới Publishers, 2008.

Works of classical scholarship
* [[Georges Maspero]], ''Le royaume de Champa''. Paris: Van Ouest, 1928. Maspero's work is the most extensive reconstruction of the history of Champa, based not only on the testimony Cham inscriptions and other archeological data, but also on that of contemporaneous Chinese and Vietnamese texts. It has been translated into English by Walter E.J. Tips under the title, ''The Champa Kingdom: The History of an Extinct Vietnamese Culture''. Bangkok: [http://www.whitelotuspress.com/index.php White Lotus Press], 2002.
* M. Henri Parmentier, "Les Monuments du Cirque de Mi-Son," in ''BEFEO'' 4 (1904), pp.&nbsp;805–896. Available online at ''BEFEO'''s website. (See below, under External Links.) This article (in French) is Parmentier's detailed scholarly description of My Son a few years after its rediscovery at the end of the 19th century.
* M.L. Finot, "Notes d'épigraphie: XI. Les inscriptions de Mi-Son," in ''BEFEO'' 4 (1904), pp.&nbsp;897–977. Available online at ''BEFEO'''s website. This article (also in French) is Finot's detailed discussion, transcription and translation (into French) of the inscriptions associated with Mỹ Sơn.

== Footnotes ==
{{reflist|33em}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|My Son}}
{{wikivoyage|My Son}}
* [https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/cb32720607b/date Bulletin de l'Ecole française d'Extrême-Orient], 1901–1936. Now online at gallica.bnf.fr, this journal documents cutting-edge early 20th-century French scholarship on My Son and research on other topics of Southeast Asian studies.
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20110817054232/http://ghn.globalheritagefund.org/?id=14 Explore My Son with Google Earth] on [[Global Heritage Network]]
* [https://whc.unesco.org/pg.cfm?cid=31&id_site=949 UNESCO decree]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20061013224931/http://www.unesco.org.vn/programmes/prog_cul_WHS_Myson_V.asp UNESCO page on My Son]

{{World Heritage Sites in Vietnam}}
{{Hindu temples in Vietnam}}
{{Champa topics}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:My Son}}
[[Category:Buildings and structures completed in the 14th century]]
[[Category:Ancient Vietnam]]
[[Category:History of Champa]]
[[Category:Archaeological sites in Vietnam]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Quảng Nam province]]
[[Category:Hindu temples in Vietnam]]
[[Category:4th-century establishments in Vietnam]]
[[Category:13th-century disestablishments in Vietnam]]
[[Category:Archaeoastronomy]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Quảng Nam province]]
[[Category:World Heritage Sites in Vietnam]]