The conference in Quang Nam province on May 27 (Photo: VNA) Quang Nam (VNA) – Experts discussed restorationtraining and preservation of world cultural heritage sites, including My SonSanctuary of Vietnam, at an international conference in Quang Nam province onMay 27.
The event was held to mark the end of the firststage of an archaeological research and restoration project in My SonSanctuary. The project is carried out by the Quang Nam Technology College andthe centre for restoration training and cultural relic preservation of Italy’sPolytechnic University of Milan.
Phan Ho, head of the My Son cultural heritagesite’s management board, said restoration that ensures the authenticity andcore values of relics is the basic principle of all restoration projects, whichmust be absolutely adhered to at world cultural heritages like My Son Sanctuary.
In the past, the rehabilitation of My Son mainlydepended on foreign experts and technicians. However, two years since the firsttraining course for relic restoration and preservation workers opened with thesupport of the Polytechnic University of Milan, My Son heritage site’smanagement board now has capable staff, he noted.
Vice Chairman of the Quang Nam provincialPeople’s Committee Tran Van Tan said thanks to archaeological and preservationcooperation programmes implemented for decades, My Son Sanctuary has escapedfrom the dilapidated condition with its towers in their original state andvalues restored.
He expressed his hope that the decades-longexperience at My Son Sanctuary will be useful for the rehabilitation of otherrelics in Quang Nam and countries in the sub-Mekong region.
Once the religious and political capital of theancient Champa Kingdom, My Son Sanctuary is located within a hilly landscape inDuy Phu commune of Quang Nam’s Duy Xuyen district, about 70 km southwest ofcentral Da Nang city and 40 km from Hoi An city.
It is comprised of eight groups of 71 monumentsbuilt throughout the 7th to 13th centuries.
The first construction in My Son dates back tothe 4th century under the reign of Bhadravarman for the worship of God Shiva-Bhadresvara.Later on, the temple was destroyed.
At the beginning of the 7th century, KingSambhuvarman had it rebuilt and rebaptised Sambhu-Bhadresvara. Each new monarchcame to My Son after his accession to the throne for the ceremony ofpurification and to present offerings and erect new monuments, which explainswhy My Son is the only place where Cham art flourished without interruptionfrom the 7th to 13th century.-VNA
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