Bình Định is a province rich in age-long traditions diversed with cultural and architecture relics of Chăm ethnic minority, especially the ancient town Chà Bàn, the imperial palace of Chăm kingdom depicted in typical towers: Dương Long, Bánh Ít, Cánh Tiên and twin towers...
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| Photo: Quy Trang |
Located at the gateway to Quy Nhơn city is the twin towers (formerly named Hưng Thạnh). The towers were renovated in 1980 and classified as the heritage of Chàm architecture, different from the existing ones.
The towers were built in late 12th century. On top of the big one there are picture-panels of Hanuman dancing monkeys and in the smaller tower there are picture-panels of other animals: dears, roe-dears... Inside on the altar, there’s a man in meditation on both sides are lions with elephant-heads in all corners there’s pictures of the saint-birds Garudda made of stone.
In Tây Sơn, there is Dương Long tower-group called Ngà towers by the French but An Chánh by the locals. Dương Long towers are considered to be the most valuable in Chăm architecture. The construction is estimated in late 12th century by the researchers and it’s the second one classified by Ministry of Culture and Information as Chăm heritage. Dương Long consists of 3 towers, from 29 – 36m high. Tower-doors almost collapsed, pictures carved on the towers depict elephants, lions... Inside there are pictures of priests in meditation. The towers were built smaller to the top and there’s a lotus flower at the peak. The door-vault is carved with a monster breathing out a 7-head snake. The roof was decorated with flowers, landscapes...
Besides twin towers and Dương Long, the Cánh Tiên and Bánh Ít remain almost undamaged. Cánh Tiên towers were built right at the door-way of ancient Đồ Bàn town in Nhơn Hậu commune, An Nhơn district. In French documents, Cánh Tiên was named Đồng tower, about 20m high and it looks like the wings of a flying fairy. Differently, the tower was built of sandstones and these are many picture-panels around. Unlike Cánh Tiên, Bánh Ít consists of 4 towers big-and-small on a hill-top in Phước Hiệp commune, Tuy Phước district, about 20km from Quy Nhơn city. From distance, the towers look like a Bánh Ít cake, normally made on death-anniversaries in the central parts and it’s called Bạc towers by the French. In 4 towers, there are pictures of dance-girls, elephants or the Gods...
In Bình Định, there is also tower Bình Lâm in Phước Hòa commune, Tuy Phước district. In all towers in Bình Định, Bình Lâm is thought to be the most ancient one.
There is also Thủ Thiện tower-group in Bình Nghi commune, Tây Sơn district. In 1995, the towers were classified as national relics.
Phú Lộc tower was also nationally classified, it’s named Vàng by the French between two districts An Nhơn and Tuy Phước. The tower is 29m high on a hill-top, 70m above the sea-level. It’s heavily damaged by time but it still looks grandiose.
Apart from 7 classified towers there’s Hòn Chuông tower in Phù Cát district, it collapsed, except the foundation, due to gold-diggers.
8 in 14 ancient towers in Bình Định are said to be the invaluable property donated by history. The mystery remains undiscovered but the legendary story of the towers is waiting to be wide-open.
HẢI ANH
source : http://www.vtr.org.vn/vtr.php?ml=923&pid=837
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