Artefacts of ancient Champa kingdom on display

Dozens of precious antique artefacts are on display in a temporary exhibition at the Vietnam National Museum of History in Hanoi.

Entitled Bau Vat Champa – Dau an thoi gian (Champa Treasures – The Marks of Time), the exhibition features over 60 precious items, crafted from gold and silver, during the 17th and 18th centuries. Many of these remarkable objects are on public display for the first time.

Champa experienced its zenith during the 9th and 10th centuries. However, after the 15th century, as time marched forward, a gradual southward shift occurred in the heart of the Champa kingdom, accompanied by transformative changes.

Notably, from 1692 (when Lord Nguyen established Thuan Thanh Town within Champa’s territory) until 1832 (when Champa officially merged into Dai Nam, an ancient name of the current Vietnam) under Emperor Minh Mang, scholarly attention toward Champa’s historical, cultural and artistic aspects remained relatively limited.

That’s the reason why the Museum of History has collaborated with the Vietnam Cultural Heritage Association and antique collector Dao Danh Duc to select more than 60 typical artefacts from this historical period to introduce to the public.

The exhibition is divided into two sections – one showcasing religious statues and sacred antiquities and the other highlighting jewellery and items imbued with both religious significance and royal authority.

In the first part of the exhibition, visitors will encounter a captivating array of statues depicting the God Shiva, the elephant-headed God Ganesha, the serene Buddha, the compassionate Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara, as well as the sacred linga, yoni and kosa linga – all crafted from gold and silver adorned with precious gemstones.

The second section unveils a dazzling array of Champa jewellery and regal artifacts.

Among these treasures are earrings, rings, necklaces, hairpins, combs, bracelets, and belts. Notably, these pieces bear intricate symbols rooted in Champa’s religious and traditional beliefs. Hindu deities – Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva, Ganesha – take centre stage, alongside revered creatures like the sacred bull Nandin, the divine bird Garuda and the serpent god Naga.

The National Museum of History presents this exhibition with a dual purpose – to allow both local and foreign visitors to marvel at precious historical, cultural and artistic pieces from Champa’s lesser-known past – and to deepen their understanding of this rich heritage.