The ceremony announcing the Avalokitesvara statue as a national treasure took place at the Lam Dong Provincial Museum on 14/9.
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Lam Dong province representatives receive the Prime Minister's decision recognizing the Avalokitesvara statue as a national treasure, 14/9. Photo: Dao Hoang |
Lam Dong province representatives receive the Prime Minister's decision recognizing the Avalokitesvara statue as a national treasure, 14/9. Photo: Dao Hoang
The statue, crafted from dark gray sandstone and dating back to the 8th-9th centuries, reflects the intersection of Cham and Indian cultures. Despite a broken ankle and most of its right arm missing, the statue's distinct sculptural features remain clear.
The artifact was discovered before 1945 when locals were farming in Phan Thanh commune, Bac Binh district, former Binh Thuan province. In 1996, the statue was buried in the garden of a resident in Hoa Thang commune. In 2001, Ngo Hieu Hoc unearthed it while digging a gate foundation and handed it over to the former Binh Thuan Museum.
According to archaeologists, this is a representative work of the transitional period from the sculptural art of the 8th-9th centuries to the peak of Champa art in the 9th-10th centuries. The statue reflects the cultural, artistic, and religious achievements of the Champa kingdom, serving as a valuable resource for the study of sculpture and religion.
On 31/12/2024, the Prime Minister signed a decision recognizing it as a national treasure.
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The Bac Binh Avalokitesvara statue at the former Binh Thuan Museum, 1/2025. Photo: Viet Quoc |
The Bac Binh Avalokitesvara statue at the former Binh Thuan Museum, 1/2025. Photo: Viet Quoc
The Lam Dong Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism has developed a strict protection plan, along with promoting and exhibiting the statue at the provincial museum and cultural events to boost local tourism and socio-economic development.
Lam Dong province was recently established after merging with Binh Thuan and Dak Nong, and is home to 49 ethnic groups. The province currently has 7 UNESCO-listed cultural heritage sites, 10 national intangible heritage sites, 3 special national monuments, and 144 historical and scenic sites.
The provincial museum houses over 112,000 artifacts and documents, including 3 national treasures: the Dak Son stone lithophone, the Golden Linga, and the Bac Binh Avalokitesvara statue.
Viet Quoc
