Vol. 3 (1) Jul. 2021

Article ID. JHSSR-1101-2021

Discovery & Perceptions of Champa: the Đồng Dương Complex of Quảng Nam Province, Vietnam

Ngo Minh Hung, William B. Noseworthy & Quang Van Son

Abstract:

Typical scholarly portrayals of the Đồng Dương site refer to a “Buddhist Monastery” of the classical Champā civilization, found in present-day Vietnam. French Orientalist research has strongly shaped scholarly focus on the monastery itself for the past century, informing the most recent English language scholarly production. However, more recent Vietnamese scholarship has begun to revise this portrayal, although most publications are archaeological reports for field experts and thus do not give a holistic understanding of Đồng Dương’s total archaeological footprint within a broader historical context. We bring English, French, and Vietnamese scholarship together in our analysis with field research and knowledge gleaned from indigenous Cham community members. We examine watchtowers, a citadel, relations with nearby ports, religious sites, a production site, and funerary sites while also noting challenges for ongoing research and providing recommendations for preserving the site in our conclusion.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.37534/bp.jhssr.2021.v3.n1.id1101.p141