Phú Yên: Discovering the Artistic Architecture of Tháp Nhạn and the Nhạn Mountain Memorial

Thap Nhan Tower — an ancient Cham architectural symbol, deeply reflecting the cultural heritage of Central Vietnam.
Nhan Tower is an architectural and artistic relic unique to Tuy Hoa city in Phu Yen, and also a representative artistic masterpiece of Central Vietnamese culture. This site also stands as a symbol of Champa culture in Phu Yen.

The special national architectural and artistic relic, Nhan Tower.
Architecture and Sculpture of Nhan Tower
As an architectural marvel of the Champa culture, the tower stands proudly atop Nhan Mountain, a peak reaching 60 meters in height, located in Ward 1, Tuy Hoa City, Phu Yen Province. Nhan Tower faces east and is composed of three distinct sections: the base, the body, and the roof.
The tower's square base measures 12 meters on each side and stands 2.4 meters tall. Its architecture features multiple receding tiers that slightly splay outwards, giving the tower a remarkably stable foundation. The body of the tower is a square pillar, 9 meters on each side and 10 meters high. Each side of the body is adorned with five pilasters (decorative pillars), between which are deep grooves formed by ridges running into the tower's core. The pilasters are flared at their top and bottom, providing a sturdy appearance, and are left plain without any carved patterns. Above the tower's body, where it meets the roof, a wide, flared cornice has been constructed, creating continuous bands on all four sides to alleviate the visual monotony at the junction of the square blocks.

Entrance to the special national architectural and artistic relic, Nhan Tower.
The tower's main entrance is located on the eastern side. Historically, the entrance was an extended architectural section forming a narrow, long corridor leading into the tower's interior, typically featuring exquisite design. Unfortunately, this part of Nhan Tower has collapsed, though remnants of its foundation indicate it extended 3 meters forward. The current entrance stands 2.4 meters high, with stepped construction above forming an arch. On the other walls, there are false doors. While these false doors have been damaged over time, they were once intricately carved and held significant artistic value.
The tower's roof features three tiers, with each upper tier being a smaller replica of the one below it. Every tier of the roof is adorned with false doors on all four sides. These false doors on each roof tier were once intricately decorated, though most of their original details have been lost over time. The uppermost roof tier of Nhan Tower gradually tapers to a finish, crowned by a 1.4-meter-tall four-sided pointed stone pillar, at the base of which are eight carved lotus petals. Each of the four corners of the roof tiers also features multi-tiered pyramid shapes, miniature representations of the tower itself.

Nhan Tower relic has been restored and renovated.
A panoramic view of Nhan Tower reveals that from 1997 to 1999, the relic underwent significant restoration and renovation. The current exterior walls of the tower are newly refurbished, set back 5cm from the original wall surface. The interior of Nhan Tower has a square plan, measuring 4.6m by 4.6m. Its inner walls were constructed using a stepped technique, gradually narrowing as they rise and meeting at the topmost brick.
Inside the tower, there is currently a 2.5-meter-high altar. This altar consists of a square pedestal, cinched in the middle, adorned with carved circular 'nipples' on all four sides and three layers of lotus petals. It also features a yoni measuring 1.1m on each side and 0.28m thick, and a 1.2-meter-tall ear-shaped leaf figure carved with a Mukhalinga. On top of the altar rests a statue from the Thien Y A Na period, measuring 60cm tall with 20cm wide shoulders, depicted in a cross-legged sitting posture.

Nhan Tower stands majestically, as if reaching for the blue sky.
The architectural details on Nhan Tower's body are classified by researchers as transitional, bridging the My Son A1 and Binh Dinh architectural styles, dating back to the late 11th and early 12th centuries. Key characteristics of this architectural style include a strong emphasis on solid, block-like forms, plain pilasters without decorative patterns on the tower's body, and false doors typically featuring pointed pyramid shapes. These architectural features, combined with the common practice of constructing such towers on high mountains, impart a majestic appearance, making them seem to reach for the sky.
Nhan Mountain Memorial
The Nhan Mountain Memorial is situated on Nhan Mountain in Ward 1, Tuy Hoa City. This monument honors the brave individuals born in Phu Yen and those from other parts of the country who valiantly sacrificed their lives on Phu Yen soil during the struggle for national liberation, reunification, and the defense of their homeland.

Memorial on Nhan Mountain.
Construction of the Nhan Mountain Memorial was funded by Phu Khanh province starting in 1983. Designed by a team led by architect To Dinh, the complex originally included a museum exhibition space at the base, topped by a 30-meter-high tower. Leaning against the tower is a sculptural group depicting a heroic Phu Yen mother holding a torch, flanked on her right by a soldier charging with a rifle, and on her left by a young boy carrying books for school. The monument's main orientation faces southwest, overlooking the vast Tuy Hoa rice fields and, in the distance, the endless mountains and forests – the birthplace of Phu Yen's revolutionary movement through two resistance wars for national defense. From above, the entire structure resembles a five-pointed star, its overall form like the wings of a swallow soaring westward.
During its construction, an unfortunate incident occurred: cracks appeared in the two main wings of the monument's hall. By 1986, construction on the project was completely halted. It wasn't until 2003, at the request of the local community, especially the revolutionary elders, that the Memorial project was re-evaluated for renovation and reconstruction.

From above, the entire structure resembles a five-pointed star, its overall form like the wings of a swallow soaring westward.
The Nhan Mountain Memorial is built on a 3,300m2 plot of land, including a stele house (nhà bia) spanning 500m2, dedicated to fallen heroes and martyrs. This stele house evokes the image of a flock of swallows flying towards the sea. Inside, 38 stelae bear the names of 13,085 martyrs from Phu Yen province, and 4 stelae list 1,000 martyrs from another province nationwide. Together with Nhan Tower, Dien Hong Park, Dien Hong Cultural House, Kim Cang Pagoda, Kim Long Pagoda, Ong Pagoda, and the Phu Yen Museum, the Memorial forms a cluster of cultural attractions at the gateway to Tuy Hoa City.
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Update day : 16/11/2023
Source : baoxaydung.com.vn Affiliate links
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