Vijaya (Champa)
Encyclopedia
Vijaya was a city-state in the ancient kingdom of Champa
in what is now south-central
Vietnam
. It was the capital of Champa
for several centuries until it was conquered by Vietnam in 1471.
, in what is now the south of Binh Dinh Province
. To the east of the plain and near the estuary of the river is a strategic and well-protected location for a port. This led to the rise of Thi Nai Port, one of the major ports of Champa. The river leading up into the highlands to the west was important for the trade with highland peoples supplying Champa with luxury goods such as eaglewood for export.
Vijaya's geography was also important for its agriculture. With one of the larger rivers of Champa, its soils were more fertile than that of many other places. This allowed for a relatively large concentration of people near the centre of Vijaya, which in turn allowed it to build a relatively large number of temples.
However, its architecture implies that it did not become important until the eleventh or twelfth century.
Records suggest that there was an attack on Vijaya's citadel from Vietnam in 1069 (when Vietnam was ruled by Lý Nhân Tông
) to punish Champa for armed raiding in Vietnam. The Cham king Chế Củ was defeated and captured and offered Champa's three northern provinces to Vietnam (present-day Quang Binh Province
and Quang Tri Province
.
Vijaya was also involved in wars with Angkor
(now Cambodia
) in the 12th and 13th centuries. Khmer military incursions into Champa were successful for some time and they managed to subdue Vijaya in the 1140s, but were later defeated. Vijaya seems to have been associated with and at times even dominated by the Khmer king Jayavarman VII
. The Khmer king relied on Cham supporters for his successful military campaigns in both Angkor and Champa.
Major wars with Vietnam were fought again in the 15th century, which eventually led to the defeat of Vijaya and the demise of Champa
in 1471. The citadel of Vijaya was besieged for one month in 1403 when the Vietnamese troops had to withdraw because of a shortage of food.
The final attack came in early 1471 after almost 70 years without major military confrontation between Champa and Vietnam. It is interpreted to have been a reaction to Champa asking China for reinforcements to attack Vietnam.
Although much of Champa was dissolved after 1471, Vijaya, as well as other principalities, remained as a sort of protectorate within Vietnam.
n Angkor
. It also points to the relative abundance of labour in Vijaya compared to other Champa centers of powers, because processing stones for construction was more labour-intensive than the production of bricks. Vijaya's style of architecture seems to have been dominant throughout Champa for some time, given the later classification of the architecture from the period between the 12th and 14th centuries as the 'Binh Dinh style'.
. They include the ruins of the citadel, especially Cánh Tiên tower, and several temple towers.
The Dương Long towers are some of Southeast Asia's tallest Hinduist buildings.
Champa
The kingdom of Champa was an Indianized kingdom that controlled what is now southern and central Vietnam from approximately the 7th century through to 1832.The Cham people are remnants...
in what is now south-central
Nam Trung Bo
Nam Trung Bộ is one of the regions of Vietnam. It consists of the independent municipality of Đà Nẵng and seven other provinces. The two southern provinces Ninh Thuận and Bình Thuận are sometimes seen as part of the Southeast region.The region has traditionally been one of the main gateways to...
Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
. It was the capital of Champa
Champa
The kingdom of Champa was an Indianized kingdom that controlled what is now southern and central Vietnam from approximately the 7th century through to 1832.The Cham people are remnants...
for several centuries until it was conquered by Vietnam in 1471.
Geography, Economy, Transport
Vijaya was centred around the lowland area along lower Côn RiverCôn River
Côn River is a river of Vietnam. With a length of 171km, it is the longest river in Binh Dinh Province. Much of it can be used as an inland waterway for transportation....
, in what is now the south of Binh Dinh Province
Binh Dinh Province
Bình Định is a province of Vietnam. It is located in Vietnam's South Central Coast region.-Administration:Binh Dinh is divided into one city and 10 districts:*An Lão*An Nhơn*Hoài Ân*Hoài Nhơn*Phù Cát*Phù Mỹ*Tuy Phước*Tây Sơn*Vân Canh...
. To the east of the plain and near the estuary of the river is a strategic and well-protected location for a port. This led to the rise of Thi Nai Port, one of the major ports of Champa. The river leading up into the highlands to the west was important for the trade with highland peoples supplying Champa with luxury goods such as eaglewood for export.
Vijaya's geography was also important for its agriculture. With one of the larger rivers of Champa, its soils were more fertile than that of many other places. This allowed for a relatively large concentration of people near the centre of Vijaya, which in turn allowed it to build a relatively large number of temples.
History
The area around Vijaya was probably one of earliest landfalls of the Cham people in what is now VietnamHowever, its architecture implies that it did not become important until the eleventh or twelfth century.
Records suggest that there was an attack on Vijaya's citadel from Vietnam in 1069 (when Vietnam was ruled by Lý Nhân Tông
Ly Nhan Tong
Lý Nhân Tông , given name Lý Càn Đức , was the fourth emperor of the Lý Dynasty, reigning over Đại Việt from 1072 to his death in 1127...
) to punish Champa for armed raiding in Vietnam. The Cham king Chế Củ was defeated and captured and offered Champa's three northern provinces to Vietnam (present-day Quang Binh Province
Quang Binh Province
Quảng Bình , formerly Tiên Bình under the reign of Le Trung Hung of the Lê Dynasty, this province was renamed Quảng Bình in 1604) is a province in the North Central Coast of Vietnam....
and Quang Tri Province
Quang Tri Province
Quảng Trị is a province on the North Central Coast of Vietnam, north of the former imperial capital of Huế.-Geography:Located in North Central Vietnam, Quang Tri Province is surrounded by Quang Binh Province on the north, Thua Thien-Hue Province on the south, Savannakhet Province of Laos on the...
.
Vijaya was also involved in wars with Angkor
Angkor
Angkor is a region of Cambodia that served as the seat of the Khmer Empire, which flourished from approximately the 9th to 15th centuries. The word Angkor is derived from the Sanskrit nagara , meaning "city"...
(now Cambodia
Cambodia
Cambodia , officially known as the Kingdom of Cambodia, is a country located in the southern portion of the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia...
) in the 12th and 13th centuries. Khmer military incursions into Champa were successful for some time and they managed to subdue Vijaya in the 1140s, but were later defeated. Vijaya seems to have been associated with and at times even dominated by the Khmer king Jayavarman VII
Jayavarman VII
Jayavarman VII was a king of the Khmer Empire in present day Siem Reap, Cambodia. He was the son of King Dharanindravarman II and Queen Sri Jayarajacudamani. He married Jayarajadevi and then, after her death, married her sister Indradevi...
. The Khmer king relied on Cham supporters for his successful military campaigns in both Angkor and Champa.
Major wars with Vietnam were fought again in the 15th century, which eventually led to the defeat of Vijaya and the demise of Champa
Champa
The kingdom of Champa was an Indianized kingdom that controlled what is now southern and central Vietnam from approximately the 7th century through to 1832.The Cham people are remnants...
in 1471. The citadel of Vijaya was besieged for one month in 1403 when the Vietnamese troops had to withdraw because of a shortage of food.
The final attack came in early 1471 after almost 70 years without major military confrontation between Champa and Vietnam. It is interpreted to have been a reaction to Champa asking China for reinforcements to attack Vietnam.
Although much of Champa was dissolved after 1471, Vijaya, as well as other principalities, remained as a sort of protectorate within Vietnam.
Architecture
Vijaya’s architecture distinguishes it from other Champa centers, because it used a combination of stone and brick elements, while most other Cham structures only used bricks. This suggests some influence from CambodiaCambodia
Cambodia , officially known as the Kingdom of Cambodia, is a country located in the southern portion of the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia...
n Angkor
Angkor
Angkor is a region of Cambodia that served as the seat of the Khmer Empire, which flourished from approximately the 9th to 15th centuries. The word Angkor is derived from the Sanskrit nagara , meaning "city"...
. It also points to the relative abundance of labour in Vijaya compared to other Champa centers of powers, because processing stones for construction was more labour-intensive than the production of bricks. Vijaya's style of architecture seems to have been dominant throughout Champa for some time, given the later classification of the architecture from the period between the 12th and 14th centuries as the 'Binh Dinh style'.
Remains
A relatively large number of towers built by Vijaya are preserved in Binh Dinh ProvinceBinh Dinh Province
Bình Định is a province of Vietnam. It is located in Vietnam's South Central Coast region.-Administration:Binh Dinh is divided into one city and 10 districts:*An Lão*An Nhơn*Hoài Ân*Hoài Nhơn*Phù Cát*Phù Mỹ*Tuy Phước*Tây Sơn*Vân Canh...
. They include the ruins of the citadel, especially Cánh Tiên tower, and several temple towers.
The Dương Long towers are some of Southeast Asia's tallest Hinduist buildings.
| Site | Date | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Dương Long | late 12th - early 13th C.; improved up to 14th - 15th C. (before 1471) | Bình Hoà, Tây Sơn |
| Hưng Thạnh / Tháp Đôi | late 12th - early 13th C. | Đống Đa, Quy Nhơn |
| Cánh Tiên | late 13th - 14th/15th C. | Nhơn Hậu, An Nhơn |
| Thốc Lốc / Phú Lốc | late 13th - 14th C. | Bình Nghi, Tây Sơn |
| Thủ Thiện | late 13th - 14th C. | Bình Nghi, Tây Sơn |
| Bình Lâm | early 11th C. (ca. 1000) | Phước Hoà, Tuy Phước |
| Bánh Ít / Tháp Bạc | early 11th C. (ca. 1000); improved later | Phước Hiệp, Tuy Phước |