Janthopoyism
Sacred Travel: Museum of Cham Sculpture
#holythrowback to 2019 when I visited the Museum of Cham Sculpture in Đà Nẵng, Vietnam.
Between 500 and 1700 AD, the Champa people thrived along the coasts of what was once an independent land. Due to this accessible location, it was a popular trade route stop for India, China, and Indonesia. These influences meant that the Champa evolved to be religiously comparable to Hinduism.
The Cham art reflected this, with sandstone sculptures often depicting deities such as Shiva, Visnu, Brahma, and Devi. This civilisation became so proficient at the craft that scholars have hailed it as some of the best Southeast Asian art in history.
Sadly, in 1471, the Champa–Đại Việt War took place, where Vietnamese forces attacked and defeated the Cham army. This ended the Champa kingdom as the ground was swallowed to become part of Vietnam. However, their contribution to society lived on through their creativity, and the city of Da Nang recognised that with the “garden of sculptures”, a site that housed many of the figures. Eventually, it was decided to build a gallery around the pieces, and in 1919, they opened the Museum of Cham Sculpture. It is the most extensive collection of Cham statues in the world.
Vietnam is an atheist state, but the people don’t care, with 70-90% claiming to be Buddhist while Taoism, Confucianism, and Christianity are practised. Naturally, these numbers are falling in the youth.
Between 500 and 1700 AD, the Champa people thrived along the coasts of what was once an independent land. Due to this accessible location, it was a popular trade route stop for India, China, and Indonesia. These influences meant that the Champa evolved to be religiously comparable to Hinduism.
The Cham art reflected this, with sandstone sculptures often depicting deities such as Shiva, Visnu, Brahma, and Devi. This civilisation became so proficient at the craft that scholars have hailed it as some of the best Southeast Asian art in history.
Sadly, in 1471, the Champa–Đại Việt War took place, where Vietnamese forces attacked and defeated the Cham army. This ended the Champa kingdom as the ground was swallowed to become part of Vietnam. However, their contribution to society lived on through their creativity, and the city of Da Nang recognised that with the “garden of sculptures”, a site that housed many of the figures. Eventually, it was decided to build a gallery around the pieces, and in 1919, they opened the Museum of Cham Sculpture. It is the most extensive collection of Cham statues in the world.
Vietnam is an atheist state, but the people don’t care, with 70-90% claiming to be Buddhist while Taoism, Confucianism, and Christianity are practised. Naturally, these numbers are falling in the youth.
Janthopoyism is a spiritual philosophy meets self-improvement program.
We view the Absolute collection of all Universal Energy to be the highest power. You are part of that power. You are an extension of divinity.
The ultimate purpose of this power is to evolve, and we each have a unique part to play in this progression. The details of your role are relayed to you every moment of your life via emotional notifications.
The tricky bit is that human beings have developed a communication barrier between themselves and this instruction.
This barrier is called "the brain".
But never fear! By utilising some very simple practices, you can open the flow of exchange, granting you access to the ether of infinite ideas, the infallible path of your guided destiny, and the recollection of your holiness.
Which is basically a wanky way of saying that your life is about to get a whole bunch better.
Join the movement before it becomes too mainstream.
We view the Absolute collection of all Universal Energy to be the highest power. You are part of that power. You are an extension of divinity.
The ultimate purpose of this power is to evolve, and we each have a unique part to play in this progression. The details of your role are relayed to you every moment of your life via emotional notifications.
The tricky bit is that human beings have developed a communication barrier between themselves and this instruction.
This barrier is called "the brain".
But never fear! By utilising some very simple practices, you can open the flow of exchange, granting you access to the ether of infinite ideas, the infallible path of your guided destiny, and the recollection of your holiness.
Which is basically a wanky way of saying that your life is about to get a whole bunch better.
Join the movement before it becomes too mainstream.
