An abandoned Cham temple of Vietnam: the woven history of the Hòa Lai Temple from a multiple disciplinary approach

Abstract

ABSTRACT This article examines the Hòa Lai Temple in Ninh Thuận province, Vietnam, which has been overlooked in recent literature, despite numerous Champa temple-tower complexes in the region having been the subject of scholarly studies. Using multidisciplinary methods such as ethnography, manuscript studies, historical analysis, oral historical methods, epigraphy and archaeology, our findings reveal two trends. First, while the temple-tower complex is a product of Champa architecture, Cham oral historical traditions claim it as a Khmer (Cambodian) construction. Second, the temple serves as a memory place that links contemporary Cham communities to the historical Champa civilization. These interpretations highlight the importance of working with local communities in interpreting heritage sites, as our work illuminates under-researched aspects of Champa studies. This article challenges assumptions that the proximity of contemporary Cham populations to ancient Cham temples directly correlates with their sacred or abandoned status, and suggests possible historical factors underlying contemporary oral legends among local Cham populations that dissociate themselves from the Hòa Lai temple. Ultimately, this study contributes to the field of Champa studies by emphasizing the need to engage with local communities in interpreting heritage sites.