Dong Son Imprints in the South of Vietnam (research summary)

Abstract

In the paper, the author reviews the most recent important archaeological discoveries with Dong Son bronze drums (Heger I) found from Highlands (Kontum, Gia Lai, DakLak, Lam Dong provinces), Southern Part of Central Vietnam (Quang Nam, Quang Ngai, Binh Dinh, Phu Yen, Khanh Hoa provinces) and Southern Vietnam (Binh Dương, Binh Phuoc, Ba Ria-Vung Tau, Ben Tre, Kien Giang provinces). The author points out “key sites” in the South Vietnam – the typical sites and artifacts most lively showing “the convergance of Indigenous - Exogenous culture” in ancient villages, workshops for metallurgy, cemeteries, treasures, etc., which are related to the Dong Son and other inhabitants of the protohistorical epoch in Vietnam and Southeast Asia and beyond. There are Cemeteries or Tresors which contained Bronze Dong Son drums (Heger I type), bronze halberds (Ko), Western Han mirrors, Indian Nephrite or Glass and Golden Ornaments – artifacts not only representing the multi-linear relationship of the owners of Southern Vietnam with other Asian centres, but also were considered to be the symbol of power, authority, potential of military and polical function, social ranks and they reflected the unpeaceful situation of the contemporary society. The author emphasizes the very appearance of these Dongson drums as shown with 2 subtypes of Bronze Drum Collections: Original Dong Son (Heger I) Bronze Drum Collection and Imitative Bronze Drum Collection which was created according to "Dongsonian Style" thousands of years ago. The author emphasizes the very early appearance of the “exogenous” elements of culture-technique-art-religion in Southern Vietnam, which were adapted or completely modified to match the knowledge and psychology, aesthetic needs, and “Indigenous” beliefs – especially clear in traditional funeral concept thousands of years ago, as shown with distinction in “chiefdom cemetery”. Finallly, the author generalized data related to Bronze metallurgy at the Southern Vietnam area and came to some following remarks: 1/ Nam Bo - Vietnam was the early centre of Bronze Metallurgy at the Mainland Asia in the Proto-history, with the technology of casting in sandstone moulds. 2/ This Bronze casting industry together with its copper and alloy materials probably came from “Native land of Dong Son culture” – the “Bronze Triangle” or “Bronze Quadrilateral”: Dong Son – Yunnan – Guangxi – Guangdong – Khorat. Through various ways: directly via the East Sea to the South of Vietnam or indirectly through roads – via Sa Huynh cultural area and Tay Nguyen (Highlands) along the Mekong River to the South of Vietnam in the end. 3/ However, the southern metallurgy had their “own features” that were considered “non-Dong Son” by the author. The big and sophisticated bronze products such as Dong Son drums (Heger I type) or Chinese halberd (Ko or halberd), Art figurines such as statues of a pangolin (Manis javanica) or Amulets, statues depicting a dog chasing another animal, etc. only appeared in the Early Iron Age. Apart from some exotic intact goods such as Dong Son drums from Son Tinh, Daglao, Ben Tre, Bu Dang etc. and Western Han mirrors from Binh Yen, Go Dua, Phu Chanh, Kem Nac, most of the bronze products in the Early Iron Age in the South of Vietnam were cast on site, with their own characteristics that were “non-Dong Son” and “non-Chinese”. 4/ According to the author, the large bronze object like Dong Son – styled drums or “Ko” appeared a lot here to the regalia expressing power of the Bigmen (the leaders) in the early historical period in the South of Vietnam and they were just replaced in the early Christian Era under the influence of Indian civilization – process by which French scholars call “Hinduism” and “Buddhism”.