Sajun.org
The kingdom of '''Champa''' (or '''Lin-yi''' in
Chinese records) controlled what is now south and central
Vietnam from approximately
192 AD through
1697. The empire began to decline in the late
15th Century, became a Vietnamese
vassal state in
1697, and was finally dissolved in the
1720s.
Champa was established by the rebellion of a local official named
Kiu-lien against the Chinese authority in
192 C.E. in the region of present-day
Hue. Champa included thereafter the modern provinces of
Quang Nam,
Quang Tin,
Binh Dinh,
Khanh Hoa,
Phan Rang, and
Binh Thuan. Initially closely tied to Chinese cultural and religious traditions, wars with neighboring
Funan and the acquisition of Funanese territory in the
fourth century saw the infusion of
Indian culture into Cham society.
Cham history was fraught with conflict against the Chinese, the Khmer, the Vietnamese, and the Mongols. Champa was periodically brought under Chinese vassalage but maintained her unique culture and territorial integrity. The Chams proved excellent warriors, using the mountains to great advantage. In
1471, the Chams suffered a severe defeat at the hands of the Vietnamese, suffering at least 60,000 dead and 30,000 taken into captivity. Champa continued to resist total conquest, existing in the mountains around
Nha Trang until the 1720, when the last Cham king fled with his family to Cambodia.
The dominant religion of the
Cham people was
Hinduism and the culture was heavily influenced by
India. Many Cham towers still stand in central Vietnam. The most significant example of Cham architecture was
My Son near the Vietnamese city of
Hoi An. My Son was destroyed by
US bombing during the
Vietnam War.
de:Champa
fr:Royaume du Champ
ja:チャンパ王国
nl:Champa
