Bảo tàng lịch sử Quốc gia

Human-head, bird-body statue playing drum (Kinnari), sand stone, 1057 AD,. Phat Tich pagoda, Tien Du district, Bac Ninh province

This is a decorative element of the Phat Tich pagoda. The statue illustrates a goddess with upper part of her body in the form of a human being holding a drum at her breast, while the lower part is in the form of a bird, with two wings, clawed feet, and the tail curling to join with the head, creating a harmonious, neat and lively statue. The style of the statue is somewhat similar to that of the Indian Amitabha statue, with a pensive and gentle face, delicate eyebrows and straight nose. Delicately and lively carved, the statue becomes an angel flying and singing in melodic music to direct human beings toward the Pure Land of Buddhism. Thus, the Kinnari image illustrates cultural exchanges between Dai Viet and Champa, especially in art, architecture and sculpture, which was strongly developed in the Ly dynasty.