Articles Discovery on the cycling road Lifestyle Mr Old Man THE STORY BEHIND THE STATUE OF MOTHER ÂU CƠ AT EAST SEA PARK By Mr Old Man Posted on 6 days ago 7 min read 0 0 17 Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Google+ Share on Reddit Share on Pinterest Share on Linkedin Share on Tumblr By Mr. Old Man, October 2021 A Mysterious Presence by the Sea Right at the heart of East Sea Park in Đà Nẵng—where Hoàng Sa Street intersects with Phạm Văn Đồng Street—stands a striking white stone sculpture. It depicts two full, round breasts cradling a large egg, mounted on a tall black granite pedestal that rises above head height. Curiously, the pedestal bears no inscription—no title, no artist’s name. Locals simply refer to it as the statue of Mother Âu Cơ. An Untold Story The story behind this sculpture is as intriguing as its form. In issue 167 (June 2011) of Non Nước, the journal of the Đà Nẵng Union of Arts and Literature Associations, author Nguyễn Đình An published an article titled “A Few Words About the Mother Âu Cơ Statue,” offering insights into the statue’s creation and its little-known backstory. Legend has it that after Au Co married Lac Long Quan, she gave birth to a sac of 100 eggs, which hatched into 100 children, the ancestors of the Vietnamese people. The Vision of a Sculptor According to Nguyễn Đình An, the statue was the work of Lê Công Thành, a renowned sculptor originally from Đà Nẵng who now resides in Hanoi. In 2006, during a visit to his hometown, Lê Công Thành stood at the eastern end of Phạm Văn Đồng Street, gazing out over Mỹ Khê Beach. At that moment, he felt a deep and unshakable conviction: this site was not merely a spiritual “power point” (huyệt đạo) of Đà Nẵng—it was one of the entire nation. Scuptor Lê Công Thành East Sea Park A Gift Without Conditions The following year, he returned to Đà Nẵng with a sketch in hand and sought a meeting with Nguyễn Bá Thanh, then the city’s Party Secretary. There, he proposed to gift a sculpture of Mother Âu Cơ to his hometown. He asked for nothing in return—only that the city construct the pedestal exactly to his specifications and install the statue precisely where he designated, without modification. So compelling was his vision that Nguyễn Bá Thanh agreed on the spot—without involving any arts council or technical committee. The project would proceed quietly, with no publicity, groundbreaking, or fanfare. Created in Silence, Revealed at Dawn Lê Công Thành then traveled to Nghệ An to purchase three large blocks of white stone. Returning to Đà Nẵng, he established a covered workspace and assembled a team of skilled stone artisans. In just 45 days—a remarkable feat—the sculpture was completed. At midnight on June 30, 2007, the statue was mounted onto its pedestal. By dawn on July 1, beachgoers, early joggers, and curious locals were stunned to discover the elegant, almost spiritual form of Mother Âu Cơ standing solemnly by the sea. A Quiet Witness At precisely 7:30 that morning, Party Secretary Nguyễn Bá Thanh arrived at East Sea Park to witness the unveiling. Deeply moved, he shook the sculptor’s hand. The two men stood in silence, looking upon the statue of Mother Âu Cơ, bathed in the golden light of the morning sun. Spirit, Form, and Symbolism Since its installation, the sculpture has transformed the surrounding space with a serene, almost sacred atmosphere. In it, Mother Âu Cơ is depicted reclining, her head lifted high, her full breasts brimming with life—evocative, vital, and profoundly human. According to many art critics, this work by Lê Công Thành is not only striking in form, but rich in symbolism. It stands as a bold, minimalist, and deeply modern declaration of human dignity and national identity. A Sacred Icon In the spiritual consciousness of the Vietnamese people, the figure of Mother Âu Cơ—the mythical mother of the nation—is both revered and sacred. This sculpture stands as a poetic tribute, quietly honoring her enduring place in the soul of the nation.