ABS.CBN (The Philippines)
Most enthusiasts of the great and powerful ancient civilization of yesteryear have probably heard of the Mayans, the Aztecs and the Pharaohs of Ancient Egypt. But very few are familiar with the ancient Khmer Empire found near our own backyard in Southeast Asia.
For five centuries, the Khmer Empire was the major power in what we now call Indochina, which, under a strict definition, comprises the three former Southeast Asian colonies of France: Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam. The Khmer people during the 9th to 15th centuries built a mighty civilization. It flourished from the banks of the Mekong Rivers, or more specifically, from the rich crops of rice grown from the ever-flowing source of life-giving water. This was the major source of Khmer wealth but the people were also adept in metal work, along with carving objects in wood, ivory and stone.
In A.D. 800 the Khmer King Jayavarman II established the city of Hariharalaya. It was the first of many cities built on or near the same site where the great capital of Angkor sprung during the reign of Jayavarman II’s successors. During the reign of Suryavarman II in the 12th century, the Khmer people achieved their greatest work with the building of Angkor Wat. Inspired by the gods and dedicated to Vishnu, this temple was built from durable materials of brick, laterite and sandstone—much of which has survived to the present.
Angkor Wat stands on an island about 800 meters squared by a wide moat that is 200 meters across. It can be reached by a single causeway across the moat, skillfully placed so that the approaching visitor can appreciate the full beauty of the building. During the lifetime of King Suryavarman II, Angkor Wat was used as a temple. When he died, it eventually became his tomb.
After his death, there was war between the Khmer empire and the rival kingdom of Champa to the east, in what is now Vietnam. In 1177 Champa won a major naval victory and attacked the Khmer capital leaving it partly in ruins. Four years later, a newly crowned King Jayavarman VII undertook a campaign to rebuild the capital and avenge the Champa attack.
The Khmer empire did not have enough people to man a huge army as well as carry out the King’s building plans efficiently. Nor could they continue the everyday work of farming, which was the principal source of wealth for the empire. It is theorized that such failures as well as the breakdown of the ingenious irrigation system led to the Khmer Empire’s degradation, steadily becoming poorer and weaker for another two hundred years.
After Angkor declined, it lay forgotten and gradually became completely overgrown with jungle vegetation. It was not until 1860 that a French naturalist, Henri Mouhat, came upon the ruins by accident as he was collecting plan specimens in the jungle.
The discovery inspired Mouhat to become an archaeologist. He made the first accurate plans and sketches of Angkor Wat and was the first to bring news of its wonders back to Europe.
Until the 1950s Indo-China was a French colony. Henri Mouhat’s work was followed later by a French archaeologists who campaigned for the restoration of Angkor Wat. Angkor Wat eventually became a Unesco World Heritage Site in December of 1992.
As for the Khmer people, they never forgot the existence of their monuments. After gaining independence in 1953, their country was known as the Kingdom of Cambodia. So highly is their regard for Angkor Wat that an image of it is included in every design of their national flag. Angkor Wat has indeed proved itself to be an incomparable treasure of mankind with regard to its greatness and beauty.
For five centuries, the Khmer Empire was the major power in what we now call Indochina, which, under a strict definition, comprises the three former Southeast Asian colonies of France: Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam. The Khmer people during the 9th to 15th centuries built a mighty civilization. It flourished from the banks of the Mekong Rivers, or more specifically, from the rich crops of rice grown from the ever-flowing source of life-giving water. This was the major source of Khmer wealth but the people were also adept in metal work, along with carving objects in wood, ivory and stone.
In A.D. 800 the Khmer King Jayavarman II established the city of Hariharalaya. It was the first of many cities built on or near the same site where the great capital of Angkor sprung during the reign of Jayavarman II’s successors. During the reign of Suryavarman II in the 12th century, the Khmer people achieved their greatest work with the building of Angkor Wat. Inspired by the gods and dedicated to Vishnu, this temple was built from durable materials of brick, laterite and sandstone—much of which has survived to the present.
Angkor Wat stands on an island about 800 meters squared by a wide moat that is 200 meters across. It can be reached by a single causeway across the moat, skillfully placed so that the approaching visitor can appreciate the full beauty of the building. During the lifetime of King Suryavarman II, Angkor Wat was used as a temple. When he died, it eventually became his tomb.
After his death, there was war between the Khmer empire and the rival kingdom of Champa to the east, in what is now Vietnam. In 1177 Champa won a major naval victory and attacked the Khmer capital leaving it partly in ruins. Four years later, a newly crowned King Jayavarman VII undertook a campaign to rebuild the capital and avenge the Champa attack.
The Khmer empire did not have enough people to man a huge army as well as carry out the King’s building plans efficiently. Nor could they continue the everyday work of farming, which was the principal source of wealth for the empire. It is theorized that such failures as well as the breakdown of the ingenious irrigation system led to the Khmer Empire’s degradation, steadily becoming poorer and weaker for another two hundred years.
After Angkor declined, it lay forgotten and gradually became completely overgrown with jungle vegetation. It was not until 1860 that a French naturalist, Henri Mouhat, came upon the ruins by accident as he was collecting plan specimens in the jungle.
The discovery inspired Mouhat to become an archaeologist. He made the first accurate plans and sketches of Angkor Wat and was the first to bring news of its wonders back to Europe.
Until the 1950s Indo-China was a French colony. Henri Mouhat’s work was followed later by a French archaeologists who campaigned for the restoration of Angkor Wat. Angkor Wat eventually became a Unesco World Heritage Site in December of 1992.
As for the Khmer people, they never forgot the existence of their monuments. After gaining independence in 1953, their country was known as the Kingdom of Cambodia. So highly is their regard for Angkor Wat that an image of it is included in every design of their national flag. Angkor Wat has indeed proved itself to be an incomparable treasure of mankind with regard to its greatness and beauty.
1 comment:
Khmer empire not Indochina you fool, is the whole south east Asia1
The Viet have not thing to do with Khmer but the chinese babarian invader!
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