Socheatrapagna Sisowath arrived in Dallas a year ago to build a replica of a mausoleum at Cambodia's famed Angkor Wat temple complex. The replica in southwest Dallas was built with ancient stones and statues imported from Cambodia. And he's been doing it in southwest Dallas. (Photo: MONA REEDER/DMN)Saturday, April 14, 2007
Built by hand and devotion
Buddhist monk's replica brings a bit of Cambodia to Dallas
By KRISTEN HOLLAND / The Dallas Morning News
kholland@dallasnews.com
A member of Cambodia's royal family has spent more than a year painstakingly creating a three-story replica of a mausoleum at Angkor Wat, a temple complex northwest of Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
Socheatrapagna Sisowath, a Cambodian Buddhist monk, arrived in North Texas a year ago to begin construction of the monument at the local temple site. He completed the work last month.
Temple member Shuen Cheh said the Dallas temple wanted to build a monument for those who haven't been to Cambodia. "And to bring the essence of Cambodia to the community," he added.
Mr. Cheh said the monument, constructed using 500- to 1,500-year-old stones and statues imported from Cambodia, is the only replica in the United States, and possibly the world.
Walking around the base of the temple, Mr. Sisowath pointed out the carvings of lotus flowers, minitemples, dragons and lions.
"The Cambodian king uses lions to represent himself and his power," he said through Mr. Cheh, who served as an interpreter.
Mr. Sisowath then showed a visitor a pile of molds he brought from Cambodia to create the intricate designs, as well as several rows of dried panels. He explained that he poured concrete into the molds and let them dry in the sun.
Temple member Volak Sin called the method "old school."
The interior of the stone temple is small, just large enough for a single altar to Buddha. Candles, incense and a plate of yellow and red apples have been placed immediately in front of the altar. Colorful treelike sculptures that represent life line the white walls.
Mr. Sisowath said through Mr. Cheh that he generally worked from 8 a.m. to around 2 or 3 a.m. He set each of the concrete moldings himself.
"I never see anybody that put so much effort into his work," Mr. Cheh said, eying Mr. Sisowath as he zipped around the site, flipping through detailed charts and plans of the mausoleum. "The only time he takes a break is when he sleeps and eats. He pretty much did everything, with his own hands."
Socheatrapagna Sisowath, a Cambodian Buddhist monk, arrived in North Texas a year ago to begin construction of the monument at the local temple site. He completed the work last month.
Temple member Shuen Cheh said the Dallas temple wanted to build a monument for those who haven't been to Cambodia. "And to bring the essence of Cambodia to the community," he added.
Mr. Cheh said the monument, constructed using 500- to 1,500-year-old stones and statues imported from Cambodia, is the only replica in the United States, and possibly the world.
Walking around the base of the temple, Mr. Sisowath pointed out the carvings of lotus flowers, minitemples, dragons and lions.
"The Cambodian king uses lions to represent himself and his power," he said through Mr. Cheh, who served as an interpreter.
Mr. Sisowath then showed a visitor a pile of molds he brought from Cambodia to create the intricate designs, as well as several rows of dried panels. He explained that he poured concrete into the molds and let them dry in the sun.
Temple member Volak Sin called the method "old school."
The interior of the stone temple is small, just large enough for a single altar to Buddha. Candles, incense and a plate of yellow and red apples have been placed immediately in front of the altar. Colorful treelike sculptures that represent life line the white walls.
Mr. Sisowath said through Mr. Cheh that he generally worked from 8 a.m. to around 2 or 3 a.m. He set each of the concrete moldings himself.
"I never see anybody that put so much effort into his work," Mr. Cheh said, eying Mr. Sisowath as he zipped around the site, flipping through detailed charts and plans of the mausoleum. "The only time he takes a break is when he sleeps and eats. He pretty much did everything, with his own hands."
12 comments:
The true noble act of Khmer's Prince.
Ordinary Khmers
SISOWATH is a prestige last name belongs to The Royal Family. Why are we addressing him as Mr. and why not His Royal Highness or what ever that would fit the royalty's member? Are we not thinkg right? That is an act of insulting to our own best kind. Don't you think?
His biography needs to be known or least where did he get that last name from?
Hmm ... not bad for a public
toilet, Grigoes does have class.
8:22pm...he can not be address as Royal, because he is a MONK. As a MONK you leave behind your civil life.
CC, California
"Mr. Cheh said the monument, constructed using 500- to 1,500-year-old stones and statues imported from Cambodia..."
Doesn't sound right at all. Does it?
It doesn't matter to me, as long
the gringoes' public bathroom looks
nice, that is all that I care
about.
it is better than you yuon gringo toilet who prostate yuon style
To CC, California
Thanks for the explaination.
8:22p.m
No, the inside smell the same.
NOT ANKOR WAT STYLE YOU FOOL IS WAT OUNALOM STYLE IN NOTH EAST OF PHNOM PENH,
AND IT NO STONE BUT SEMEN CASTING OLD ORIGINAL CAST FROM CAMBODIA MAY BE?
AH XOJ SAR SAY PROSAT(PSYCHOPATH)NA NIYAY TOM PIS TOM PEAS DOJ JNOh' ?
Don't go in there if you can't hold
your breath and pee at the same
time. It stink like hell.
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