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A Fading Glory
This particular point in Khmer history, with the people and their rulers headed into different
religious focal points, can be mirrored to the case of the Chinese to the north, although of different time period and historical
contexts. During the years of turmoil and instability of the Six Dynasties period (220-589) 1, when suffering became unbearable,
the Chinese took to the teachings of the Buddha, to alleviate their suffering and to have a sense of peace, while the Chinese
rulers kept on with their Confucian ideals to maintain order in the middle kingdom.
In the case of the Khmer,
with the rising to dominance of competing neighbor kingdoms by the 12th century, Cambodia began to decline into eventual obscurity,
but not without the last wave of incredible buildings credited to Jayavarman VII. After him, other Khmer kings-- through much
suffering of their subjects from temple construction to war--eventually lost their luster and failed to command supreme religious
respect from the people. Thus the god-king was no longer on the main altar, slowly faded from glory.2
At this
time, it is appropriate to re-introduce the temple structure named the Bayon. Recollecting the time that the soldiers of Champa
utterly destroyed the great city of Angkor in 1170, and then the emergence of a new Khmer king, who after consolidated his
broken empire, went to exact revenge on the Champa kingdom, then return home to build a new capital.3 This was the beginning
of a new era, for the new king now took on a new incarnation of the Bodhisatva by the name of Avalokitesvara. This was the
first time in Khmer history that a ruler was a Buddhist, hence temples built during the reign of Jayavarman VII were dedicated
to the Lord Buddha. The new city was named Angkor Thom, situated near the former Angkor capital.
As earlier
mentioned, some of the visual impacts can cause speechlessness. Stones so large yet fit together perfectly, carving so real
they give the impression that they were molded onto the stone. The utmost care and the deepest respect can be seen incorporated
throughout in the construction of the sacred temple, hence it leads to the last question: How was it possible?
As
discussed in the geographic setting early on, the Angkor area once was home to a very large population, one that was based
on wet rice farming and utilized the abundant rainfalls. The Khmer water network was so efficient that the rain could be collected
and stored during the rainy season, and distributed throughout the region in the dry months. This water management system
made it possible to harvest three rice crops a year. This is an important element when thinking about the huge monuments-there
had to be plenty of food in reserve to feed all the people who had to labor and construct the temples. In addition, the tax
and corvee system must have been well-organized and enforced effectively to be able to finance such undertakings. Trade also
contributed to the wealth of the kingdom, for Cambodia was well-endowed with elephants and ivory, rare wood, rhinoceros horns,
spices, lacquer, hides, and aromatic woods.4
The Khmer capital eventually faded into decay and partial neglect,
once the Thai neighbors rose to dominant regional position. Angkor was ransacked by the Thai army in 1353; and in 1431 destroyed
the capital city of Angkor Thom. The increasing strength of the Thai people played a major part in the downfall of the Khmer,
plus the introduction of another form of Buddhism into the Khmer universe-Theravada Buddhism.5 From Sri Lanka, the new religion
gave new ideologies to people so burdened for so long. Perhaps the Khmer people finally realized that their suffering was
the result of their rulers' desires, therefore might have been inflamed by the new thinking, revolted against their rulers.
One thing is for sure: The time that it took to wage wars and constructing temples took away the time for
farming and family, and the wealth that were created throughout the empire went not to the people but to finance more temples.
The loss of resource and manpower lead to the neglect of the water system, the maintenance required of the canals and reservoirs
were not attended to, thus impeded agricultural production.
Eventually, the Khmer capital was moved to Phnom
Penh, then at different times briefly back to Angkor in the 16th and 17th centuries6, but never again regained the glories
of the past. The area of Angkor capital and many of its fine temples were to be reclaimed by the jungle. Given to time and
the elements, Angkor would sleep under tall and thick canopy of the jungle, to be awaken to the world's attention in the latter
part of the 19th century.
What were sketched and written about in Henry Mouhot's journals did create quite
a stir in the academic communities in 1860's and thereafter, for the French government and scholars have taken a keen interests
in solving the Angkor mysteries. Most of what we know today are the results of dedicated men and women who relentlessly studied,
researched, and reconstructed the area. As peace is again at hand, no doubt the current and future research will uncover more
mysteries and discover new ones, adding new knowledge for this spectacular site of world heritage.
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