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Angkor Buddhist Treasures from Banteay Kdei | Preah Norodom Sihanouk Angkor Museum

by Yoshiaki Ishizawa

The discovery of 274 discarded Buddhist statues at Prasat Banteay Kdei in March and August 2001 by a team of Sophia University and Cambodian archaeologists.

 

Type: paperback

Publisher: NHK Publishing, Tokyo-Siem Reap.

Edition: NHK Publishing

Published: 2007

Author: Yoshiaki Ishizawa

Pages: 95

Language : English

ADB Library Catalog ID: MUSPNSM1

Now living at the Preah Norodom Sihanouk-Angkor Museum សារៈមន្ទីរ​ព្រះនរោត្តម សីហនុ-អង្គរ, the collection of 274 discarded Buddhist statues — and a stunning stone pillar — retrieved from Prasat Banteay Kdei grounds in 2001 is the main subject of this book, beautifully captured by photographer Tsugasato Omura.

While Prof. Ishizawa focused here on the cultural and religious significance of the discovery, we found in archaeologist Marui Masako’s report the exact location of this major find:

Soil filling feature DU04 at southern side of D 11: Construction work digging and soil filling was detected at the southern side of D 11. In addition, numerous statues were unearthed from the soil fill. Digging was evident from the top of the sand foundation of D 11; statues and soil were then placed in the pit. The soil fill measured 1.8 m high from the bottom of the pit. More than 100 sandstone statues and fragments and bronze figurines were unearthed here. Many of the statues are of the Buddha, and have been decapitated or undergone damage to the head. The meaning and function of this soil fill with its statues remain unclear. [Marui Masako, ​“Archaeological Research at Banteay Kdei Temple: Overview of Investigations over the Past Ten Years”, Sophia University Angkor International Mission, 2002, p 141 – 51]

D11 being a small hall built north of the east approach to the Main Hall [often called Hall of Dancers due to the numerous Apsara figures on bas-reliefs.]

 
The statues at the time of discovery, 2001 (photo Marui Masako) 
The statues at the time of discovery, 2001 (photo Marui Masako) 

In his essay ​“The precious heritage of Banteay Kdei Temple” (UNESCO, Special Issue World Heritage in Cambodia June 2013, p 53 – 6), Prof. Ishizawa noted: 

An initial find of statues, buried for 800 years, was made in a pit roughly 150 m from the entrance to the eastern causeway, in front of a small northern sanctuary on the side facing a cruciform terrace. These range in size from 20 cm to 1.8 m. Two small bronze Buddha images were also discovered. The pit from which the statues were excavated was roughly 1.8 m deep and 2 m square. Several small whole statues of the Buddha and of the Buddha’s head were unearthed, along with large stone artefacts including body segments. They appeared to have been thrown in from the top, and the images of the Buddha’s head appeared to have been deliberately severed from their bodies before being discarded and buried, which unfortunately means that not many will be able to be restored to their original condition. The 274 excavated images were mostly of a seated Buddha protected by a naga, and this style appeared to have been widespread in Khmer art. These statues denote a time when it was said to have rained like a waterfall for a week during the Buddha’s seven-week period of meditation in order to be able to enter Nirvana. At that time, Mucalinda the serpent king arose from the earth and protected the Buddha.

As for the resonance of the discovery, which establishes the scope of anti-Buddhist iconoclast movement at the end of the 13th century in Angkor, Prof. Ishizawa summarized here the conclusions he had drawn in his previously published paper ​“New aspects of the Angkor dynasty: Report on the discovery of the stone pillar of the thousand seated buddhas and 274 discarded Buddhist statutes”, Journal of Sophia Studies 19, 2001. In the present book, he wrote that the Sophia Angkor International Mission 2001 discovery — and their Cambodian collaborators, as, as he remarked, ​“it was the Cambodian trainees, not their trainees, who made this magnificent discovery” — had ​“changed our understanding of Ancient Angkor”, adding:

According to popular belief, the various massive construction projects of Jayavarman VII placed an excessive load on the people. This, together with the growing influence of Siam in the west, later brought about the gradual demise of the Angkor Dynasty during the reigns of Indravarman II (1220−1243) and Jayavarman VIII (1243−1295). The unearthing of these Buddhist statues reveals to us that the empire was still functioning effectively during the reign of Jayavarman VIII, however, [precisely] because his order to destroy the Buddhist statues was carried out most efficiently. It is also clear that some degree of prosperity continued throughout his reign, as it would have taken a huge amount of labor and expense to tear down, destroy, and bury all of the Buddhist statues in the temples and replace them with Hindu statues.

Furthermore, Zhou Daguan of China, who visited Cambodia in 1296, noted in his Record of Cambodia that goods were being distributed, people were living in peace, and political and religion life were being carried on as normal. These facts, together with the discovery of the discarded Buddhist statues in the ​“find of the century”, paint quite a different picture from that which is commonly believed about the final years of the Angkor Dynasty. [p 94]

 
“No.1: Stone Pillar with Seated Buddha Reliefs (Known as the ​“Thousand Seated Buddha” Pillar) BK135 (Top missing), 13th century (1st quarter), Bayon style, sandstone, height 110cm, width 50cm. 1,008 engraved Buddhas, 12 figures wide in 21 columns. Meaning of 1,008 still unknown, possibly adding ​“0” to 108, the number of earthly desires.” (photo Tsugasato Omura) 
“No.1: Stone Pillar with Seated Buddha Reliefs (Known as the ​“Thousand Seated Buddha” Pillar) BK135 (Top missing), 13th century (1st quarter), Bayon style, sandstone, height 110cm, width 50cm. 1,008 engraved Buddhas, 12 figures wide in 21 columns. Meaning of 1,008 still unknown, possibly adding ​“0” to 108, the number of earthly desires.” (photo Tsugasato Omura) 
 
“N 60 Face of Buddha fronting belly of Naga, Bayon style, sandstone, H 49 cm, W 25 cm, expressing determination.” (photo Tsugasato Omura) 
“N 60 Face of Buddha fronting belly of Naga, Bayon style, sandstone, H 49 cm, W 25 cm, expressing determination.” (photo Tsugasato Omura) 
 
“N 64: The face of Buddha with Eyes Open speaking of glory, BK 137 (head only), Bayon style H 40 cm, W 40 cm, impression of sincerity.” (photo Tsugasato Omura) 
“N 64: The face of Buddha with Eyes Open speaking of glory, BK 137 (head only), Bayon style H 40 cm, W 40 cm, impression of sincerity.” (photo Tsugasato Omura) 
 
” N19, BK 197, sandstone, Bayon Style, H 24 cm. The Wonder of Life Revealed, probably Prajnaparamita or Tara.” (photo Tsugasato Omura) 
” N19, BK 197, sandstone, Bayon Style, H 24 cm. The Wonder of Life Revealed, probably Prajnaparamita or Tara.” (photo Tsugasato Omura) 

About Banteay Kdei

Prasat Banteay Kdei ប្រាសាទបន្ទាយក្តី (‘Citadel of Monks’?), southeast of Ta Prohm near Sra Srang basin, it can be dated to the reign of Jayavarman VII, in Bayon architectural style, similar in plan to Ta Prohm and Preah Khan, but less complex and smaller, with Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara as the main deity. On that location, the village of Kuti was mentioned in the Sdok Kak Thom inscription, ​“bestowed to the family of the royal priest”, Brahman scholar Sivakaivalya, chief priest for the Devaraja cult. There are mentions of a Kutisvara temple, but archaeological exploration did not find any proof of connection so far. Buddhist monks have been dwelling in this temple until the 1970s civil war. The lesser quality of sandstone used for this temple would explain its dilapidated state.

 
Plan of Banteay Kdei, 2000 (Marui Masako) 
Plan of Banteay Kdei, 2000 (Marui Masako) 

Tags: Banteay Kdei, Buddhism, Jayavarman VII, sculpture, statues, Khmer art, Japanese researchers, archaeology, Japan-Cambodia cooperation, museums, Sra Srang

About the Author

Yoshiakiportrait

Yoshiaki Ishizawa

A former president of Sophia University (Tokyo), archaeologist and historian Yoshiaki Ishizawa 石沢 良昭 (b. 19 Sept. 1937, Hokkaido, Japan) has spent many years on the field, actively involved in the restoration and preservation of Angkor Wat, where he was the head of the International Mission on Angkor, starting a sustained mission right after the Cambodian civil war in 1980.

While furthering his archaeological and historical research, Yoshiaki Ishizawa greatly contributed in the training of new generations of Cambodian and Japanese archaeologists and conservationists. His reports were instrumental in the inscription of Angkor to UNESCO World Heritage List, and his leadership in field research led to major discoveries, in particular the Banteay Kdei depository of Buddha statues which initiated the establishment of the Preah Sihanouk Museum in Siem Reap in 2007.

His essays in history reflect a constant attention to cultural and economic background, a transnational vision like in Along the Royal Roads of Angkor  — an exploration of Khmer architectural remains across modern Thailand, Laos and Vietnam — and Angkor Buddhist treasures from Banteay Kdei (with photographs by Tsugusato Omura). Alongside important contributions by Claude Jacques, Michael Vickery, O.W. Wolters, Nhim Sotheavin, Ang Choulean, and other researchers, his approach to Chinese sources on Ancient Cambodia stimulated the discussion on pre-Angkorian history, in particular the Indianization and Sinization processes. 

Publications

  1. “Etudes d’histoire angkorienne (I) : les rapports concrets entre Pura (domaine temporel) et Dron Vrah (domaine du dieu)”, The Southeast Asian studies, Kyoto University, vol. 10, 4, 1973 : 561 – 582.
  2. “Etudes d’histoire angkorienne (II) : Les biens du dieu à Sam Paribhoga (co-bénéficiaire) et à Pre Siddhi (droit exclusif) “, The Southeast Asian studies 11 – 1, Kyoto University, 1973 : 49 – 61.
  3. “Étude critique sur le Zhenla Zhuan du Sui Shu”, Historical Science Report, Kagoshima University, vol. 29, July 1980 : 1 – 11.
  4. “Recherché sur Angkor Vat et la ruine qui le menace — Angkor attend des secours”, Historical Science Report, Kagoshima University, vol. 30, July 1981 : 1 – 34.
  5. 『古代カンボジア史研究』国書刊行会 [Studies on the History of Ancient Cambodia], Tokyo, Kokusho Kankokai, 1982.
  6. “Angkor Vat menacé de destruction : Recherches sur l’état actuel des Ruines d’Angkor”, The Journal of Sophia Asian Studies (JSAS), 1, 1983: 56 – 101.
  7. “The preservation of law and order in Angkorian Cambodia “, JSAS, 2, 1984: 11 – 31.
  8. “The juridical system in Angkorian Cambodia “, JSAS, 3, 1985: 21 – 53.
  9. “The Angkor Complex, its Study and Preservation”, in Cultural Heritage in Asia – Study and Preservation of Historic Cities of Southeast Asia, Tokyo, Japan Times, 1986 : 124 – 137.
  10. “Les traits généraux de l’histoire médiévale du Cambodge dans ses relations avec le Champa, le Laos et le Siam”, JSAS 4, 1986: 13 – 26.
  11. “Christianisme et Sociétés Asiatiques — Acceptation et Refus du Christianisme dans l’Asie du Sud-Est Continentale”, JSAS 5, 1987: 17 – 26.
  12. “Usurpation royale et symbiose des familles religieuses et du pouvoir”, JSAS 6, 1988: 49 – 62.
  13. “Puissances locales dans le Cambodge ancien (VII°-IX° siècles) : Sambhupura et Aninditapura — Étude comparative et critique à partir des matériaux épigraphiques et des sources chinoises”, JSAS 7, 1989: 82 – 100.
  14. “Angkor Vat en péril : les dix dernières années”, JSAS 8, 1990: 44 – 54.
  15. [ed. with Alain Forest & Léon Vandermeersch], Cultes populaires et sociétés asiatiques : appareils cultuels et appareils de pouvoir (Actes du 4º Séminaire franco-japonais ” Religions et sociétés asiatiques ”), Paris, L’Harmattan, 1991, 266 p.
  16. “International Cooperation for the Preservation of Cultural Property — Through the Restoration of the Four Great Monuments in South-East Asia”, Renaissance culturelle du Cambodge (RCC), 3, 1991: 17 – 26 & 131 – 138.
  17. [with Kono Yasushi, Moriai Tomio, Fujiki Yoshiaki & Endo Nobuo] ​“Renaissance Culturelle du Cambodge”, RCC, 4, 1991: 240 – 322.
  18. “Greatest Treasure Ruined beyond Imagination — Survey Report on the Angkor Monuments (1980−1993)”, JSAS, 10, 1992: 104 – 109.
  19. “Policy for the Sophia University Survey Mission for the Study and Preservation of the Angkor Monuments — Principles and Proposals”, RCC, 7, 1992: 131 – 137.
  20. [with Takahashi Hiroaki, Moriai Tomio & Endo Nobuo] ​“Eighth Sophia University Survey Mission for the Study and Preservation of the Angkor Monuments”, RCC, 8, 1993: 189 – 369.
  21. “Chinese Chronicles of 1 – 5th Century AD: Funan, Southern Cambodia”, in South East Asia & China : art, interaction & commerce, Colloquies on Art and Archaeology in Asia, no. 17 (6 – 18 June 1994), London/​Singapore, Percival David Foundation of Chinese Art, SOAS, University of London/​Sun Tree Publishing, 1995: 11 – 32.
  22. [with Claude Jacques] ​“Khmer History : 2. The Sophia University Angkor International Survey Mission since 1980”, Renaissance Culturelle du Cambodge (RCC) 11, Institute of Asian Cultures, Sophia University, 1995, p. 202 – 206.
  23. [with Endo Nobuo] ​“Creation of a Survey Model of the Socio-Cultural Development of Banteay Kdei Area- Historical Monuments and Sites, Villages and Forests”, RCC, 11, 1995: 207 – 216.
  24. [with Claude Jacques] ​“The Sophia University Angkor International Survey Mission since 1980”, RCC, 11, 1995: 202 – 204.
  25. 『アンコール・ワット 大伽藍と文明の謎』講談社現代新書 [Angkor Wat: The Mystery of the Great Temple and Civilization], Kodansha Gendaishinsho, 1996.
  26. “Training Project 1991 – 1995: A Profile — Concept and Profile of the Project for Training Cambodian Specialists as It Enters Its 5th Year”, RCC, 12, 1996: 213 – 224.
  27. “Les études japonaises sur le Cambodge”, in Pierre L. Lamant (dir.), Bilan et perspectives des études khmères (Langue et culture), Paris, L’Harmattan, 1997 : 233 – 237.
  28. “Les quartiers japonais dans l’Asie du Sud-Est au XVIII° siècle”, in Nguyên Thê Anh et Alain Forest (dir.), Guerre et paix en Asie du Sud-Est. Paris, L’Harmattan, 1998 : 85 – 95.
  29. “Human Resources and Cultural Development — A Case Study of the Angkor Monument”, RCC, 15, 1999: 276 – 285.
  30. [with Katagiri Masao] ​“Travaux de restauration de la chaussée-digue du passage ouest a Angkor Vat”, RCC, 15, 1998: 207 – 234.
  31. Along the Royal Roads to Angkor, New-York, Weatherhill, 1999, 199 p.
  32. “Training Project 1991 – 1999: Project for Training Cambodian Specialists Enters 9th Year”, RCC, 16, 1999: 283 – 287.
  33. [ed. with Nguyễn Thế Anh], Commerce et navigation en Asie du Sud-Est (XIV°-XIX°s), Paris, L’Harmattan, 1999, 190 p.
  34. 『アンコール・ワットへの道』JTB出版部 [The Roads to Angkor Wat], JTB Publishing, 2000.
  35. “From the Study of Cultural Properties to the Science of Cultural Heritage — A Methodology for the Creation of an Innovative System for the Acquisition of Knowledge, and for the Fusion of Borderless and Differentiated Disciplines “, JSAS, 18, 2000: 181 – 190.
  36. “Learning from the Age-Old Wisdom of Asia : Two International Symposia : From Sophia to Asia, and on to the Global Society”, JSAS, 18, 2000: 1 – 6.
  37. “An Outline of the Activities of the Sophia University International Angkor Mission(1999 – 2000)”, RCC, 17, 2000: 185 – 187.
  38. “A Comparative Study of Material contained in Inscriptions and the 1: 5,000 Scale Topographical Map : Considering the Hydraulic City of the Angkor Dynasty (The Hydraulic City in Asia : The Huge Monuments in terms of the Relationship between Agriculture and Water)”, JSAS, 18, 2000: 9 – 25.
  39. “New Aspects of the Angkor Dynasty : Report on the Discovery of the Stone Pillars of the Thousand Seated Buddhas and 274 Discarded Buddhist Statues”, JSAS, 19, 2001: 233 – 265.
  40. [with photographs by Hitoshi Tamura] Along the royal roads to Angkor, New York/​Tokyo, Weatherhill, 2001, 199 p. ISBN: 0834804727.
  41. “An Outline of the Activities of the Sophia University International Angkor Mission (2000−2001)”, RCC, 18, 2001: 259 – 261.
  42. 『アンコールからのメッセージ』山川出版社 [Message from Angkor], Yamakawa Publishing, 2002.
  43. “Cambodia’s History and Culture “, in Country Study for Japan’s Official Development Assistance to the Kingdom of Cambodia – From Reconstruction to Sustainable Development –, Tokyo, Japan International Cooperation Agency, 2002 : 79 – 99.
  44. “La découverte de 274 sculptures et d’un caitya bouddhique des campagnes de fouilles de 2000 et 2001 au temple de Banteay Kdei a Angkor “, Arts Asiatiques, 2002 : 206 – 218.
  45. “Angkor Wat Environmental Education Project”, RCC, 20, 2003: 229 – 235.
  46. “Cultural, Heritage, Identity, and Information Technology — Angkor Wat and the use of Three Dimensional Imaging Technology”, RCC, 20, 2003: 223 – 228.
  47. “Establishment of the Sihanouk-Aeon Angkor Sites Museum”, RCC, 20, 2003: 217 – 222.
  48. “Reconsideration of Indianization and Sinization in the History of Mainland Southeast Asia”, RCC, 20, 2003: 236 – 242.
  49. “Reconsidering on the history of the Angkor dynasty. A Confirmation of the Prosperity of the Late Angkor Period (Special Issue on the Inventory of 274 Buddhist Statues and the stone Pillar Discovered from Banteay Kdei Temple)”, RCC, 21, 2004: 3 – 40.
  50. [with Claude Jacques & Uneao Kunikazu] ​“Panel discussion: Major Discoveries that Overturn the Popular View of the History of the Angkor Dynasty (Special Issue on the Inventory of 274 Buddhist Statues and the stone Pillar Discovered from Banteay Kdei Temple)”, RCC, 21, 2004: 155 – 163.
  51. [with Omura Tsugusato] ​“Photos of discovered Buddhist statues (Special Issue on the Inventory of 274 Buddhist Statues and the stone Pillar Discovered from Banteay Kdei Temple) — (catalogue — Statues excavated from DU04, Banteay Kdei)”, RCC, 21, 2004: 173 – 229.
  52. “Promotion of international cooperation to aid cultural heritage education strategy”, RCC, 22, 2005: 213 – 217.
  53. 『アンコール・王たちの物語』NHK出版 [The Story of the Kings of Angkor], NHK Publishing, 2005.
  54. [ed. with Claude Jacques & Khin Sok], Manuel d’épigraphie du Cambodge, Paris, Ecole française d’Extrême-Orient, vol. 1, 2007, 216 p.
  55. “Les inscriptions calligraphiques japonaises du XVIIe siècle à Angkor Vat et le plan du Jetavana-Vihara”, Manuel d’épigraphie : 169 – 179.
  56. “Sixteen years of grassroots international cooperation: my experiences of museum-building, restoration work, and graduate education in Cambodia”, RCC, 23, 2007 : 173 – 178.
  57. 『興亡の世界史　東南アジア　多文明世界の発見』講談社 [The Rise and Fall of the World History: Southeast Asia, Discovery of a Multi-Civilization World], Kodansha, 2009.
  58. Angkor Buddhist Treasures from Banteay Kdei | Preah Norodom Sihanouk Angkor Museum, Tokyo/​Siem Reap, NHK Publishing, 2007, 95 p.
  59. “The World’s Oldest Plan of Angkor Wat: The Japanese so-called Jetavana, an Illustrated Plan of the Seventheeth Century”, Udaya 13, 2015: 47 – 61.
  60. 『アンコール・ワットと私』連合出版 [Angkor Wat and I], Rengo Publishing, 2018.
  61. 『アンコール王朝興亡史』[“The Rise and Fall of the Angkor Dynasty”], NHK Publishing, 2021.
  62. ト建立の経済活動解明に挑戦』ぎょうせい [The Water City of the Angkor Dynasty: Uncovering the Economic Activities Behind the Construction of Angkor Wat], Gyosei, 2023.

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