Cambodian Architecture 6197

Cambodia • South East Asia

Khmer Empire • Jayavarman II-universal monarch(chakravartin) • 9th century to early 15th century

• Khmer People –predominant ethnic group in cambodia • Almost 90% of their population

• Golden age=Angkor period

Architecture and Religion • Buddhism was the one dominant in Cambodia, however through the introduction of Hinduism, it shared a significance in their architecture when it flourished through the land.

Architecture • Khmer Architecture focused on creating temples. • Religious and Non-Religious • Khmer Architecture mostly reflects on their religion which is Hinduism

Architecture • Motifs of Apsaras and DevatasPlayed a big role.

Architecture & Materials • Stone- main used from religious temples • Wood-for none religious structures • Sandstones • bricks This results to the Stone temple still can be seen unlikely the wood structures that has been washed out.

GEOGRAPHY CAPITAL: PHNOM PENH ANCIENT NAME: KAMBUJA 90% KHMER LOCATION: BORDERING THE GULF OF THAILAND, VIETNAM, AND LAOS AREA:  TOTAL: 181,040 SQ KM  LAND: 176, 520 SQ KM  WATER: 4 520 SQ KM

COUNTRY’S AREA CONSISTS OF ROLLING PLAINS TONLE SAP (GREAT LAKE) MEKONG RIVER

NATURAL RESOURCES (USED IN BUILDING/ STRUCTURES)

BRICK

STUCCO

WOOD

SANDSTONE

LATERITE

TECHNOLOGY • BRONZE TOOLS • USED IN MAKING TOOLS, RITUAL OBJECTS, WEAPONS, ORNAMENTS • USED OFBONZE CASTING INFLUENCEDBY CHINA AND INDIA

• LIKE THE STATUE OF THE RECLINING BUDDHA CARVED OUT FROM BRONZE

SOCIO- CULTURAL • HOMOGENOUS COUNTRY; 95% SPEAKS KHMER • MARRIAGE • LASTED 1 ½ DAYS, FORMELY 3 DAYS

• SOCIAL • MATRIARCHAL

• CUSTOMS • HEAD- CONTAINS THE SOUL; MOST SACRED • “SAMPEAH” AND “CHHBAPP”

CLOTHING

KRAMA

SAMPOT

SARONG

SOCIO- CULTURAL • APSA DANCE • BASED ON RAMAYANA

• NANG SBEK(SHADOW THEATER) • NANG SBEK THOM • NANG SBEK TOCH • SBEK PAOR

CAMBODIAN TIMELINE

ARCHITECTURAL CHARACTER • ANGKORIAN BUILDERS USED BRICK, SANDSTONE, LATERITE AND WOOD AS MATERIALS. THE RUINS THAT REMAIN ARE OF BRICK, SANDSTONE AND LATERITE, THE WOOD ELEMENTS HAVING BEEN LOST, TO DECAY AND OTHER DESTRUCTIVE PROCESSES.

CENTRAL SANCTUARY • THE CENTRAL SANCTUARY OF AN ANGKORIAN TEMPLE

Angkor Wat(Holy Temple) • • • •

Angkor, Cambodia Built by King Suryavarman II Early 12th century Masterpiece of the Angkorian Architecture, was dedicated to the God Vishnu

Angkor Wat

• *world’s largest religious building • Made of sandstone

The Bayon Temple • Famous and richly decorated • Built late 12th century • Was the official state of the Mahayan Buddhist King Jayavarman VIII • Was dedicated to Buddha

The Bayon Temple • Most distinct feature-multitude of serene smiling stone faces on many of the towers.

Decling(14th century) • Khmer empire suffered a decline which historian says the reason is some changes in their religion.