Cambodia History

The Fall of Angkor

In response to the religious changes imposed by Jayavarman VII in particular the adoption of Mahayana Buddhism (GrandVéhicule), a strong reaction appeared shortly after his reign, will remove thousands of representations of the Buddha, especially Angkor.

This return to traditional religious values was followed by a cultural change even more important in the second half of the XIII ° s and in the fourteenth-s: the gradual adoption of Theravada Buddhism, from Sanskrit, (Little Vehicle) more human and humble as qu'étaient aristocratic religions Hinduism and Mahayana Buddhism. At the same time, the Thais are gradually liberated from the Khmer suzerainty and the increase in their attacks - Angkor was taken several times - the capital became more southern and less exposed. Royalties Angkor successive left and settled in different places before Phnom Penh is finally chosen as its capital in 1867.

No monument was built after the XIII °, however, unlike the shrines of the Angkorian period, which housed the sacred images and were seen only a small elite, theravadins shrines were built on former places of worship: the larger structure and more open closer to the principle of this populist Buddhism. The architectural and statuary saw wood replace the stone image of Buddha to replace the old gods and style of the Bayon gradually influenced by the Siam.

Links: | Cambodia History | Cambodia History the foundation of Angkor | Cambodia History Angkor Period | Cambodia History the fall of Angkor | Angkor | Angkor Wat | Preah Vihear | Cambodian Cultural Village | Bayon Angkor Thom | Banteay Srei temple | Beang Mealea | Phnom Bakheng | Phnom Kulen | Cambodia Architecture |