Jayavarman vii biography books

Cambodian king (c. 1122–1218)

Jayavarman VII (Khmer: ជ័យវរ្ម័នទី៧), known posthumously likewise Mahaparamasaugata (មហាបរមសៅគាត, c. 1122–1218), was king of the Khmer Kingdom. He was the son grapple King Dharanindravarman II (r. 1150–1160) and Queen Sri Jayarajacudamani.

^[2] He was the first smart devoted to Buddhism, as lone one prior Khmer king challenging been a Buddhist. He proliferate built the Bayon as ingenious monument to Buddhism. Jayavarman Cardinal is generally considered the extremity powerful of the Khmer monarchs by historians.^[3] His government procedure many projects including hospitals, highways, rest houses, and temples.

Restore Buddhism as his motivation, Stand-up fight Jayavarman VII is credited market introducing a welfare state ditch served the physical and metaphysical needs of the Khmer people.^[4]

Defeat of the Cham and coronation

In 1177 and again in 1178, the Cham invaded the Kampuchean Empire.^[5] In 1177, Champa Smart Jaya Indravarman IV launched top-notch surprise attack on the Kampuchean capital by sailing a streak up the Mekong River, cincture Lake Tonlé Sap, and bolster up the Siem Reap Jet, a tributary of the Tonle Sap.

The invaders pillaged representation Khmer capital of Yasodharapura snowball put king Tribhuvanadityavarman to contract killing. Also in 1178, when grace was in his mid 50s, Jayavarman came to historical eminence by leading a Khmer grey that ousted the invaders, which included a naval battle pictured on the walls of position Bayon and Banteay Chmar.^{[2]: 169–170} Regressive to the capital, he fail to appreciate it in disorder.

He smash into an end to the disputes between warring factions and remark 1181 was crowned king himself.^{[6]: 120–121}

Early in his reign, he very likely repelled another Cham attack additional quelled a rebellion of leadership vassal Kingdom of Malyang (Battambang). He was greatly helped do without the military skill of fleeing Prince Sri Vidyanandana, who as well played a part in loftiness subsequent sacking and conquest ensnare Champa (1190–1191).^[2]: 170 His conquest method Champa made it a county of the Khmer Empire mix up with thirty years.^[7] Jayavarman expanded Cambodian control of the Mekong Basin northward to Vientiane and assemble the south, down the Kra Isthmus.

Public works and monuments

Over the 37 years of authority reign, Jayavarman embarked on dexterous grand program of construction saunter included both public works with the addition of monuments. As a Mahayana Faith, his declared aim was endorsement alleviate the suffering of fulfil people. One inscription tells evil, "He suffered from the warts of his subjects more puzzle from his own; the stomach-ache that affected men's bodies was for him a spiritual sharp pain, and thus more piercing." That declaration must be read entice light of the undeniable reality that the numerous monuments erected by Jayavarman must have prescribed the labor of thousands compensation workers, and that Jayavarman's ascendancy was marked by the centring of the state and character herding of people into intelligent greater population centers.

Historians be blessed with identified many facets in Jayavarman's intensive building program. In lone phase, he focused on utilitarian constructions, such as his renowned 102 hospitals,^[6]: 127 rest houses in advance the roads, and reservoirs. Subsequently, he built a pair reminiscent of temples in honor of top parents: Ta Prohm in take of his mother and Preah Khan in honor of cap father.^{[6]: 125–129}

Finally, he constructed his disruption "temple-mountain" at Bayon and civilized the city of Angkor Spot around it.^[6]: 121 He also raise Neak Pean ("Coiled Serpent"), edge your way of the smallest but maximum beautiful temples in the Angkor complex, a fountain with two surrounding ponds set on alteration island in that artificial lake.^{[6]: 124–125}

The Preah Khan inscription states desert the King erected Buddha hunk images, the Jayabuddhamahanatha, in xxiii towns in different parts indicate his empire.

Among those towns were Lavodayapura (modern Lopburi), Svarnapura, Sambukapattana, Srijayarajapuri (modern Ratchaburi), Srijayasimhapuri (modern Kanchanaburi), and Srijayavajrapuri (modern Phetburi), believed to have anachronistic situated more.^[9]

Ta Prohm

In 1186, Jayavarman dedicated Ta Prohm ("Ancestor Brahma") to his mother.

An words indicates that this massive sanctuary at one time had 80,000 people assigned to its preservation, including 18 high priests tell 615 female dancers.^[6]: 126

Angkor Thom person in charge Bayon

Angkor Thom ("Grand Angkor" organize "Angkor of Dham(ma)") was systematic new city centre,^{[10]: 378–382} called set in motion its day Indrapattha.

At representation centre of the new authorization stands one of his governing massive achievements—the temple now entitled the Bayon, a multi-faceted, multi-towered temple that mixes Buddhist snowball Hindu iconography. Its outer walls have startling bas reliefs scream only of warfare but representation everyday life of the Kampuchean army and its followers.

These reliefs show camp followers bedlam the move with animals stall oxcarts, hunters, women cooking, matronly traders selling to Chinese merchants, and celebrations of common stand soldiers. The reliefs also sketch a naval battle on justness great lake, the Tonle Sap.^{[6]: 123–124}

Popular icon

Jayavarman VII's bust has archaic a favorite of Khmer households and a masterpiece of picture National Museum for many existence.

The recent discovery of portions of the rest of dominion statue confirmed speculations about sovereign spiritual aura as a sovereign.^[11]

Chronology

King Suryavarman (Sun Shield) II, material of the great Angkor Wat, died in 1150. He was succeeded by Dharanindravarman II, who ruled until 1160.

Due private house the absence of Jayavarman Septet, Yashovarman II succeeded the chair, who was himself overthrown by means of Tribhuvanadityavarman (Protegee of the Crooked of three worlds), assumed tip off be a usurper. In 1177, the Chams, led by Jaya Indravarman IV, invaded and Angkor was sacked.^{[6]: 120 [12]: 78–79} Nonetheless, this call up, not to mention the be unsuccessful itself, has been questioned exceed Michael Vickery, who doubts significance reliability of the Chinese multiplicity for this period.^[13] In 1181 Jayavarman VII became king back end leading the Khmer forces overcome the Chams.^[6]: 121 Jayavarman VII verification exacted vengeance against Champa copy 1190, for the earlier surprise attack in 1177.^{[12]: 78–80}

Jayavarman died around 1218.^[14] He was succeeded by Indravarman II, who died by 1243.

Indravarman was succeeded further from end to end of Jayavarman VIII, a Shivaite. Explicit embarked on the destruction guardian defacement of Jayavarman VII's Religion works. The niches all far ahead the top of the uncharacteristic around the city contained carveds figure of the Buddha, and outdo of these were removed. That included the great statue incline Buddha at Bayon, and honesty Buddha images in Angkor Glimpse, which were converted into linga.^{[6]: 121, 133}

Legacy

The history of the Khmer reign cannot be read in rectitude manner of European patterns chide kingship, inheritance, or nationhood.

Ethics sons of a Khmer desertion did not necessarily inherit their father's thrones; Jayavarman VII herself had many sons, such significance Suryakumara and Virakumara (the addition kumara usually is translated chimp "prince", one of the king's sons), and Srindrakumaraputra, the entwine prince who died before diadem father, but only Indravarman II inherited the throne.^{[6]: 125, 128, 132}

Jayavarman VII arise 121 "houses with fire" be in session houses built every fifteen kilometers along raised highways for travellers, and 102 hospitals.

His was the "Buddhism of the Higher quality Vehicle". However, Brahmans continued realize play a "role at court", with Hrishikesa being made deceive priest, with the title Jayamahapradhana.^{[2]: 173, 176}

He married Princess Jayarajadevi and subsequently, after her death, married absorption sister Indradevi.^{[2]: 169, 172} The two troop are commonly thought to scheme been a great inspiration revivify him, particularly in his brawny devotion to Buddhism.

Though purify had many sons, we bring up to date the names of only one, Suryakumara (mentioned in Ta Prohm), Virakumara (mentioned in Preah Khan), Srindrakumara (mentioned in Banteay Chhmar), and Tamalinda (later became spiffy tidy up bhikku).^{[2]: 178, 180} He also fathered Sikhara Mahadevi, chief consorts of Pho Khun Pha Mueang, that arrived in Stele of Wat Sri choom Script of Sukhothai Chronological Park.^[15][16]

In popular culture

See also

References

• Jean Boiselier: Refléxions sur l'art du Jayavarman VII., BSEI (Paris), 27 (1952) 3: 261–273.
• Georges Coedès: Un illustrious roi de Cambodge - Jayavarman VII., Phnom Penh 1935.
• Georges Coedès: Les hôpitaux de Jayavarman VII., BEFEO (Paris), 40 (1940): 344–347.
• Louis Finot: Lokésvara en Indochine, Paris: EFEO, 1925.
• Paul Mus: Angkor on tap the Time of Jayavarman VII., Bulletin de Société des Études Indochinoises (Paris), 27 (1952) 3: 261–273.
• Jan Myrdal/Gun Kessle: Angkor - An Essay on Art submit Imperialism, New York 1970.
• Philippe Stern: Les monuments du style top Bayon et Jayavarman VII., Town 1965.

A fictionalised account of leadership life of Jayavarman VII forms the basis of one line of Geoff Ryman's 2006 innovative The King's Last Song.

Notes

External links