SIEM REAP — There are many ways through which visitors, whether Cambodian or foreigners, can look into the history of Cambodia before, during or after the Angkorian empire. And this includes looking at the sculptures and artefacts of those eras exhibited in museums in the country.

For example, the collection of the Preah Norodom Sihanouk-Angkor Museum in Siem Reap ranges from ceramics of prehistoric times and sculptures in the tradition of Brahmanism, to Angkorian and post-Angkorian statues of the Buddha, which reflect the cultural evolution in the region over the centuries.

Here are some of the Buddhist artefacts on display at the museum along with the information being provided for visitors.

Footprint of the Buddha

In ancient times, the footprint of the Buddha, which is also referred to as Buddhapada, was the only element associated with the body of Buddha. The earliest references to the Buddha took various forms such as the Bodhi Tree and the wheel of dharma (the teaching of the Buddha), the throne of the Buddha, stupa, the footprint and the feet of the Buddha, which refer to the body of the Buddha in human form before artists sculpted his full or part of his body.

In early Buddhist art, the sculpture of the foot of the Buddha included a chakra, which is a symbol in the shape of a wheel representing the perfection of the dharma.

Later on, it was popular to display instead a sculpture of the foot of the Buddha in the form of the 108 auspicious symbols, which refer to the 108 passions or imperfections that human beings are said to have. This sculpture demonstrates the knowledge of the artists and Buddhists of the time regarding the presence and absence of the Buddha and dharma. These 108 symbols are divided into five major groups.

This footprint of the Buddha is made of sandstone, and was painted black, red and gold. In past centuries, this sculpture of the Buddha was considered by the Khmer as an important object of worship, and, from the 14th century on, was kept at Angkor Wat in the Thousand Buddhas Gallery. In the 20th century, it was taken to the Angkor Conservation depository in Siem Reap. Its restoration began in April 2012 and was completed in May 2013.

On the recommendation of the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts, this footprint of the Buddha and six other wooden statues of the Buddha were put on display at the Preah Norodom Sihanouk-Angkor Museum in May 2022.

The Six Wooden Statues of the Buddha

In addition to stone, wood was used to sculpt statues because this material was easy to find. After the Angkorian period, which ended in the early 15th century, the capital city moved to other locations in the country, and most structures were then mainly made of wood.

The six statues of the Buddha displayed as a group at the museum were sculpted in the style of the 14th-to-18th centuries. They were painted in black and red with two layers of lacquer as well as gilded. The chignons, or top knots, of these statues represent lotus buds and flame, which is a form of the “muly” style.

One of the statues is decorated with a conical crown. Five statues have their shoulders covered while one only has its left shoulder covered. There also are chakra—a symbol of the Buddha's teachings—sculpted on the palms of some of the statues’ hands.

These statues’ muly style originates from Sri Lanka, its characteristic being a small round chignon in a checkerboard pattern. The cranial protrusion is similar to that of the Bayon style. On the top of it is a decoration that is a lotus bud or a flame motif. Sometimes, the base of the head in muly style is decorated with lotus petals. This style has been used in Cambodia since the post-Angkorian period, which began in the first part of the 15th century.

The statues on display were sculpted making the Abhaya Mudra gesture, that is, the gesture “to eliminate fear.” This form of gesture can consist of a single hand or both hands raised.

Among the six statues, two were decorated with gems, pieces of glass, and shells. One statue was adorned with a conical crown, its eyes being green pieces of glass and shells. Another statue has a hole in the palm of a hand, where there might have been a gem. Khmer artists of centuries ago would decorate Buddhist and Brahma statues with gems, a practice that spread to some countries in the region. Wooden statues were often found with holes drilled in their pedestals where might have been quartz and items of value.

Large Pillar of the Buddha

This stone piece was created in the Bayon style of the latter half of the 12th century. Because of the 1,008 images sculpted on its four sides, this pillar is usually referred to as the Thousand Buddhas pillar, or Preah Poan in Khmer.

Other pillars of the same period feature 1,020 images of the Hindu deity Vishu. But only one other pillar with 1,000 images of the Buddha was found and this was at the Banteay Kdei temple built in the mid-12th century, early-13th century. In 2001, Cambodian archaeologists and Japanese researchers who meant to study the hydraulic structure of the temple stumbled upon 274 pieces of Buddha statues in a single cache at a depth of two meters. Among the artefacts found was the pillar.

Although it is not clear how many statues of the Buddha were at Banteay Kdei, one can see at the temple many pedestals that were meant for statues. In the inscription at the Preah Khan temple, which was also built in the mid-to-late 12th century, it is written that “there are 283 statues of the Buddha in the central gallery.” The inscription at the Ta Prohm, which was also built in the late 12th-early 13th centuries, states that “260 statues of the Buddha were enshrined in the surrounding grounds.” Nowadays, few statues of the Buddha remain at those temples.

Unlike the statues of the Buddha that were added at Angkor Wat after it was built, the statues of the Buddha in the Bayon style were done simply, with few decorations. The Buddha was depicted wearing no crown or diadem but instead with his hair coiled in a topknot and covered by lotus petals. Nearly all the statues are shown meditating with their hands in the symbolic Dhyana Mudra gesture of meditation. However, the statues of the Buddha in the Angkor Wat style of later feature fine decorations and have their eyes open. These statues wear a makuta, that is, a headdress, and a diadem as well as accessories on the arms, wrists, and ankles.

Early Days of Buddhism in Cambodia

Theravada and Mahayana Buddhism came to Cambodia during the first and second centuries. But it is during the reign of King Jayavarman VII in the late 12th and early 13th centuries in the Angkorian era that Buddhism became the state religion and flourished. Previous monarchs had favoured Hinduism.

His successor King Indravarman II who reigned from 1220 to 1243 was also Buddhist. However, King Jayavarman III who was on the throne from 1243 to1295 and was a profound believer in Shiva, reinstated Hinduism as the state religion. Many sculpted features in Buddhist temples were removed and replaced by Hindu ones.

During the 14th century, Theravada Buddhist statues and elements reappeared in the Angkor area such as sculpted features and adornments on pediments, lintels, the walls of the Ta Tuot temple, a stupa in the central tower of Preah Khan, along with many terraces.

During the following centuries, it is likely that the kingdom turned to Theravada Buddhism. For example, Angkor Wat—a Hindu temple dedicated to Vishnu where elements of Brahmanism can be found—was converted to Buddhism between the 15th and 19th centuries. Buddhist pilgrims from all over the region came to Angkor Wat and enshrined stone and wooden statues of the Buddha.

The Preah Norodom Sihanouk-Angkor Museum’s other collections  

The museum’s collection also includes artifacts found at the burial site of Koh Ta Meas and Prei Khmeng, which was a Bronze Age settlement of 3,000 years ago. It was located about 16 kilometres from today’s Siem Reap city center.

Also on display at the museum are ceramics found at the Kok Patri temple, which is about 5 kilometres from the city centre. Dating from the 15th through the 19th centuries, some of those ceramics were locally made and others imported from Japan, China, and Thailand.

The Preah Norodom Sihanouk-Angkor Museum is located in Siem Reap City, a short distance from the Angkor Archaeological Park, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

The entry fee at the museum is 1,000 riels for Cambodians and 12,000 riels ($3) for foreigners.

The museum is open daily from 8:30 am to 4:00 pm except on Mondays and national holidays.

For stories on artifacts and sculptures related to the Buddha or Buddhism in Cambodia posted at cambodianess.com:

Hidden Treasures of the West Mebon Temple Now on Display

The Features of the Buddha over Three Centuries in Cambodia

Weeks of Scientifically Cleaning Artifacts Bring Back their Beauty

Thousand Years of Statues of the Buddha under One Roof

Baphuon: Why does this Hindu Temple Have an Image of Buddha?