Jayavarman VII: the king behind the Bayon
Jayavarman VII rebuilt Angkor after the Cham invasion of 1177, adopted Buddhism and built the Bayon, Ta Prohm, Preah Khan, hospitals and rest houses across his empire.
In this guide
If you visit the Bayon, Ta Prohm or Preah Khan, you're seeing the work of Jayavarman VII, the most prolific builder in Khmer history. He ruled from 1181 until around 1218 and transformed Angkor after one of the worst crises in its history.
A kingdom in crisis
In 1177, forces from Champa, a kingdom in what is now central Vietnam, attacked and sacked Angkor. Jayavarman VII, who was then a prince, led the fight back and defeated the Cham. He was crowned in 1181, by then probably in his fifties.
A Buddhist king
Unlike most of his predecessors, Jayavarman VII was a devoted follower of Mahayana Buddhism. He presented himself as a compassionate ruler, and many of his monuments include images of the bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara, associated with compassion. Hindu deities still appear in his temples, reflecting a society where several traditions mixed.
The builder
His reign saw an extraordinary amount of construction:
- Angkor Thom: a walled city about 3 km on each side, with five monumental gates.
- The Bayon: the state temple at the centre of Angkor Thom, famous for its towers carved with serene faces.
- Ta Prohm: founded in 1186 and dedicated to his mother.
- Preah Khan: dedicated to his father, completed in 1191.
- Neak Pean: an island shrine in a reservoir, associated with healing.
- Banteay Chhmar: a large temple in the northwest, far from the capital.
He also built, according to inscriptions, more than a hundred hospitals and over a hundred rest houses along the roads linking his empire. Some of these small buildings survive as ruins.
The faces of the Bayon
The towers of the Bayon carry more than 200 large faces. Who they represent is still debated. Popular explanations include Avalokiteshvara, the king himself, or a combination of the two. Many scholars think they deliberately blur the line between the king and the divine.
Building quickly
Because so much was built in a short time, Jayavarman VII's temples often used less durable materials and techniques than earlier ones, and many have collapsed in places. This is one reason Ta Prohm and Preah Khan look so ruined today.
After his death
Jayavarman VII died around 1218. Later in the 13th century, during a Hindu revival, many Buddha images in his temples were defaced or recarved. Look closely at the walls of Preah Khan and Ta Prohm and you can still see where they were chiselled away.
Visiting his temples
Plan at least half a day for Angkor Thom and the Bayon, and another half-day for Ta Prohm and Preah Khan. Morning light is beautiful on the Bayon's faces.