Angkor |Cambodia|

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Description Quiz T / F Quiz Multiple Choice Quiz

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Brief Description

Angkor is one of the most important archaeological sites in South-East Asia. Stretching over some 400 sq. km, including forested area, Angkor Archaeological Park contains the magnificent remains of the different capitals of the Khmer Empire, from the 9th to the 15th century. These include the famous Temple of Angkor Wat and, at Angkor Thom, the Bayon Temple with its countless sculptural decorations. UNESCO has set up a wide-ranging programme to safeguard this symbolic site and its surroundings.

`Reading Passage`

Among the more than 1,080 historic temples throughout Cambodia, more than 200 of them, the major ones, are in Siem Reap, a few kilometers from town. The ruins cover an area of 400 square kilometers.

‡@Angkor literally means 'city' or 'capital', Wat means 'temple'. Angkor Wat became a Theravada Buddhist monument most likely in the 16th century. It is the largest famous religious monument of those architectural wonders of Cambodia, constructed in the first half of the 12th century by King Suryavarman II. Its soaring towers and exquisite as relief rank among the wonders of the world. The estimated time for construction of the temple is between 30 to 40 years, using between 17,000 to 20,000 persons. A rectangular stone base of 1,500 meters by 1,300 meters with three more levels rising to accentual core is topped by five distinctive towers, the tallest reaching 65 meters.

Angkor Wat inherited Indian influences in religion, philosophy and political beliefs comprising two elements: physical and cultural. Those elements formed together the foundation and the core of belief in the god-kingship. As in India, the King is a god on earth, the divine representative of Indra and the God's capital is to take the form of the universe in miniature, with the cosmic mountain, Mount Meru, at its center.

The temple was first dedicated to Vishnu (Hinduism), and after a long period of abandonment from 1432, it was later dedicated to Buddhism, during the reign of King Ang Chan in 15th century.@Its beauty and state of preservation is unrivaled. Its mightiness and magnificence is impressive.‡AIts artistic distinctiveness is as fine as that of the Taj Mahal in India. The Angkor ruins were selected and accepted by UNESCO as the "World Heritage" in 1995.

In 1980, Prince Norodom Sihanouk appealed to the world to save Angkor Wat. Agreement was reached and the Archaeological Survey of India took up the conservation of Angkor Wat in 1986. Seven teams worked at Angkor Wat from 1986 to 1993 to complete the massive restoration process. The Archaeological Survey of India(ASI), established in the 1860s, maintains more than 5000 sites - dating from 3000 B.C. to the 19th century.

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King Suryavarman II@ƒTƒ‹ƒ„ƒoƒ‹ƒ}ƒ“‚Q’

Mount Meru@ƒƒ‹[ŽR

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King Ang Chan@ƒAƒ“Eƒ`ƒƒƒ“‘‰€

Taj Mahal@ƒ^[ƒWEƒ}ƒn[ƒ‹

Prince Norodom Sihanouk@ƒmƒƒhƒ€EƒVƒAƒk[ƒN“a‰Ί

Archaeological Survey of India@ƒCƒ“ƒhlŒΓŠw’²ΈˆΟˆυ‰ο(ASI)

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yNATIONAL PROFILEz

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–{•Άˆψ—pFThe Royal Embassy of Cambodia in Japan

ihttp://www.embassy-avenue.jp/cambodia/index.htmj

ŽΚ^ˆψ—pFCambodia ministry of tourism

ihttp://www.mot.gov.kh/j@@

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by Kayoko Toda , Aoyamagakuin College of Economics