Original Buddhas

Buddha Buddhism Cambodie

Antique Buddha Statues From Cambodia

Cambodia was the center of the Funan kingdom, which expanded into Burma and as far south as

bodhisattva-lokesvara-staute

Malaysia between the 3rd and 6th centuries. Its influence seems to have been essentially political, most of the cultural influence coming directly from India. Buddhist art occurred from a very early period (sixth-seventh century) in the Mekong delta region of modern-day Cambodia and Vietnam). Stylistically, this material prefigures the Khmer art created farther inland in what is now Cambodia. The extant works suggest that Cambodia, like other regions of Southeast Asia, knew of both Early Buddhist and Mahayana practices: images of bodhisattvas coexist with those of the Buddha.

In the ninth century, Jayavarman II (802) established the Khmer Angkorian kingdom in the region around present day Siem Reap. While generally Hindu, the Khmer royalty revered their ancestors, building monuments to commemorate them. They also established temples to the various Hindu gods, particularly Shiva, with whom they identified. Material remains suggest that Buddhism continued during the extent of the kingdom of Angkor (into the fourteenth century), but it was most evident in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries, under the reign of Jayavarman VII (1181- c.1220).

A prolific builder and a Mahayana practitioner, Jayavarman VII constructed dozens of extensive temple complexes dedicated to the Buddha. One common image of the Buddha from this period depicts him with two bodhisattvasLokeshvara (who represents karuna, compassion) and Prajnaparamita (who represents prajna, wisdom). One tenet of Mahayana Buddhism is that one can attain enlightenment through the joining of wisdom and compassion, a belief given form in this triad (plate 39). Jayavarman’ commitment to this ideal is suggested in this construction of three temples: the firstm Ta Prohm, dedicated to his mother in the form of Prajnaparamita: Preah Khan, dedicated to his father in the form ofLokeshvara; and the Bayon, dedicated to himself. We can surmise that this last was dedicated to Jayavarman VII as the Buddha.

Sculptural reliefs at twelfth- and thirteenth-century Buddhist temples were destroyed during the fourteenth century, suggesting a period of persecution against Buddhist. One author has suggested that this was retribution carried out by Theravada Buddhists against the Mahayana Buddhism that Jayavarman VII had embraced. A more common interpretation is that Hindus persecuted the Buddhists, and recarving of some Buddha images as Shiva lingas (Shiva’s phallus) may well substantiate this second assertion. What happened will probably never known with certainty, but the fourteenth century was the period when Cambodia became a Theravada Buddhist country.

With this rich history, Cambodian Buddhist art and antique Buddha statues are rare items currently. If you are willing to get any of these rare pieces of art, do visit our online catalog.

Share this page

Buddha Statues in our catalog

Old bronze Nepali Medicine Buddha

Old bronze Nepali Medicine Buddha

275 euro
Antique bronze Buddha from Sri Lanka

Antique bronze Buddha from Sri Lanka

2,750 euro
Antique wooden Burmese Lotus Buddha

Antique wooden Burmese Lotus Buddha

1,450 euro
Old bronze Aparmita Buddha statue

Old bronze Aparmita Buddha statue

1,250 euro
High quality Nepali Gold-Face Buddha

High quality Nepali Gold-Face Buddha

950 euro
Special wooden Burmese Buddha on base

Special wooden Burmese Buddha on base

8,250 euro
Antique wooden Burmese Mandalay Buddha

Antique wooden Burmese Mandalay Buddha

1,350 euro
Special antique wooden Burmese Lotus Buddha

Special antique wooden Burmese Lotus Buddha

2,450 euro
Antique Shan Buddha

Antique Shan Buddha

4,600 euro
Antique bronze Burmese Buddha statue

Antique bronze Burmese Buddha statue

1,350 euro
Antique bronze Burmese Mandalay Buddha

Antique bronze Burmese Mandalay Buddha

2,650 euro
Old Nepali Buddha statue

Old Nepali Buddha statue

1,250 euro
Very large and special lavastone Buddha statue

Very large and special lavastone Buddha statue

17,500 euro
Lavastone Buddha statue from Indonesia

Lavastone Buddha statue from Indonesia

2,250 euro
Antique wooden Burmese Shan Buddha

Antique wooden Burmese Shan Buddha

1,000 euro
Antique wooden Burmese Shan Buddha

Antique wooden Burmese Shan Buddha

2,450 euro
Special antique Burmese crowned Buddha statue

Special antique Burmese crowned Buddha statue

10,500 euro
Antique natural blackstone Tīrthaṅkara figure

Antique natural blackstone Tīrthaṅkara figure

12,000 euro
Very large and special lavastone Buddha statue

Very large and special lavastone Buddha statue

6,500 euro
Antique wooden Buddha statue from Cambodia

Antique wooden Buddha statue from Cambodia

2,750 euro
Very large and special lavastone Buddha statue

Very large and special lavastone Buddha statue

12,500 euro
Old bronze Nepali Buddha statue

Old bronze Nepali Buddha statue

475 euro
Old lavastone Buddha statue

Old lavastone Buddha statue

1,000 euro
Antique wooden Mandalay Buddha statue

Antique wooden Mandalay Buddha statue

250 euro
Antique wooden Burmese Buddha statue

Antique wooden Burmese Buddha statue

1,500 euro
Old bronze Shan Buddha statue

Old bronze Shan Buddha statue

750 euro
Old bronze Nepali Buddha statue

Old bronze Nepali Buddha statue

800 euro
Newly made Burmese marble Buddha statue

Newly made Burmese marble Buddha statue

950 euro
Very large and special lavastone Buddha statue

Very large and special lavastone Buddha statue

19,500 euro
Antique bronze Mandalay Buddha statue

Antique bronze Mandalay Buddha statue

950 euro
arrow-right keyboard_arrow_right arrow-down chevron-down keyboard_arrow_down chevron-up arrow-left keyboard_arrow_left close menu search twitter facebook youtube-play linkedin envelope instagram google-plus pinterest whatsapp heart-o Wishlist share file-pdf-o printer trash