Iconography of the Vessantara Jātaka in Khmer Temples: Change and Continuity from the Angkor to the Post-Angkor Period
Key information
- Date
- Time
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12:00 pm to 2:00 pm
- Venue
- Online
About this event
The Vessantara Jātaka (VJ), which recounts the story of Prince Vessantara and his generosity, is one of the most revered narratives of the Buddha’s previous lives. This VJ narrative has been widely depicted in bas-reliefs and wall paintings across various regions of Asia. In Cambodia, representations of the VJ flourished during the Angkor period (9th to early 15th century), especially in temples built in the Angkor Wat and Bayon styles (12th–13th centuries).
This lecture focuses on the compositional patterns of VJ bas-reliefs scenes carved during this period and compares these visual representations with corresponding literary sources. It also discusses the depictions of the narrative found in the walls and ceilings of Theravada Buddhist temples in Cambodia. The findings highlight the enduring significance of the VJ as a cultural and spiritual link connecting Khmer society from the Angkor period through the post-Angkor period and to present-day Cambodia.
The Art and Archaeology of Pre-Modern Hindu-Buddhist Southeast Asia Lecture Series
Jointly organized by CSEAS and the SOAS-Alphawood Asian Art Programme, this lecture series invites leading experts to share their latest insights and research on Hindu-Buddhist Southeast Asia.
About the speaker
Dr. Makiko Kubo is Associate Professor in the Faculty of Buddhist Studies at Rissho University, Tokyo. She holds a Ph.D. in Area Studies and completed the doctoral course at the Graduate School of Global Studies, Sophia University. Her research focuses on Buddhist and Hindu art history in Southeast Asia, especially sculpture and architectural ornamentation on the Khmer temples in the Angkor period. Her recent publications are: ‘An Iconological Study on the Arrangement of Images at Preah Khan in Angkor ―The Temple Complex at the Foundation Period’, Journal of Institute for The Comprehensive Study of Lotus Sutra, 46, 2020, pp.143-190; ‘Bas-Reliefs on Pediments of the East Gate in Ta Nei: Some issues concerning the style and source of the iconographic theme’, Tokyo National Research Institute for Cultural Properties, Report on the Restoration of the East Gate, Ta Nei Temple, Angkor, Cambodia 2019-2022, 2024, pp.170-184
Registration
This event free, open to the public, and held online only. If you would like to attend, please register using the link above.
Funding for this lecture series has been kindly provided by the Alphawood Foundation.
- Organiser: SOAS Centre of South East Asian Studies and the SOAS-Alphawood Asian Art Programme
- Contact email: centres@soas.ac.uk
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