Angkor Wat – Inscriptions

Here we’ll introduce the many inscriptions at Angkor Wat, and, where to see them. Angkor Wat features a large array of fascinating and often hidden inscriptions that were, surprisingly to some, left mostly during the later eras and in the post-Angkor era. Some of the inscriptions are left by royalty who returned to Angkor around the 15th century, some by monks, and some by pilgrims. Some are inscribed, some are left in ink, some are in the form of graffiti. Languages used also differ.

Early French researchers recorded around 118 inscriptions giving them reference numbers that are still in use today.

You can find them mostly in the cruciform gallery (Preah Poan), around the bas-relief galleries, and on the gallery of the third level. But, if you look closely, you can actually find a lot of ink writing and faint outlines of writing (near Ta Reach, Bakan level, and Preah Poan), graffiti, kanji/hanzi inscription (on the pillar of the second level gopura, central entry) and elsewhere on pillars and walls.

Mostly, they are entirely missed by day visitors due to the overwhelming nature of all the things to see in Angkor Wat and the time available to see it all. But, if you know where some are, they are easily spotted in your travels around the main attractions

Here’s a layout map of Angkor Wat and the locations where you can find the preponderance of inscriptions.

1. West Wing of South Gallery – K.299 group – a number of finely written inscriptions hidden among the artwork of the bas-relief
2. East Wing of South Gallery – K.298 group – a number of finely written inscriptions mostly carved on the diving line between the vertical levels of the artwork making up the Heaven and Hells gallery
3. North Wing of the East Gopura – K.301, also known as Grande Inscription d’Angkor for its length and size.
4. Bakan Level South Walkway – K 303 group – featuring short and long inscriptions on the pillars
5. Preah Poan West Walkway – K 302 group – featuring numerous short and long inscriptions on the pillars, inscribed and in ink (Japanese)

A brief intro to each of the recorded inscriptions/inscription groups of Angkor Wat

K. 296 & K. 297
Inscription, in old Khmer (or sanskrit?), carved between 1546 and 1564 located in the East gallery north wing. (note: sealang translates it differently to others and believes it to mention mahāviṣnṇuloka the name of Jayavarman III (reigned A.D. 850-877).

K. 298
A group of 26 inscriptions located in the South Gallery East Wing. I believe all of these are contemporary to the temple and all in Sanskrit. One inscription in this group (number 2) is quite famous and the only one naming the king himself Suryavarman II as “Parama Vishṇuloka“

K.299
A group of 31 inscriptions located in the South Gallery West Wing. I believe all of these are contemporary to the temple and all in Sanskrit. They range from single words to the longest around 20 words.

K. 301
Inscription Modern Angkor Wat (IMA) #38 also referred to as Grande Inscription d’Angkor being the longest inscription at Angkor Wat. Located on the east wall between the bas-relief galleries and facing the stupa in the courtyard outside. It is a 53 line poem left by a court dignitary dated to 1701 and related to the stupa outside in the courtyard which it faces.

K. 302
A group of thirty inscriptions located in the cruciform gallery (Preah Poan) dated between 1541 and 1747 AD (Aymonier). One example: Inscription Modern Angkor Wat (IMA) #40 of K 302 group. A short inscription left in the 16th century noting the legend of the creation of Angkor by Indra.

K. 303
A group of fourteen inscriptions located on the third level (Bakan). One example: Inscription Modern Angkor Wat (IMA) #3A of K 303 group – Providing a date of 1579, describing a king who stayed at Angkor Thom (Mahanagara) and made restorations to Angkor Wat. Located on a pillar on the third floor of Angkor Wat, near the central sanctuary

K. 472
unknown

K. 529
A boundary stone that featured carvings of Buddhist deities with their names inscribed below. Assumed to be from the 14-15th c (Finot). Note: the pillar was recorded as being stored at the depot in Angkor Thom, and is now located in the Phnom Penh Museum.

K. 613
graffiti on a stone lying in the S.W. II corner tower

K. 673
graffiti

K. 699
Graffiti located on the central door of the East gallery, next to an apsara, level 3.

K. 740
Graffiti

K. 976
unknown

K. 1013
unknown

K. 1021
Inscription left by a monk, dating to 1684 AD. 22 lines speaking of merit and donation.

K. 1022
Three lines of graffiti recording a monk (pilgrim?) who left Buddha statues at Angkor Wat.

K. 1024
Graffiti on 1st floor

K. 1043
inscription on the upper edge of the Buddhapada (Buddhas Feet) pedestal, (recorded as being in the cruciform gallery, perhaps now in a museum or depot? – Update: I believe it to be the one at the Angkor National Museum on display in the Gallery of 1000 Buddhas)

K. 1089
Located in the cruciform gallery, three short lines recording local pilgrims to the site.

K. 1134
A restamped inscription that is believed to date to 1881 comprises seven lines in Khmer about people that came to record data for E. Aymonier (French researcher).

References

• Jacques Claude. Les derniers siècles d’Angkor. In: Comptes rendus des séances de l’Académie des Inscriptions et BellesLettres, 143ᵉ année, N. 1, 1999. pp. 367-390; doi : https://doi.org/10.3406/crai.1999.15995 https://www.persee.fr/doc/crai_0065-0536_1999_num_143_1_15995
• Finot Louis. Inscriptions d’Ankor. In: Bulletin de l’Ecole française d’Extrême-Orient. Tome 25, 1925. pp. 289-409; doi : https://doi.org/10.3406/befeo.1925.3058 https://www.persee.fr/doc/befeo_0336-1519_1925_num_25_1_3058
• Skilling Peter. Some Literary References in the “Grande Inscription d’Angkor” (IMA 38). In: Aséanie 8, 2001. pp. 57-66; doi : https://doi.org/10.3406/asean.2001.1731 https://www.persee.fr/doc/asean_0859-9009_2001_num_8_1_1731
• Antelme Michel. Les estampeurs khmers d’Aymonier et leur production épigraphique connue (K. 1089.1, K. 1089.2, K. 1134,
  K. 1135, K. 1136 et K. 1137). In: Bulletin de l’Ecole française d’Extrême-Orient. Tome 100, 2014. pp. 231-252; doi : https://doi.org/10.3406/befeo.2014.6174 https://www.persee.fr/doc/befeo_0336-1519_2014_num_100_1_6174

Rodney Charles LHuillier

Living in Asia for over a decade and now residing in beautiful Siem Reap. Rodney Charles L'Huillier has spent over seven years in Cambodia and is the author of Ancient Cambodia (2024) and Essential Siem Reap (2017, 2019). Contact via [email protected] - more..