Wat Preah Vihear Kork (Sambor, Kratie)

A contemporary monastery and pagoda that was built upon an ancient temple site. It is said by locals that the pagoda we see today dates back almost 100 years, renovated in 2005, whilst the foundation of the original vihara may be around the early 17th century with the site also having a heritage in the ancient era, possibly around the 7-9th century if nearby archaeological sites are used as a reference.

The site also features several interesting and quite old stupas that are certainly worthy of greater study. We thank the achar of the site, a knowledgeable and friendly fellow can certainly help with a lot of detail on the history of the site. It would appear that this site is to be one of the more important in terms of the origins of the pagoda in Khmer history in connection with its neighbouring pagoda Wat Sasar Muoy Roy.

Historical Notes

Wat Prah Vihear Kuk. There is no trace of the ancient monument left in Wat Prah Vihear Kuk. According to its name “Kuk”, the terraces on which the vihara stands, a few cut stones scattered here and there in the enclosure, allow us to suppose that there was a monument there, now ruined. Perhaps it is some of the stones deposited at the residence come from there. Mr. Aymonier had found a Sanskrit inscription in very poor condition, which has disappeared.

Inventaire descriptif des monuments du Cambodge, E. Lunet de Lajonquière, 1902

There are four pagodas in the area of Sambor, arranged in cardinal directions, Aymoniers and Lajonquière’s description of Wat Prah Vihear Kuk has been associated with this site, whilst there is actually another site known by the name to the south. To further complicate matters, Adhemard Leclere would note

As for Wat Prahear Kouk by M. Aymonier (Le Cambodge, 1, page 303), which he also calls Prasat Kouk, and Tuol Kouk Vihear, it is located not to the south of Sambor and on the banks of the river, but 6 kil. around tool kömnäp phum Ta-Ok, east of Sambor, between the Khla-Pér and the prek Cha-Thnol, very close to the confluence.

Une campagne archéologique au Cambodge, Leclere, 1904

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..