Joint Research(Type I）
The Historical Meaning of the Royal Road Network in Late Angkor Period
Project Leader: MATSUURA, Fumiaki, Graduate School of Global Studies, Sophia
University
（Term：2011 - 2012）
- Joint Seminars in 2011 Fiscal Year
- Outline of Joint Research
- In this collaborative research, we would like to demonstrate the tree structure of power in the late period of Angkor, after the end of 10th century, through synthesizing the knowledge from various disciplines (for example, philology, archaeology, art history and Baray studies) which are concerned with the relation between the central area of Angkor and the regional center of its domain. This research aims to clarify what was the meaning of the Royal Road and its transition.
- For this purpose, we intend to create a multi-disciplinary “Royal Road database” through several workshops and field research.
- Purpose of Joint Research
-
Through this research, the Angkor period, which lasted around six centuries,
did not continue as an unchanging structure, but can be divided into two
periods; between, before and after the end of 10th century. Between both
periods, clear differences can be seen in the growth of regional bureaucracy,
the expansion of commerce networks based on temple networks, the localization
of Baray (which were first established in the capital of Angkor in the
early period), differences of religion and art between some regions, and
the distribution of the temple remains and relics along the Royal Road.
- The research group thinks that these phenomena do not signify the separation of the regions from the capital, but the emergence of a tree like structure of power that was closely connected by the Royal Road network which stretched over an extensive part of the region. Therefore, our goal is to clarify the power structure of the late period of Angkor through elucidating the treelike structure of the Royal Road which lies in mainland Southeast Asia.
- In previous studies, the Royal Road of Angkor was dealt with in relation to land expansion during the reign of king Jayavarman VII. However, there is no study that correlatively combined the netlike distribution of the Royal Road including regional phenomena such as temples, regional centers, Baray,and so forth. Thus, this research can provide a new contributory multi-regional/ multi-disciplinary viewpoint.
- Results are expected in the following areas 1) to make up a chronological map of the Royal Road distribution, 2) to clarify the political, economic, religious complex structure at each regional center through making up a database of inscriptions, Baray, remains and relics that were discovered within the regional center of the network, 3) and to frame the “Royal Road database” combining the satellite information and above results.
- Outline of Result
- In this year, at first, we held a several workshops for Royal Road survey. After that, we carried out a survey of Royal Road, ancient bridges and ruins along with Royal Road, from Angkor capital to Sdok Kok Thom (from 20, Feb. 2012, 15 days).
The result of the survey suggests us that we can divide the Royal Road by its environment into 1) the wetlands, 2) the dry-plains and 3) the ravines. 1) The wetlands are lies from the west Baray to Sasar Sdam. In this area, there is a high probability that at least some of ancient bridges were used as water-use facilities; it would be reclamation lands by the state. 2) Dry-plains are from Sasar Sdam to Svay Chek. It ought to be wasteland in past time; there were only several manors of regional lord along with rivers, and we could not make sure that ancient bridge for irrigation use. 3) The ravines range between Svay Chek and Sdok Kok Thom. It would be imagined that the manors of regional lord ware developed in this area.
From now on, we are going to make some papers based on this hypothesis through the multi-disciplinary approach.
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