II . BODY

1.1   The introduction of the wonder

Angkor Wat was built in Cambodia in 12th century . So let’s talk about Cambodia first . Cambodia is a country which located on Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia . The area of Cambodia is 181.040km² . Phnom Penh is the capital of Cambodia and also is the largest city of Cambodia . Cambodia still have ruler mode and the King is Norodom Sihamoni . Prominent topographic fearture is large lake in the delta formed by the flooding . There are many rare species of animal live in here . Cambodia’s population is 14.805.385 people and population density is 81,8 people/ km². Cambodia has over 90 percent is Khmer people so the main language is Khmer .  Cambodia’s official religion is Theravada Buddhism . The first civilization known in Cambodia as Khmer civilization was formed and developed from 9th century to 13th century . However , from the 15th century Cambodian and other Southeast Asian Country were invaded by the French and the Japanese . In 1953 , Cambodia declared independence and Norodom Sihanouk prince was enforced neutral policy in 1960 . During the Vietnam War ( 1954-1975 ) , Vietnam built bases on the border of Cambodia and was bombed by U.S . In 1970 , Lon Nol Minister overthrow feudalism and established the Khmer Republic . This government was overthrown by The Khmer Rouge in 1975 . Khmer Rouge , leader Pol Pot held the government and began to rule the country by the brutal policies . They destroyed each other which caused Vietnamese Communists fled . Therefore , Vietnam put into army to destroy Khmer Rouge in a long time . By 1993 , the United Nations helped this country to recover and develop . In 1979 , People’s Republic of Cambodia established by Heng Samrin . In 1991 , Sihanouk prince returned . In 1993 , The United Nations helped and established the kingdom of Cambodia , leader is Sihanouk prince . Cambodia is member of the United Nations and ASEAN . Due to the rule of the Khmer Rouge and the ravages of war , the country’s economy remains difficult and less developed . The culture of Cambodia has a abudant history through many century and are heavily influence by India . In Cambodia history , religion has a major role in the cultural activities . The kingdom of Cambodia is one of the latest and the most attractive tourist destination in the world . The major of guests are attracted by the architecture of Cambodia . Most architectural projects were being built during the ancient Khmer . Buddhism and legends thinking are the factors that make this architecture . One of the architectural highlights and also a symbol of Cambodia is Angkor Wat .

      1.2 History of the wonder

Angkor Wat province of Siem Reap where close to Phnom Penh capital 320km . It was built under Suriya-Warman II King . It was a god temple , Visnu but now it’s a Buddist temple . It is one of the most important monuments in Cambodia . In 1113 , the king Suryavarman II built Angkor Wat in a large area in the southeast corner of metropolitan Yasodharapura . The projects was started in 1122 and completed in 1150 , when the king died . With the expansion ambition all Asia , he invaded a lot of country and all invasions failed . It was the cause of his death . His death made Angkor Wat forgotten . Later , his progeny restored prosperous empire . That is Jayavarman VII (1181- 1220) – the king of Khmer Empire who was considered one of the three talented kings and he is also a hero of the ethnic Khmer under Angkor dynasty . He is the son of the king Dharanindravarman II and Sri Jayarajacudamani . He maried Jayarajadevi and after she died , he and her sister – Indradevi got maried . It is thought that the two womens inspired for him about the pity to Buddhism . When he ascended the throne, he rebuilt the country as well as renovations to architecture Angkor Wat. However, until the invasion of Siam in the 15th century, wat 1 Awngkor again forgotten, covered with trees. It was not until 1860 , Angkor Wat detacted again by Henri Mouhot - a French naturalist and explorer of the mid-19th century.

http://m.nguoiduatin.vn/huyen-thoai-ve-vi-vua-vi-dai-nhat-de-che-khmer-a27453.html

http://www.nguoiduatin.vn/nhung-vi-vua-huyen-thoai-cua-vuong-trieu-angkor-a25847.html

http://www.dulichvietnam.com.vn/huyen-bi-nhung-buc-tuong-sinh-vat-ky-la-o-angkor-wat.html

http://vi.wikipedia.org/wiki/Campuchia

http://vi.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angkor_Wat

http://omanizen.blogspot.com/2011/05/bi-hinh-co-xua-trong-goc-toi-angkor-wat.html

2.3 Stories and legends asociated with the wonder

Legends about Angkor Wat : Once upon a time , the gods name is Indra had a relationship with a earth women and their son name is Preah Két Mêalêa . He became the prince of Indra Prast , because he is so handsome Indra gave him to the sky . But the other gods in the sky wasn’t agree that they had arrested Indra brought his son back to earth .  However , they required a great architect - Preah Pisnuka to build a castle like the castle of Indra in the sky beacause they loved prince . And that is Angkor Wat – the temple was completed in one night . On the stones of the temple , we can see the fingerprints carried stones of the gods and two great footprints of angel who carried stones to build Angkor Wat on the Kulen mountain . Therefore , until this day , people still can’t discover how to those stones were

brought up . We still go after the signs on the stones to discover the mystery of past .

Lengends about Naga snakes seven heads : they can be legend but also appearin reality . According to ancient legend , they usually live in forests in Cambodia . Naga is the animals appears in Buddhism and Hinduism . It can turn into people and making a terrible killer . Therefore , in some areas , Naga is just as sacred animals both real threat .

Legends about dinosaur statue : Thorn lizard have a small neck , four short legs and a long tail . It is along with the other dinosaurs became extinct from the 9th century before Angkor Wat appear but why it appears on the Ta Prohm wall of Angkor Wat ? Some people think that it depicts a real animal ever lived there or it’s possible that some fossils of thorn lizard were found in place and people have carved it up .

Legends about Apsara bayadere : Recount neck Khmer , they are the incarnation of the seawater when the gods and the Naga snake god churn the milk ocean to find elixirs . They have soft hands , deft , slender back plate , bright smile and legs dance in rthym . Every time bayadera dance , we can sense the romantic radiate of it .

Legends about ghosts under neck tower foot : These ghosts are terrible obsession with of Cambodian . Many people recalled : when building the temple , about 2000 workers died because they were sick or they are not power enough to work . When they can’t work , they don’t get a break but also died under tower foot . Many people think that the spector are the shadow of workers died unjustly . They appear as a feature of the temple , not only that they were created for temple a mysterious and scary . Therefore , Angkor Wat was built in the Western direction to welcome the exile soul .