Unfinished work
The Pagoda Temple, also known as the Ta Keo Temple, is located 300 meters east of the Victory Gate in the King City of Angkor and was built from the end of the 10th century to the beginning of the 11th century. It is an unfinished work during the time of King Jayavarman V. It has been shelved for more than a thousand years.
Many people are speculating about the reason for the sudden termination of the temple. Some people say that when the temple was being built, the top of the tower was struck by lightning, which was an unknown omen, and therefore the construction was suspended. It is also said that because of the sudden death of King Jayavarman V, the successor did not want to continue construction.
Some people even say that the stone chosen for this temple is too hard to be carved, so only a crude embryo of the building is retained.
However, there is no real conclusion. We only know that the Takao Temple is simple in appearance, naturally without carvings. The whole temple is almost large chunks of blue-gray sandstone, showing another kind of tough and rough beauty, with water chestnut horns protruding everywhere. Let the whole temple resemble a piece of crystal ore.
And this temple is also revealing another message to us. The temple was first stacked like building blocks before carving.
Layout of Tako Temple
Pagoda Temple is located in a small circle, close to Ta Prohm Temple. It is square and has three floors. There are five stone pagodas on the top floor, which are distributed in the shape of plum blossoms. They symbolize the five peaks of Mount Sumeru in ancient Indian mythology. The bottom platform of the five stone pagodas is long. It is 120 meters wide, 100 meters wide, and the central tower is 50 meters high.
The entrance of the Pagoda Temple is at the east gate. At the entrance, the roots of several big trees are stuck on the ground like octopuses. One of the tree trunks has a black round spot, like an eye, which looks after the whole temple.
After the tour, you need to go back the same way, because the other entrances of the temple are still under construction, and the Chinese government is currently helping to maintain it.
- The tower body is naturally uncarved, and the beauty of the building structure can be seen at a glance.
- The tower is high and steep, and you can see the whole view of Angkor King City from the top.
The whole temple has a few carvings at the entrance of the east gate, and almost all other places are rough embryos. The five towers above are just stacks of stones, and there is nothing in the tower. Although three Buddha statues can be seen in the central tower, This should be put in later. Because we can see a remnant statue on the left hand side of the steps of the central tower. From the remaining two legs, we can know that this is the statue of the god cow Nandi. Nandi is the mount of the three main gods, Shiva. It can be inferred from this. Out of this temple dedicated to Shiva.
The entire temple has no intensive phobia-like carvings, but instead restores the beauty of the architectural structure, allowing us to quietly observe the materials and structure itself, and experience the solemnity and strength of the layers of stones.
The stones are simply and tightly cut and stacked, with unevenness, and the dense stones are like crystal ore. Especially at the corners of the temple’s stone towers, we can connect the stones layer by layer, first extend layer by layer, then shrink layer by layer, cyclically, looking from bottom to top, straight lines extend and turn, and the upper and lower concave and convex corners show lines interspersed. , Jumping chorus notes, vigorous and rhythmic.
Entering the tower, looking up from the bottom up, you can also see the shrinking squares. Suddenly, it reminds me of the three-dimensional composition homework I did in university, and a carefree day is awakened again.
The most important thing to pay attention to in Ta Gao Temple is the up and down stairs. Here, the tower is high and steep. There are no handrails and wooden ladders. It is simple and majestic. Do not make noise when climbing. Climbing to feel the simplicity and power of faith.
When you reach the top of the tower, the breeze is breezy, the heat and fatigue disappear. Looking out from the four gates of the tower, you can enjoy the style of Angkor King City.
The whole journey is like a process of experiencing God, walking step by step on a difficult road, and finally receiving God's salvation and reward. At the central tower, you can take a break and look out through the gate, slowly sinking into contemplation, and savoring the simplicity and tranquility of the stone tower.
