Thousand Buddhas' carved pillar exhibited at museum in Cambodia

PHNOM PENH, March 11 (Xinhua): A centuries-old Thousand Buddhas' carved sandstone pillar is on a public display at the Preah Norodom Sihanouk-Angkor Museum in northwest Cambodia's Siem Reap province, the Apsara National Authority (ANA) said in a news release on Saturday.

The large pillar with the images of carved Buddha is in Bayon style and was probably created during the late 12th century, said the ANA, which is the government agency responsible for managing, safeguarding and preserving the famed Angkor Archeological Park.

Voeun Vibol Sokhom, a tour guide at the Preah Norodom Sihanouk-Angkor Museum, said the sandstone pillar, a rare artifact of Cambodian art, was found during an excavation and was named "Thousand Buddhas."

"The special feature of this sandstone pillar is that there are 1,008 small Buddha images carved on its four sides, which represent the happiness of the universe," he said.

He added that two types of religious sculptures were found in Cambodia -- one is artwork like that found on the 'Thousand Buddhas' pillar, and the other type is artwork from Brahmanism with images of Vishnu like those found on display at the National Museum in Phnom Penh.

According to the ANA, the pillar is rectangular, 122 cm high, 58 cm wide, and 45 cm thick. It weighs more than a half-ton.

There are 1,008 small meditation Buddha carvings on its four sides, it said, adding that at the top and bottom, there is some damage, with the surface of the stone having cracks and there are Naga head carvings on the top of the four corners.

National and international tourists can visit to learn more about the stone pillars, as well as many other Buddhist sculptures on display at the Preah Norodom Sihanouk-Angkor Museum, which is located in Siem Reap city. - Xinhua