Bayon Temple
Bayon Temple is a late 12th- to early 13th-century Khmer temple located at the geometric center of Angkor Thom near Siem Reap. Built as the state temple of King Jayavarman VII, it is famed for its massive stone towers bearing serene smiling faces and for intricate bas-reliefs portraying both mythological scenes and daily life in the Khmer Empire.
Key facts
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Construction: Late 12th–early 13th century CE
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Location: Center of Angkor Thom, Angkor Archaeological Park
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Founder: King Jayavarman VII
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Religion: Originally Mahayana Buddhist
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Distinctive feature: Over 200 sculpted faces on 37 surviving towers
Architecture and design
Bayon’s plan rises on three levels. The two lower square terraces hold galleries lined with over 1 kilometer of bas-reliefs depicting 11 000 figures—naval battles, markets, festivals, and episodes from Khmer mythology. The upper circular terrace supports face-towers whose four-sided visages gaze toward the cardinal directions, representing the bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara or Jayavarman VII himself. The temple’s asymmetrical layout and dense sculptural detail mark a stylistic shift from the classical harmony of Angkor Wat to a more expressive “Angkorian baroque.”
Symbolism and interpretation
Scholars view Bayon as the spiritual and political heart of Jayavarman VII’s Buddhist kingdom. The smiling faces—often called the “Smile of Angkor”—embody compassion and royal omnipresence. The temple also symbolizes Mount Meru, the cosmic center in Hindu-Buddhist cosmology, anchoring Angkor Thom as a sacred city-universe. Later rulers altered the sanctuary as the empire oscillated between Hinduism and Theravada Buddhism, adding and removing images to reflect changing faiths.
Conservation and visitor experience
Since the early 20th century, restoration has been led first by the École Française d’Extrême-Orient and, since 1995, by the Japanese Government Team for the Safeguarding of Angkor. Visitors typically explore Bayon as part of the “Small Circuit” within Angkor Archaeological Park. The best light for viewing and photography occurs early morning or late afternoon, when the low sun accentuates the enigmatic expressions that make Bayon one of Southeast Asia’s most compelling monuments.
