Chinese traveler Zhou Daguan recorded in 1296–97 that a Cambodian king entered the golden tower alone each night to meet a Naga (serpent spirit). Locals today still believe the Naga appears at the site.
1297 account by Zhou Daguan of a Cambodian king's nightly ritual
Site mentioned
📍 Vimanas Structure
Key facts
- Chinese traveler Zhou Daguan documented the structure during his 1296–97 stay in Cambodia.
- According to his account, the king entered the golden tower alone each night after dark.
- The account describes a female entity as a Naga (serpent spirit) whom the king met.
- Only the king was allowed in the golden tower during the first watch of the night.
- The account says that if the Naga did not appear, the king's days would be numbered.
- The account says that if the king failed to visit, disaster would strike the kingdom.
- Locals today believe the Naga still appears nightly at the site.
- The top of the structure remains off-limits to visitors.
- Locals consider the site sacred because of the Naga legend.
Sources
Angkor, The city of the Celestial Dragon (Part III) - Uncharted Ruinsunchartedruins.blogspot.com
According to Hindu and Cambodian beliefs, the Nāga were a powerful reptilian race of serpent-like creatures which once ruled from a vast island- ...
Buddha Sheltered by a Naga - Cambodia - Angkor periodmetmuseum.org
This sculpture depicts the serpent king Muchilinda protecting the Buddha Shakyamuni from heavy rains.
Zhou Daguanen.wikipedia.org
Zhou stayed in Cambodia for eleven months, and left in July 1297. He wrote the book The Customs of Cambodia within 15 years of his return,
The customs of Cambodia / by Chou Ta-kuan (Zhou Daguan)catalog.hathitrust.org
Main Author: Zhou, Daguan, active 1297. ; Language(s): English ; Published: Bangkok, Thailand : Siam Society, 1992. ; Edition: 2nd ed. ; Subjects: Cambodia > ...
(PDF) THE ITINERARY OF ZHOU DAGUAN FROM CHINA ...academia.edu
-1297: His Account of the Life and Custom of Khmer People during his Stay at Angkor. Zhou Daguan was the Chinese envoy. Zhou Daguan stayed at Angkor for almost ...
The customs of Cambodia / by Chou Ta-kuan (Zhou Daguan)primo.getty.edu
Zhou, Daguan, active 1297. , Bangkok, Thailand : Siam Society, 1992. ,. The customs of Cambodia / by Chou Ta-kuan (Zhou Daguan) ; translated into English ...
Zhou Daguan's Customs of Cambodia: A New Translationangkordatabase.asia
He followed the Chinese embassy sent to Cambodia in 1295, traveling back to China in 1297. Zhou Daguan's account on Angkor in the 13th century sourced from ...
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