A Rebuttal of Historical Revisionism and Cultural Appropriation Concerning Prasat Phimai and Wat Phumanfa

Photo: Aerial views of Wat Phumanfa (lef) and Angkor Wat (right), under a map of Angkor Wat. Supplied

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Recent assertions portraying Prasat Phimai as an expression of so-called “Original Thai Culture” or “Siam Heritage” are historically unfounded and reflect a troubling pattern of cultural appropriation and historical revisionism. Such claims disregard established archaeological evidence, historical chronology and internationally recognised scholarship.

1. Historical Origins of Prasat Phimai

Prasat Phimai was constructed between the 11th and 12th centuries, during the height of the Khmer Empire, primarily under the reign of King Suryavarman I. Its architectural characteristics, most notably the Baphuon and Bayon styles, are unequivocally Khmer in origin, conception and execution.

At the time of Phimai’s construction, the Sukhothai and Ayutthaya kingdoms, which later became historical predecessors of modern Thailand, had not yet emerged. Attributing Phimai to “Thai” or “Siamese” culture therefore constitutes a serious historical anachronism that directly contradicts the academic and archaeological record.

2. Integral Role within the Angkorian Sacred Network

Prasat Phimai was not an isolated monument but a major administrative and spiritual centre of the Khmer Empire. It was directly connected to Angkor, the imperial capital (present-day Siem Reap, Cambodia), by a royal road of approximately 250 kilometres, widely recognised by scholars as part of the Angkorian Highway system.

The temple’s south-eastern orientation toward Angkor is neither coincidental nor symbolically ambiguous. It represents a deliberate architectural and cosmological statement of political authority, religious alignment and cultural allegiance to the Khmer imperial centre. This orientation further confirms Phimai’s inseparable relationship with Angkor and Khmer state ideology.

3. Architectural Plagiarism at Wat Phumanfa (Siha Nakhon)

The ongoing construction of Wat Phumanfa (Siha Nakhon) in Buriram province does not constitute a neutral or respectful “inspiration” from regional heritage. Rather, it represents a direct structural imitation of Angkor Wat, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a protected emblem of Cambodian national identity.

Despite claims that the project draws inspiration from Phimai, the master plan, axial symmetry, central quincunx tower arrangement and spatial organisation unmistakably replicate the unique architectural blueprint of Angkor Wat. This design is neither generic nor transferable and carries ethical and legal implications under international heritage protection standards and World Heritage principles.

4. Misrepresentation of Cambodian Diplomatic Engagements

Claims that Cambodian officials “visited and studied” Wat Phumanfa as an expression of approval or endorsement are categorically false. Delegations from the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts of the Kingdom of Cambodia visited the site solely for the purpose of documentation, assessment and evidence collection.

These visits formed part of a formal process to evaluate intellectual property infringement and violations of World Heritage ethics, to prevent future Thai generations from inheriting the disgrace caused by the present generation’s cultural appropriation. Any attempt to portray these visits as approval constitutes a deliberate distortion of diplomatic intent and reality.

5. Geography Does Not Rewrite History

While Prasat Phimai is geographically situated within the borders of present-day Thailand, geography alone does not redefine historical origin, cultural identity or civilisational ownership. The temple’s architecture, inscriptions, religious function and historical context are irrefutably Khmer.

Appropriating the achievements of Khmer ancestors to justify the modern replication of Khmer’s most sacred national symbols constitutes an act of cultural erasure. Such actions undermine the principles of historical truth, mutual respect and regional cooperation that ASEAN and UNESCO are mandated to uphold.

History cannot be reshaped to serve contemporary nationalist narratives. Prasat Phimai stands as enduring evidence of the civilisational reach of the Khmer Empire, while Angkor Wat remains a singular, irreplaceable and protected symbol of Cambodian heritage.

The creation of architectural replicas that appropriate the identity, symbolism and sacred meaning of Angkor Wat represent an act of cultural and moral violation, damaging both national identity and the authenticity and integrity of World Heritage.

Respect for shared history must be grounded in honesty, scholarly accuracy and ethical responsibility. Only through adherence to these principles can regional cultural dialogue advance in a spirit of cooperation rather than appropriation.

Roth Serei is a Cambodian Scholar, based in Phnom Penh. The views and opinions expressed are his own.

-Phnom Penh Post-