Jayavarman VII

A statue of Mahaparamasaugata from Disneyland's Jungle Cruise

**Jayavarman VII** is the posthumous name for **Mahaparamasaugata** (Khmer: **ជ័យវរ្ម័នទី៧**) (c. 1122–1218), a historic king of the Khmer Empire in what is modern Cambodia.

## History

### Biography

#### Jungle Cruise

Jayavarman VII was a Buddhist king of modern Cambodia during the time of the Khmer empire. Jayavarman VII (presumably) oversaw the construction many Buddhist structures including a temple in Cambodia, structure of worship along the Irrawaddy river of Burma, and his empire's capital city of Angkor.

It is unknown how the king's influence was so expansive outside of his empire though it may be connected to the space-defying and supernatural *Rivers of Adventure* which the temples were built along. By the early-half of the 20th century, these temples were also shown to be connected to enchanted medallions such as the Elephant Jujus of the colonial *Adventure Trading Company* or the magical *Tiger of Courage, Elephant of Wisdom and Monkey of Cleverness* pendents which could magically bring the Cambodian shrine to life.

## Jungle Cruise appearances

### Jungle Cruise

#### Jungle Cruise (Disneyland)

The Jayavarman VII statue previously appeared in the Cambodian shrine alongside statues of the buddhist mythological figures Hanuman, Genesha, and a removed golden shrine of Buddha. In 2021, the statue was left while the location was changed to the Irrawaddy ruins.

#### Jungle Cruise (Magic Kingdom)

A statue of Jayavarman VII is located outside of the Cambodian shrine. Skippers typically refer to this shrine as, "Shir Lee's Temple" while also referencing the statue as being, "**Shir Lee**", a reference to Great Depression era child-star Shirley Temple. In the Amazon River Base is a map belonging to the, "Lotus Tours" service with a miniature illustration of the king's likeness next to the phrase, "Ancient Ruins of Angkor". Mahaparamasaugata's ruined statue at Shir Lee Temple is also illustrated on a map made by Frank Wolff from the Jungle Cruise film.

#### Jungle Cruise: Wildlife Expeditions

This version of the attraction has a Shir Lee Temple scene based on that from the Magic Kingdom. On the inside, the temple is brought to life via the skipper's three medallions: the *Tiger of Courage, Elephant of Wisdom and Monkey of Cleverness.*

### Skipper Canteen

There is a portrait in the Skipper Canteen depicted Dr. Albert Falls outside of the temple with Jayavarman VII's statue. Jayavarman VII is indirectly referenced in the library with a book titled, "The Lost Temple of Shir Lee".

### Other connections

#### Adventure Trading Company

The Adventure Trading Company's *Elephant Juju* is modelled after the elephant carvings in the shrine. This was referenced within *The Daily Gnus* newspaper though while the temple was still the Cambodian ruins however as the elephant carving continues to appear, it is unknown if the Irrawaddy ruins were retconned into the Adventure Trading Company's backstory. A board for the Jungle Navigation Company mentioned transporting a cargo of, "Rare Juju" from the Cambodian Shrine to the *Westward Ho Trading Company*. This was an allusion to the shop of the same name in Disneyland's Frontierland which was the base for the Adventure Trading Company's sister-attraction, *Legends of Frontierland: Gold Rush!.*

## Differences from history

### Assorted

* Disneyland's Jungle Cruise has a shrine dedicated to Jayavarman VII in Burma which the historic king did not rule.

### Biography

Mahaparamasaugata was king of the Khmer empire from 1181 to 1218 though he was coronated in 1182. He was one of the few Khmer kings to be a devoted buddhist and constructed great temples devoted to buddhism. He was also greatly inspired by the buddhism of his queen-consorts, his first having been Princess Jayarajadevi and then her sisterr Indradevi following Jayarajadevi's death around 1160. Mahaparamasaugata is also well remembered for his military feats which expanded the Khmer Empire and subdued many attempted rebellions.

## Trivia

* The statues of Jayavarman VII in the Jungle Cruise are modelled after those of him from the Angkor Thom of Angkor Wat in Northern Cambodia. This temple in real life was Mahaparamasaugata's, "Temple Mountain" which the city of Angkor Wat was built around.

## Gallery

Real life statues in Angkor Wat that inspired the Jungle CruiseReal life statues in Angkor Wat that inspired the Jungle CruiseOn Frank Wolff's map
## References

1. ↑ https://www.easywdw.com/easy/blog/disneys-magic-kingdom-late-morning-adventureland-touring-with-jungle-cruise-pirates-and-crowds/