Khmer Empire

The **Khmer Empire** (Khmer: **ចក្រភពខ្មែរ**) also known as the the **Angkorian Empire** (Khmer: **ចក្រភពអង្គរ**) is the name given by historians to a real-world empire active in modern-Cambodia during the middle-ages. In real-life, the empire reigned from 802 BCE to 1431, beginning with Jayavarman II and ending with the *Fall of Angkor* at the hands of the Ayutthaya Kingdom.

## Description

### Culture

The empire was originally devoted to Hinduism though later converted to Buddhism. Their monarchy was part of an imperial cult which deemed their emperor or *chakravartin* ("universal ruler") as being of a divine status.

### Expanse

Here referring to Khmer empire structures both real and fictional referenced in the Jungle Cruise:

* **Ancient Cambodian Shrine**: This was a Buddhist temple located along the Mekong river in modern Cambodia with a statue dedicated to Khmer king Jayavarman VII and vast amount of treasures. The temple was flooded and left in ruins, was located along the mystical Rivers of Adventure which connected jungles across the world, and had a magical connection to the pendents *Tiger of Courage, Elephant of Wisdom and Monkey of Cleverness*.
* **Angkor**: Angkor was the expansive and architecturally complex capital of the Khmer Empire and held Angkor Wat, "The City of Temples".
* **Irrawaddy Shrine**: This was a Khmer shrine oddly located along the Irrawaddy River in the nation of Burma. Like the Cambodian Shrine, it had a statue in the likeness of Jayavarman VII along with statues of animals such as a bowing Indian elephant. Also like the Cambodian shrine, it was located along the Rivers of Adventure albeit on a different route.

## Jungle Cruise connections

### Adventure Trading Company

In the Adventure Trading Company, the *Elephant Jujus* were modelled after elephants in the Cambodian shrine, a fact referenced in *The Daily Gnus* newspaper.A board for the *Jungle Navigation Company* mentioned transporting a cargo of, "Rare Juju" from the Cambodian Shrine to the *Westward Ho Trading Company*.

### Jungle Cruise

The structure of the Cambodian shrine "Shir Lee Temple" was based on the ruins of Angkor in all main versions of the *Jungle Cruise* and features a statue of Jayavarman VII (nicknamed, "Shir Lee" by skippers as a reference to famous child-star Shirley Temple).

#### Jungle Cruise (Disneyland)

A Cambodian shrine of the Khmer empire was featured as part of the Mekong scene for decades in the Jungle Cruise along with statues of Buddhist deities Hanuman and Genesha. In a 2021 refurbishment, Disneyland's version of the Cambodian shrine was changed to a shrine along the Irrawaddy River of Burma though it retained its statue to the Khmer king.

#### Jungle Cruise (Magic Kingdom)

The Shir Lee Temple still appears in its Cambodian form in this version of the attraction. 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

The Shir Lee Temple appears in this version of the ride albeit much more magical, being brought to life by the *Tiger of Courage, Elephant of Wisdom and Monkey of Cleverness* pendents traded by Chief Nah-mee which represent a connection to nature.

### 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

#### A Pirate's Adventure: Treasures of the Seven Seas

The Treasure of the Pacific's stonework resembled that of the Khmer ruins seen in the Jungle Cruise. This was a stone idol created by the goddess Calypso and possessed by the headhunter tribe before being stolen by Captain Jack Sparrow.

#### Tropical Hideaway

Concept-art showed Rosita in possession of a stone idol of Genesha, as depicted in the Jungle Cruise.

## Differences from history

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

## References

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