75 clarified. Among them are also seen long dedication inscriptions spanning about 100 lines. On inspecting the inscriptions, we see that they clearly describe the spiritual value system and defining spirit or mood of that period of history, as shown by the ideas and beliefs of the time. George Cœdès, a French scholar who deciphered ancient Khmer inscriptions, decoded the inscriptions on stone walls and pillars in the 1930s. In a lecture delivered in his twilight years he said, “how to cook and assemble the inscriptions is the job of the succeeding scholars.” The descriptions are the central records in the donation ledger of the temple. They are fragmentary and merely lists of pledged contributions. Even with them, it would not be possible to elucidate a detailed chronological history. The disciples of Cœdès comprised some French experts, and their disciples included Cambodians and Japanese. I too happen to be one of them. It has been about 80 years since the inscriptions were deciphered, and I would like to introduce certain issues we have finally come to understand. How do we deal with the inscriptions? Do we need to probe the historical facts hidden behind them? What we need is piercing eyesight. Confirmed Social and Economic Activities of those Times Although he was counselled by high-ranking officials, the orders of the king were compelling. The orders constituted the will of the king, and in view of the fact that they were executive instructions of the dynasty, it would mean despotism. Yet, the historical data sustaining this is fragmentary, and the fact is we are unaware of the true situation. In the dynasty however the king was not the sole individual to wield authority as a God King, for it was the high-ranking officials who fostered the centralization of royal authority in the administration. It is not clear as to what sort of a bureaucracy existed, but there is no doubt that the individuals in control were the officials. The officials were groups of people with blood links to each other, or
元のページ ../index.html#81