Sophia Magazine vol.2 / WINTER 2015

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nder Sophia University’s international cooperation initiative, that “the conservation and restoration of the Angkor heritage sites should be carried out by Cambodians for Cambodia,” we have conducted since 1991 a project nurturing Cambodian specialists who preserve and restore the Angkor monuments. For this purpose, in 1996 Sophia established the Sophia Asia Center for Research and Human Development which serves as the local base. Due to the civil war that began in the 1970’s and lasted over 24 years, as many as 1.7 million Cambodians were killed and the country was devastated. To help our neighbor in Asia re-build, we decided to “train Cambodians who restore Angkor Wat, the symbol of Cambodian integration, and help preserve it together.” Our spirit of dedication is embodied in this project, as we call our initiative the “Sophia Mission” in Cambodia, under Sophia’s motto of “Men and Women for Others, with Others.” We will not overlook those who are in need. The Khmer Empire that thrived from the 9th to the 15th 274 Buddha Statues were excavated byCambodian TraineesUcenturies in Mainland South-East Asia is known for its ma-sonry structures that are so gigantic and elaborate they earned the empire the nickname “the Roman Empire of Southeast Asia.” The Angkor monuments refer to a group of historical sites, such as stone temples and water reservoirs, and 1,080 sites are currently registered as monuments throughout Cam-bodia. The most well known is Angkor Wat, the world’s largest stone temple. The surrounding area is registered as a World Heritage Site and attracts a large number of tourists each year.When the Royal University of Fine Arts in Phnom Penh re-opened in 1991, we dispatched faculty members to offer an in-tensive course in archaeology. This initiative continues today, and so far 5,000 students have taken the course. In addition, we continue to give on-site practical training every year at the Western Causeway of Angkor Wat and the Banteay Kdei tem-ple. In 2001, a decade after we began the on-site training, we made an incredible discovery. As part of the training course, 274 Buddha statues within Banteay Kdei temple were exca-vated. It had been about 140 years since Angkor Wat became known to the world, but this was the first time so many Bud-dha statues had been unearthed from one spot. It was an epoch-making discovery that could rewrite the history of the YOSHIAKI ISHIZAWAProfessor by Special Appointment, Sophia UniversityDirector of Sophia Asia Center for Research and Human DevelopmentHuman Resource Development and Preservation ofAngkorGenerous International Contribution based on Sophia’s School Philosophy6Approach