Male figure

King Rajendravarman II (ruled 944–968) returned the capital to Angkor, which had been neglected for two decades, and Buddhism was allowed to flourish again. The religious tolerance of this mid-10th century court evolved even further in the ensuing reign of Jayavarman V, son of Rajendravarman II. In his inner self the new king was Buddhist. His guru and royal priest, Kirtipandita, was sent abroad to acquire the major Buddhist Tantras and learned commentaries and on his return started the building of temples to instruct Buddhist monks.

The Esoteric Buddhism promoted by the court was transmitted in secrecy from master to pupil. It is this form of Buddhism, dominant for the next three centuries, that is represented in the collection.

One of the most graceful artistic styles of the Angkor period, emerged in the 11th century, was the Baphuon style, with the sampot (skirt cloth) displayed in a U-shape below the navel.