Cambodia, SE Asia

The Origin of Cambodia

Indian Prince Cambodian Princess

Dragon King

Empire Khmer( 900-1300 )

The Khmers cradled the most brilliant civilization in Southeast Asia

Jayavarman VII

God-king Builder-king Warrior-king

Economy

Production Distribution Consumption

Monsoon --- a wind of the Indian Ocean and southern Asia which causes the rainy season.

Mekong River

Tonle Sap Lake---the Great Lake

Fishing Boats

Drying Fish

Hydraulic Economy:Economy involving, moved by, or operated

by a fluid, especially water

Staple Food---Rice

Rice Paddies

Vegetable Fields

Banana Tree

A Plough

A Hoe

Monsoon Rain

Climate:

Rainy season: May---October Growing and planting rice seedlings

Dry season: November---AprilPaddy harvest

Water Storage Tank

Irrigation Canal

Rice Harvest

Rice Threshing

Ship Building

Active Marine Trades

Family

Mating Marriage Family Household

Education Inheritance Divorce Death/burial

Family

Type of family = nuclearGoal of family = economic goals

Marriage

Mating= ArrangedType of marriage = monogamyRule of marriage = exogamyGoal of married = having a family

especially new generations such as children

Household

Types of household = nuclearRules of household = neo local

Education

Formal education (buddhist association)Informal education ( family, socialization)

Inheritance

Divided equally among children

Divorce

Divorce is allowed Divorce is a socially recognized option,

although there is social pressure against it and some reluctance to grant it.

Assets are divided equally between the spouses

Death

Family is responsibleBuddhist tradition Ceremonies in memory of the dead are

held on the seventh and hundredth days after life

Male Roles in A Family

House on the Stilts

Female roles in a family

Rice Seedling

Weaving

The wedding system

Cambodian weddings are long and intricate affairs that

consist of  multiple ceremonies and songs.

KHMER WEDDING

bride and groom being blessed by devada (angels)during the "hair cutting" or "cleansing" ceremony

Traditional Wedding

Wedding Costume

Ceremony

DOWRY A dowry is money or property brought by a bride

to her husband at marriage.  Cambodians, however, believe that the groom should present the bride with gifts.  He travels to the bride’s home accompanied by his family with trays filled with fruits, cakes, gifts, and jewelry.   Instead of money, the gifts are arranged and presented to the bride’s family on silver trays.  The number of trays depends on the groom’s wealth and status.  During this time, family and friends meet and the wedding rings are exchanged.  Three songs are included in the dowry celebration.

    The fruits, cakes, and gifts are arranged in a certain manner.  The display is presented to the bride and groom from the guests at

their wedding.

Arrival of the Groom ( Neay Pream He Kaun Kamlas): this song tells the story of the groom and his family's journey to the bride's home.

Presenting the Dowry (Chambak Rouy): ·A conversation between the matchmakers, parents, relatives, and friends of the bride and groom.  The groom's family and friends formally present the dowry gifts to the bride's family.

Inviting the Elders to Chew Betel Nut (Pak Paeuk Pisa Sla): The betel nut is presented to the bride and groom's elders.   Parents of both the bride and groom ask for blessings and well wishes for their children.

HOW MANY DAYS DOES THE WEDDING LAST?

Traditional Cambodian weddings last three days and three nights.  Three is an important number to Cambodians because it is symbolic of the “three jewels” of Buddhism.  The “three jewels” are the…

1. The Buddha 2. The Sangha (the brotherhood of monks) 3. The Dhamma (Buddha’s teachings)

Here is a picture of the brotherhood of monks.  They will

bless the couple's union

SPECIAL/UNIQUE TRADITIONS

     Cambodians celebrate their weddings in a unique and special way.  Below are a few of the interesting ceremonies included in

the wedding celebration.

PRE-CEREMONIAL ACTIVITIES

Breakfast:      Following the celebration of the dowry, Cambodians have a special breakfast in which the bride and groom feed each other.  When they are done, the other guests may eat.  During the breakfast, the master of ceremony entertains guests by playing folk songs.  Cambodians who are of Chinese descent use this time to offer tea to the spirits of their ancestors.

Hair cutting ceremony:      In this ceremony, the bride and groom get their hair symbolically cut. (In the past, the couple’s hair really got cut.)   The mock haircut represents a new relationship as husband and wife.  The master of ceremony cuts the hair first, followed by the bride and groom’s parents, relatives, and friends.

SONGS OF CEREMONY

Throughout the ceremony, four songs are sung: Phat Cheay :  a song that invites the bride and her bridesmaids

to the ceremony. Kang Saeuy : this song is played when gifts are offered to the

ancestors. Bangvel Po Pil (Seven Rotations): While the candles are passed

around seven times, family members wave the smoke which is believed to protect the couple from evil.

Bay Khon Chang Dai (Tying the Wrists):  The following song is sung while the bride and groom’s wrists are being tied:  "We tie, we tie three strings to each wrist of our children. We wish for true happiness and success to this couple, who will always be together like wet grass seeds. We tie your left wrist to make you remember your parents. We tie your right wrist to make you carry on the family lineage and traditions."

Wedding attire

    Cambodian weddings are colorful events.  Traditionally the bride and groom wear red and gold.  Cambodian women wear various colors throughout the wedding ceremony.  The bride may have up to ten dress changes.  She changes outfits about every thirty minutes.  The bride is often adorned with gold, jewels, and makeup. The groom also changes his wedding attire.  He wears a traditional sarong.  For the final ceremony, he is dressed like royalty.  

Here is a picture of the groom and his groomsmen wearing a

traditional sarong.

Political System

A constitutional monarchy is a form of monarchical government established under a constitutional system which acknowledges an elected or hereditary monarch as head of the state.

Monarchy

Politics

Administration Judiciary system Defense/offense

Administration---strict hierarchy

The king--- supreme judgePriests---the ruling classFrom Viceroys to village chiefs--- different

responsibilitiesExpress couriers--- look after urgent

business in the capital

Jurisdiction --- trial by ordeal

Death sentence---buried the criminal aliveLesser punishment---amputation of the

fingers, legs, hands or nose.Minor offense---flogging

Note: no law against adultery

Defense/offense

Strong military power 1.Temporary army: Builder-peasant-soldier

2. Permanent army:1) Royal Regiment of War Elephants

200,000 2) Cavalry---the pride of the empire 3) navy---ships and armored canoes

War Against the Cham

Khmer VS Cham

Cultural system

TEMPLESThere are over a hundred major

temples sites to be visited in and around Siem Reap-the remains in brick and stone of cities that were built by a succession of Khmer Kings between the 9th and 13th centuries. Beside visiting Khmer Temples, there are thousand of pagodas speeding the country.

WAT PHNOMPhnom Penh, Cambodia 1373-present

Pagoda Wat Phnom

YAMAYama, Lord of the DeadCourtyard, National Museum of Cambodia

Khmer, 12th century The only object in the

museum which may be photographed is this sensitive statue of Yama in the courtyard. The god is sitting without his usual buffalo mount. This celebrated piece comes from Angkor Thom's Terrace of the Leper King, so-called because prior to cleaning, the statue had been splotched with lichen.

Angkor Wat Temple

The Angkor Wat is not only the largest, high and elegant construction of all the Khmer temples, it is in

itself a city that is; it served as the capital

Expressive arts

Percussion

Musical percussion (Drum)

Musical Instrument

Khimm

History of Khmer

Type of Khmer Art and Architecture

Cambodia Classical Dance

APSARA DANCE

Khmer Dance

Khmer Classical Dance

Battle Dance (Battle with Ravana) Hanuman's soldier trains for their battle with Ravana

The Ramayana was written about 2,000 years ago. The 48,000 line epic odyssey is essentially a moral tale, describing the adventures of Prince Rama, an incarnation of the God Vishnu. Before Rama's birth the gods determined that his life would be one of a hero, but that he would be tested through trial and tribulation.

Ramayana

Renouncing his throne, the prince was banished and wandered in the wilderness with his beautiful wife Sita, and his brother Lasma, for many years. Sita was abducted by the evil King Ravana. Rama finds her with the help of Hanuman, the King of the monkeys and son of the God of the wind.

Buong Suong.. a prayer for freedom, victory and prosperity.

Moni MekhalaGoddess Of Water

According to Khmer popular legends, the thunder-storm is all that mortal eyes are allowed to see of this recurrent celestial affray; The lightning representing the glitter of Mekhala's crystal ball and the thunder the clatter of Ream Eyso's magic axe as it slips from his fingers. It might likewise be said to symbolize the victory of chastity and innocence over the powers of darkness.

Ream EysoGod of the Storm

Bopha LokeiFlowers of the world

Art of Khmer

Khmer Sculpture

Here some examples of

crowns, masks and costumes

Dance Costume The glittering costumes

worn today resemble Thai robes and crowns, emphasizing an odd exchange between Cambodia and Thailand that came about as a result of the Thai conquest of Angkor five centuries ago. When invading Thai pillaged Angkor, they carried away priests, dancers and artisans to enhance their court in imitation of the Khmers.

On the left is a mask worn by a character known as Ream Eyso. This storm demon battles with Moni Mekhala (goddess of water) to steal her magic crystal. The mask on the right is worn by a character known as Ravana (Reap), the ten-headed demon who kidnaps Rama's wife, Sita, in the Ramayana.

Kheynorey Costume(a mythical half bird/human from Heaven)

Khenorey costumes are often found on Cambodia and Thai Temples

Apsara Crown

MOKOT CROWN

LanguageKhmer* no tones* derived from the south Indian alphabet* left to right and no space

World view

religious

Buddha

Cambodia Religion

Thearavada Buddhism is the official religion in Cambodia which is practiced by 95 percent of the population-- just like that of Thailand, Burma, Sri Lanka. However, Christianity and Cham Muslim are being active and popular among a large number of population as well in the capital and provinces, showing a sign of growth. Daoism and Confuism are also commonly practiced among the Chinese people.

Buddhism is the predominant religion in Cambodia.

In each family, the oldest son is expected to spend several months as a monk in order to provide merit for his family.

Stratification system

DEVA RAJA

Brahmins

Khmer Civilization

Kinship structureBilateral

Gender roles and status

The division of labor by gender: Most tasks performed by men.Women are responsible for household

chores. The relative status of women and men: women relatively strongWomen control family financesWomen have less access than men

Castes and classes

Wealthy people are more honorable

Symbol of social stratification

Wealth people have to be publicly known

Bamboo house

Wood house

Stone house