| Centuries Old Khmer Culture And Its Uniqueness |
| Written by Kevin Meas | |
| Friday, 20 November 2009 | |
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The Khmer Empire varied in size under different rulers and Khmer culture came into prominence during the period between 802-1431. The language belongs to the Austroasiatic language family that is related to a number of Asian languages. The writing is derived from Indian systems as early as the third century C.E.
The Khmer Empire varied in size under different rulers and Khmer culture came into prominence during the period between 802-1431. The language belongs to the Austroasiatic language family that is related to a number of Asian languages. The writing is derived from Indian systems as early as the third century C.E. The first few centuries saw these two major religions, the Sanskrit language and other aspects of the Indian civilization making a strong impact on Khmer culture. The way Cambodians greet others with a "sampeah" gesture, is similar to the "namaste" in India or the "wai" in Thailand. During different periods, Cambodian culture also absorbed the Chinese, Javanese and Thai influences. The culture of Khmer is strong and is experienced through the lifestyle of Cambodians. Everything that happens in their lives has a cultural backdrop, right from birth to death, from marriage to divorce and from music to literature. In Khmer culture, the older generation receives greater respect from this completely patriarchal society, where the father heads the household and is responsible for the family's welfare. Their clothing and fashion is also based on the financial status of the person, and this distinction is clearly visible throughout Cambodia. Cambodians believe in God as well as the spirits. They have several religious ceremonies and rituals in existence. They have a strong belief that childbirth is the time when the spirits can harm the mother and her newborn child; although, it is considered to be a happy occasion. Another belief is that a women turns into an evil spirit if she dies in childbirth. For Cambodians, death is not a time to grieve, as the dead person is said to enjoy a better life after death. Mention of Khmer culture inevitably brings to mind the exotic cuisine, which is well-known for a variety of delicacies, such as the prahok, is a fermented fish paste used to flavor several dishes or kapi, a fermented shrimp paste. Coconut milk is one of the main ingredients used in curries and in the preparation of desserts. Visual arts, music and dance play a very important role in Khmer culture and have been prominent for many centuries. The Angkor period saw the peaking of Khmer art. Modern art made its way into Cambodia only in the mid 20th century. The pinpeat ensemble consisting of percussion instruments dominates the music scene in Cambodia. There are other popular music categories like the ritual music of the courts - phleng kar, and mahori, the secular entertainment music. Folk dances and Khmer classical dance are known for the use of hands and feet as a form of expressing emotions. The--th century saw Khmer culture come in to its own, but it had hit a rock bottom during the devastation of the Khmer rouge. But this political upheaval could not suppress the rich culture for long and it now thrives in all villages and cities of Cambodia in every form of art and in the lifestyle of the Cambodians. |
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