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---April
Paddy 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 = nuclear
Goal of family = economic goals
Marriage
Mating= Arranged
Type of marriage = monogamy
Rule of marriage = exogamy
Goal of married = having a family
especially new generations such as
children
Household
Types of household = nuclear
Rules 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 responsible
Buddhist 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 judge
Priests---the ruling class
From Viceroys to village chiefs--- different
responsibilities
Express couriers--- look after urgent
business in the capital
Jurisdiction --- trial by ordeal
Death sentence---buried the criminal alive
Lesser 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
TEMPLES
There 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 PHNOM
Phnom Penh, Cambodia
1373-present
Pagoda Wat Phnom
YAMA
Yama, Lord of the Dead
Courtyard, 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 Mekhala
Goddess 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 Eyso
God of the Storm
Bopha Lokei
Flowers 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
Language
Khmer
* 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 structure
Bilateral
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 strong
Women control family finances
Women 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