CambodiaKhmer’s Literature

What can you see in Cambodia?

• Here are some of the photos!

The flag

• The blue color symbolizes the country's royalty.

• The red represents the nation• And the white represents the religion,

beginning with Brahmanism, and the current major religion (well Buddhism is not a religion anyway)- Buddhism (a Philosophy/way of life) . The emblem of the temple represents the structure of the universe.

Their king

• Norodom Sihamoni His Majesty King Norodom Sihamoni is

the son of His Majesty Norodom Sihanouk, former King of Cambodia and of Her Majesty Queen Norodom Monineath Sihanouk of Cambodia.

Their prime minister

• Hun SenHun Sen, one of the world's

longest-serving prime ministers, has been in power in various coalitions since 1985. He was reappointed by parliament in September 2013 for a further five-year term.

• Land area: 68,154 sq mi (176,519 sq km); total area: 69,900 sq mi (181,040 sq km)

Distance from the Philippines

• 1,819 km Distance from Cambodia to Philippines

• Approximate travel time from Phnom Penh, Cambodia to Manila, Philippines is 2 hrs, 31 mins. (http://globalnation.inquirer.net/31477/cambodia-will-now-be-3-hours-away-from-philippines)

Cambodia Population• The current population of Cambodia is

15,857,125 as of Tuesday, August 16, 2016, based on the latest United Nations estimates.

• Cambodia population is equivalent to 0.21% of the total world population.

• Cambodia ranks number 71 in the list of countries by population. While the Philippines ranks number 12.

from www.telegraph.co.uk

• The median age in Cambodia is 24.2 years. (because of the genocide on1970’s)

A photo of Mean SonitaWhen she was 24 years old, two years ago.

Its all because of the Khmer Rouge

Issues

•Ethnic cleansing•Ethnic relations•Genocidal rape•Utilitarian genocide

Cambodian money (Riel )

• 1 Riel is 0.011 Philippine Peso• Means 1 peso is 88.56 Riel

• In terms of economic status.– Cambodia, like the Philippines is also

considered a poor nation because of corruption.

Gross domestic product (GDP) based on purchasing-power-parity (PPP) per capita.

– rank 118 ( Philippines )– Rank 143 ( Cambodia )

History

• A testimony of the antiquity of the Khmer language are the multitude of epigraphic inscriptions on stone.

• These writings on columns, stelae and walls throw light on the royal lineages, religious edicts, territorial conquests and internal organization of the kingdom.

Buddhist texts

• Following the stone inscriptions, some of the oldest Khmer documents are translations and commentaries of the Pali Buddhist texts of the Tripitaka written in the Khmer script.

Reamker

• The Reamker (Rama's legacy) is the Cambodian version of the Ramayana, the famous Indian epic. The Reamker comes in rhymed verses and is staged in sections that are adapted to Cambodian dance movements interpreted by local artists.

• The Reamker is the oldest form of Cambodian theatre

The most popular legend

• Vorvong and Saurivong– A long tale of the Khmer oral tradition

about two Khmer princes that fell into disgrace and only after a series of ordeals, regain their status. It was put into writing by Auguste Pavie.

Tum Teav

• It is a classic tragic love story set in Tbong Khmum province that has been told

throughout the country since at least the mid 19th century. It is based on a 17th or 18th

century poem of uncertain origin, probably having originated in a more ancient

Cambodian folk legend.

Tourist attractions

in Cambodia

• The ruins of Angkor It is found in the north of the Tonle Sap Lake near modern-

day Siem Reap and many people visit Siem Reap with

the sole intent of using it as a base from which to visit

Angkor.

The Royal Palace Complex

Built in 1866, the site contains various buildings of interest,

including the Khmer-style Throne Hall, now used for

special ceremonial occasions. South of the Throne Hall are the Royal Treasury and the

Villa of Napoleon III, built in Egypt in 1866, for the opening

of the Suez Canal, and was later presented to the

Cambodian king as a gift. 

• Next is The Bayon It is at the centre of Angkor Thom (literally 'Great City'), which forms the heart of the

Angkor complex as it is today. This inner city is surrounded by a moat, and approached at

the four cardinal points via huge stone gates and

causeways flanked by statues of gods and giants. 

• If Angkor Wat and the city of Angkor Thom are best known for grandeur and majesty, then to the east, the temple and monastery of Ta Promh wins hands down for sheer dramatic effect. Unlike most other

monuments, Ta Promh has been left the way it was

originally found

The Tonlé Sap Lake It is the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia. During the monsoon season between June

and October the Tonlé Sap River reverses its flow and runs in the opposite direction, filling the Tonlé Sap Lake, making it the only river in the world that

flows in both directions.

• And lastly …

Apsara Danceit draws its inspiration from the mythological court of the gods and from its celestial dancers,

the Apsaras. The dance took on its own unique form adding movements and meaning,

during the reigns of Jayavarman II and Jayavarman

VII as well as in the Angkor era.

Apsara dance 4 end.mp4

Superstitions in Cambodia

• If you dream about snake, your ideal person is coming soon.

The presence of a gecko in a house is seen as a good luck for that house.

But single young people count the gecko’s croak to know how their future spouse will be. To the first croak they say “single”, the second croak they say “widow – widower”. Then, the last croak should reveal if they will marry a single or widower person.

Ask permission to the spirits of the land

When you build a house, you have to ask permission

to the spirit of the land. Cambodians believe that

there are spirits everywhere, a

remembrance of their ancient pantheism through

Brahmanism.

The ancestors really eatCambodians

believe that their souls can feel

hunger. It has a big contradiction

with the reincarnation doctrine, of

course.

Culture• Food and Economy

– The staples are rice and fish.

Familial Structure• Khmer often raise large families with extended family members living together

or nearby.• Men are generally recognized as head of

the family with women expected to be caregivers.

• Elders are important in decision-making and often take care of their

grandchildren.

Personal Space & Social Gestures

• Sompeah is a gesture of greeting with both palms brought together with fingers pointed upward. The higher the sompeah, the higher

the status of the person being greeted.

• It is not polite to make eye contact with elders or superiors.