Introduction to Cambodia
This Storybook consists of an anthology of various stories that are associated with the country of Cambodia. In doing so, hopefully every reader will get to learn a little bit about the culture and history of Cambodia!
Cambodia is located in Southeast Asia, surrounded by neighboring countries Thailand, Laos, and Vietnam. The people of Cambodia are actually known as Khmer while “Cambodian” is used to describe the country itself, or nationality. Besides ethnicity and race, Khmer is used to describe language, food, culture, etc. This blog post might provide a better explanation and example(s). Most people might not know this about Cambodia, but during 1975 - 1979, the people lived under a brutal regime called Khmer Rouge. This period is also known as the Cambodian genocide due to the systematic killings of 1.5 - 2 million people. (My parents, who were kids at the time, and their family were lucky enough to escape.) If you're interested, this site recounts the history of the Khmer Rouge; there is also a movie called The Killing Fields.
On a lighter note, all throughout Cambodia’s history, these key values are important to Khmer culture: religion, family, and various traditions in arts, clothing, and food. Buddhism is the predominant religion in Cambodia today, but Hinduism, Christianity, and Islam are also recognized. Religion, mainly Hinduism and Buddhism, has influenced much of the art seen today, especially in Khmer sculpture and architecture. Additionally, mythologies from Hinduism and Buddhism have also been an inspiration. These two religions started the design and construction of the well-known temple complex Angkor Wat located just outside of Siem Reap. Originally, it was designed as a Hindu temple dedicated to the god Vishnu, but over time became a Buddhist temple. This page has more information on Angkor Wat.
Other art forms that are important in Khmer culture are music, dance, and literature. Music was dominant in traditional Khmer culture. Dance is another artistic expression that is valued in Khmer culture; there are three main categories: classical dance, folk dance, and social dance. Now, dances are performed during any events, holidays, and for tourists. They are also incorporated into dramas, using music and dance to perform legendary battles and mythological stories. For example, the epic poem Ramayana from Hindu mythology is a popular story to tell using Khmer music and dance. These myths and legends can also be seen in bas relief carvings on the walls of Angkor Wat’s temples.
Cambodia is also a popular tourist country. Besides experiencing Cambodia's artistic culture, many people travel through to explore a variety of urban, rural, and natural places with beaches, mountains, temples, and more as well as trying the cuisine and experiencing other practices of Khmer culture.
This was just a tidbit of information on the culture and history of Cambodia! This Storybook will contain some light-hearted retelling of folktales of Cambodia.
Bibliography: Khmer Art and Culture / Culture of Cambodia / Values, Religions, Traditions