Khmer Culture At Its Best
Cambodia is a culturally rich country with years of history. Khmer culture was dominant during the period of the Khmer Empire from 802-1431. The country owes this cultural heritage to major religions like Hinduism and Buddhism. They are the guiding principles of Cambodian life, including language, art, lifestyle, food etc.
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.
Khmer culture strongly defines every aspect of living, such as child birth, death, childhood, marriage, divorce, food, dance, music and literature. It is based on hierarchy and the level of respect a person gets depends on their age; the older they are the higher the status. It is a patriarchal society where the father is the head of the family and one of the most noticeable things about Khmer culture is the fashion of the Cambodian people, which is dependant on the social status and caste of a person.
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.
A quintessential flavoring of Khmer food is the strong smelling fish paste used in curries. Fruit is considered a mark of abundance. One of the favorites of the Cambodians is Teuk Tnaot, a liquid from the sugar palms; however, it is not taken with meals. Khmer culture respects guests, and they are served first along with the men.
Khmer art flourished during the Angkor period. Graphic arts, performance arts and literature are the lifeline of Khmer culture. Domestic storytelling and narrative singing to the playing of a Banjo like instrument are important culturally. They have a long tradition of writing religious texts, epic poetry and royal chronicles; although, no modern text exists. Classical dance and music associated with the courts originally, enjoy a huge popularity even to this day. They have a unique way of expressing emotions through the use of hands and feet. These local traditions are kept alive by the small-time singers, theater artists and musicians.
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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categories: Khmer Culture,Cambodia,Culture,Society,Religion,Travel,Reference,Education
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