The history of Cambodian art (Khmer: សិល្បៈខ្រ) stretches back centuries to ancient times, but the

most famous period is undoubtedly the Khmer art of the Khmer Empire (802–1431), especially in the
area around Angkor and the 12th-century temple-complex of Angkor Wat, initially Hindu and
subsequently Buddhist. After the collapse of the empire, these and other sites were abandoned and
overgrown, allowing much of the era’s stone carving and architecture to survive to the present day.
Traditional Cambodian arts and crafts include textiles, non-textile weaving, silversmithing, stone carving,
lacquerware, ceramics, wat murals, and kite-making.

A stone carving at Banteay Srei of goddessTilottama, an Angkorian temple consecrated in 967 CE.

Beginning in the mid-20th century, a tradition of modern art began in Cambodia, though in the later 20th
century both traditional and modern arts declined for several reasons, including the killing of artists by
the Khmer Rouge. The country has experienced a recent artistic revival due to increased support from
governments, NGOs, and foreign tourists.

In pre-colonial Cambodia, art and crafts were generally produced either by rural non-specialists for
practical use or by skilled artists producing works for the Royal Palace. In modern Cambodia, many
artistic traditions entered a period of decline or even ceased to be practiced, but the country has
experienced a recent artistic revival as the tourist market has increased and governments and NGOs
have contributed to the preservation of Cambodian culture.

Cambodian culture

Cambodian culture and tradition have had a rich varied history dating back many centuries. Over the
years, the people of Cambodia developed a set of unique tradition from the syncretism of indigenous
Buddhism and Hinduism.

Cambodians have been raised to respect their culture and are very traditional in their way of life. Tourists
will see the well-mannered Cambodian expressing a friendly “Chumreap Suor” when they meet one.

Cambodians traditionally greet with a Sampeah, which involves pressing the palms together before the
chest with a slight bow and greeting with a polite ‘Chumreap Suor’. Customarily, the higher the hands
are held and the lower the bow, the more respect is conveyed. Except when meeting elderly people or
government officials, between men, this custom has been partially replaced by the handshake. Women
usually greet both men and women with the same traditional greeting. Although it may be considered
acceptable for foreigners to shake hands with a Cambodian, it is more appropriate to respect the custom
and respond with a ‘Chumreap Suor’.

Traditional Dances

Eagle Cambodia Travel-tranditional danceThere are many classical dance forms in Cambodia, of which a
highly stylized art form was once confined mainly to the courts of the royal palace and performed mainly
by females. Known formally in Khmer as Robam Apsara, the dancers of this classical form are often
referred to as Apsara dancers.

This dance form was first introduced to foreign countries and best known during the 1960s as the Khmer
Royal Ballet. The first royal ballerina was Princess Norodom Bopha Devi, a daughter of King Norodom
Sihanouk.
The Apsara Dance Is particularly inspired by the style from around more than a thousand Apsara carvings
in the Angkor temple complex. As evidenced in part by these Apsaras (celestial dancers), dance has been
part of the Khmer culture for more than a millennium.

A visit to Cambodia Is only complete when one has attended at least one such traditional dance
performance.

There are many classical dance forms in Cambodia, of which a highly stylized art form was once confined
mainly to the courts of the royal palace and performed mainly by females. Known formally in Khmer as
Robam Apsara, the dancers of this classical form are often referred to as Apsara dancers.

This dance form was first introduced to foreign countries and best known during the 1960s as the Khmer
Royal Ballet. The first royal ballerina was Princess Norodom Bopha Devi, a daughter of King Norodom
Sihanouk.

The Apsara Dance Is particularly inspired by the style from around more than a thousand Apsara carvings
in the Angkor temple complex. As evidenced in part by these Apsaras (celestial dancers), dance has been
part of the Khmer culture for more than a millennium.

A visit to Cambodia is only complete when one has attended at least one such traditional dance
performance.

Traditional Cambodian weddings are intricate affairs that consist of multiple ceremonies lasting three
days and three nights. The wedding begins with the groom and his family traveling to the bride’s home
bearing gifts to the bride’s family as dowry. Family members and friends are introduced, and wedding
rings exchanged. Customarily, three traditional songs accompany this first segment; the first song
announcing the arrival of the groom and the next is on the presentation of the dowry followed by a final
song to invite the elders to chew Betel Nut, an age-old Khmer tradition. Then it is the Tea Ceremony, at
which the bride and groom offer tea to the spirits of their ancestors.

To prepare the bride and groom for their life as a married couple, their hair must then be symbolically
cut to represent a fresh start to their new relationship together as husband and wife. The master of
ceremony performs the first symbolic hair cut; the bride and groom’s parents, relatives, and friends then
take turn to symbolically cut the bride and groom’s hair and give them blessing and good wishes.

The finale is the most memorable segment of the wedding. Family members and friends take turns to tie
the bride’s and groom’s left and right wrists with ‘blessing strings’. The praises and wishes of happiness,
good health, success, prosperity, and long-lasting love are acknowledged and witnessed by the loud
sound of the gong and joyful cheers. Then, they throw palm flowers over the new couple accompanied
by a traditional song. After the couple is pronounced husband and wife, the groom holds the bride’s
fabric into the bridal room accompanied by a traditional song.

At the close of this wedding ceremony, all of the guests are invited to a wedding reception accompanied
by an orchestral concert. The Khmer wedding is a rowdy and joyous event.
Nowadays most families reduce the three-day and three-night ritual to a one-day affair.

Cambodia Brief History

Information:

Cambodia’s culture has its roots in the 1st to 6th centuries, in a state called Funan, which is also the oldest
Indianised state in Southeast Asia. Funan gave way to the Angkor Empire with the rise to power of King
Jayavarman II in AD802. The following 600 years saw powerful Khmer kings dominate much of present-
day Southeast Asia, from the borders of Myanmar east to the South China Sea and north to Laos.

Cambodia’s language, part of the Mon-Khmer family, evolved during this period. It contains elements of
Sanskrit, the classical language of Hinduism and Buddhism. Historians have noted that Cambodians can
be distinguished from their neighbours by their clothing – checkered scarves known as karmas are worn
instead of straw hats.

It was during this period that the Khmer kings built the most extensive concentration of religious
temples in the world – the Angkor temple complex. This complex covers an area of 400 sq km in the
province of Siem Reap. The area contains more than 100 temples and there are more than 1,080
temples across the country.

The most successful of the Angkorian kings, Jayavarman II and Jayavarman I, Suryavarman II and
Jayavarman VII, also devised a masterpiece of ancient engineering: a sophisticated irrigation system that
includes a number of baray (gigantic manmade lakes) and canals that ensured as many as 3 rice crops a
year. Part of this system is still in use today.

As the Angkor period ended, Cambodia’s capital moved south to Longvek, then to Oudong, and finally to
the present-day capital of Phnom Penh. Among the main features of the post-Angkorean era, besides the
movement of the capital, was a widespread conversion to Theravada Buddhism, illustrated in temple
carvings, where Buddhist features gradually replaced Hindu features.

The 15th to 17th centuries represented a time of foreign influence, when expansionist Siam and Vietnam
fought over Cambodia. By the mid-1800s, Cambodia, like most other countries in Asia, came under
increasing pressure from European colonial powers. In 1863, King Norodom signed a Protectorate Treaty
with France.

In 1945, the Japanese briefly ousted the French. Encouraged, King Sihanouk campaigned tirelessly and in
1953 he succeeded in winning independence for Cambodia, effectively ending 90 years under French
protectorate. King Sihanouk abdicated the throne to his father and took the reins of government himself
as head of state.
Throughout the 1950s and ‘60s, Cambodia was self-sufficient and prospered in many areas. However, the
quagmire of a growing war in Vietnam spread relentlessly and in 1970, as war spilt over into Cambodia,
Prince Sihanouk was overthrown by General Lon Nol.

On 17 April 1975, Lon Nol’s weak-ended government was itself overthrown by the Khmer Rouge. They
immediately emptied the capital of its residents and brought Prince Sihanouk back, only to hold him
under house arrest. The ensuing four years “Reign of Terror” under Pol Pot’s Democratic Kampuchea
resulted in the deaths of an estimated 1.7 million people.

Photo by Marco Verch (CC BY 2.0) modified

In 1979, the Khmer Rouge was overthrown and the Vietnamese-backed People’s Republic of Kampuchea
was established. In 1989 the Vietnamese withdrew the last of their troops and the government renamed
the country State of Cambodia (SOC).

The SOC ruled independently until the Paris Peace Agreement of 1991 created the United Nations
Transitional Authority (UNTAC). Supported by the presence of some 22,000 UN troops, UNTAC
supervised general elections in Cambodia in May 1993. A second general election was held in 1998.

Cambodia today enjoys a parliamentary system with one prime minister. A constitution was adopted in
1993, the same year King Norodom Sihanouk returned to the throne. His Majesty remains a symbol of
national unity to his people.

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