Gift Song of Sin Sisamuth

Hollywood Angkor Movie in 1965: Lord Jim

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Khmer Movie Part for Neang Kong Rey

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Khmer Movie and Song - Pheakdey Snae

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Khmer Movie: Preah Chan Korop

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Robam Khmer, "Best Artists of Cambodia in the Past!"

Sin Sisamuth and Soh Math When Alive!

Robam Pka Meas Pka Brak - Khmer Dance

King Norodom Sihanouk - Lea Heuy Kompuchea

Jayavarman VII

The Best Angkor Temple 3D

Radio Interview on Mao Sareth - Huy Meas

HAIRSTYLE OF APSARA IN THE ANGKOR ERA AS THE PEAK OF KHMER HAIR ART

Apsara is the spirit of Khmer Empire, especially Angkor City. Even though Cambodia used to go through the unstable political situation, Apsara is still the real evidence for glorious Khmer Art to stand for thousand of years for next generation Khmer artists to follow. Remarkably, all Khmer temples through out the mainland Southeast Asia include Thailand, South of Vietnam, Laos, & Cambodia consists of many Apsara dancing on the wall with much jewelry in the excellent manner of Khmer Art. However, only Apsara in Angkor City shows the special talent of Khmer Artists in Angkor Era to sculpt the Apsara on the wall of the temples with special manners. Among those special manners, the hairstyle is the most noticeable thing on Apsara Sculpture. Only Angkor Wat Temple’s Apsara Sculpture has shown many different hairstyles of Apsara in which were designed by Khmer Artist in Angkor Era. Most Apsara appears with three-top side of hairstyle. Besides that, Apsara are sculpted with five-top side, two-top side, one-top side, and only tied hair. Significantly, there is also the different design for each kind of hairstyle. For other temples through out the Khmer Kingdom as Angkor Empire, Apsara’s hairstyle, Apsara has more than three or five-top side of hairstyle. Also, the art of sculpture sometimes is different from Apsara on the wall of Angkor Wat. It is sure that Cambodia has its own identity in hairstyle since Angkor Era or before that. Therefore, there is the recommendation for Khmer Artist today to take for showing Khmer Art in modern movie or show with the innovative ideas to adapt these hairstyles to the modern influence into new manners. For example, Khmer modern artists could take the techniques of Apsara hairstyles to follow in the modern art just without wearing jewelry as Apsara. All Apsara hairstyle is so good for modernized hairstyle. It is believed to be the best way to reduce foreign influence and to show the real style of Khmer Art to the world. The picture below shows the different hairstyle of Apsara:

Khmer Kingdom and Her People

Smile! Smile! Smile! (Friendliness of Khmer People)

Khmer Village Along the River near Wat Phnom in 1866

Cambodia, Kingdom of Wonder, locates in the Indochina Peninsula of the Southeast Asia Area. Nowadays, Cambodia covers the area of 181,035 km² and her border is along with Thailand in the west and north, Laos in the north, Vietnam in the east and southeast, and the Gulf of Thailand in the southwest. Cambodia used to be the most powerful kingdom, “Angkor Kingdom”, in Southeast Asia Region from 9^th to 15^th century that covered all the territory of Cambodia, most of Thailand, Laos, & the South part of Vietnam (Kampuchea Krom); the Gulf of Thailand, some part of Andaman Sea, and some part of South China Sea today. After Angkor era, this Kingdom was also known for her strong power again in Longvek Era, but it was damaged again by Siam (Thai) in 1594. 

Khmer is people for this kingdom. However, today Khmer is separated between the lost and remained territory. Majority of Khmer people are living in their own country “Cambodia”. Anyway, there are also millions of Khmer remain in the former territory of Angkor Kingdom around Cambodia. 

First, millions of Khmer, called “Khmer Sorin”, are living in Southeast territory of Thailand today such as Sorin, Nakhon ratchasima, Chanthaburi, Trat, Rayong, Nakhon Nayok, Srah Keo, Sisaket, Burirum, Yasothon, Oubun rachathani, Roiet, Chonburi, Lopburi, chaiyaphum, Mohasarakam, Amnatcharoen, Saraburi, Nonthaburi, etc. In fact, there are Khmer living in other provinces in Thailand, but they absorbed into Thai people like Sukhothai as example. Actually, Khmer temples remain in such provinces that Khmer are living and some other provinces like Sukhothai, Kanchanaburi, Khon Kaen, Sakon Nakhon, Phetchaburi, Lamphon, Kamphaengphet, Phisanulok, Phichit, Singburi, Nakhon Phanom, Ayuthyea, Nakhon Sawan, Uthaithani, Suphanburi, Lampang, Phrae, Samut Songkhram, Nongkhai, Udon thani, Nongbua Lamprio, etc. 

Second, in Laos, there are also Khmer people living in the south provinces, especially in Champasak. The main famous Khmer temple in these provinces is Wat Phu Temple, “the former Khmer capital in Chenla Era”. Obviously, Angkor Kingdom used to control all the territory of Laos today with her strong power. 

Finally, around 8 millions (Statistics in 2009 from Khmer Krom Federation’s Website) of Khmer, called “Khmer Krom”, are living in their own territory under Vietnamese Government’s control in the south of Vietnam. Khmer territory in this area include Mesor, Kuohkaung, Prey Nokor (Hochiminh City today), Peam Banteay Meas, Kromuon Sor, Teuk Khmao (Chroy of Cambodia in the French Map during French Colonial), Moat Chruk, Khleang, Long Hor, Prek Reussey, Kompong Reussey, Ou Kab, Preah Suorkea, Preah Trapeang, Pul Leav, Tuol Tamouk, Kompong Srokatrey (Changva Trapeang), Rong Damrey, Phsa Dek, Svay Taung, Peam Bareach, Chmouh Thmey, most part of Kontum & Dalat Plateau, and other islands, especially two large islands include Koh Tral (in front of Kampot Province of Cambodia today) and Koh Trolach. Furthermore, there are many Khmer Temple through out this territory, but most of them are broken down gradually. However, until now Vietnamese government has changed these entire Khmer name into Vietnamese name instead. 

Additionally, besides these areas, there are also some Khmer people living in the rest of the world after they fled from their homeland during the war such as Khmer Community in USA, Australia, France, Canada, Malaysia, etc. Even though Khmer people are living in different places, they still firmly continue their ancestors’ culture, language, tradition, religion, lifestyle, food, songs & music, etc. Unfortunately, Khmer Krom people are facing the restriction from Vietnamese government in continuing their culture, tradition, religion, language, lifestyle, and education in the pagoda. And one more problem between Vietnamese government and Khmer Krom today is the land conflict caused by the Vietnamese government and Vietnamese people confiscating the land of Khmer Krom for agriculture in some provinces that have continued since the control of Kampuchea Krom by Vietnam in 1949. 

In Short, there is a hope that in the future Khmer people who are living in different places will keep the good relationship with each other to improve the culture of Khmer towards the development of the bright future. Finally, there is just a request to appeal the Vietnamese government not to restrict too much on Khmer Krom in practice what they want because Khmer Krom people need only high living standard, development, and peace as Vietnamese people.

By: POK Panhavuth