Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Thailand and Burma) - an area populated by a mixture of
Mon
and
Khmer
peoples, the
latter a dark-skinned tribe who had migrated from the north along the Mekong, and
from whom Cambodians today trace their origins.
Virtually all that's known about ancient Funan is what can be gleaned from the scant
writings of Chinese merchants and travellers. The state is first mentioned in Chinese
chronicles of the third century, and it's known that the Funanese were an a
uent,
Indian-influenced society, living in wooden stilt-houses thatched with palm, speaking
Khmer but writing in Sanskrit. Using engineering skills learned from Indian traders,
they dug canals and developed the inland port of Angkor Borei (near present-day
Takeo in southern Cambodia); drainage and irrigation channels were cut to allow
wet-rice cultivation and provide fresh water. The Funanese also exploited their location
on trade routes between India and China: ships had to pay dues to berth and take on
fresh water, while warehouses were built to store high-value cargoes - animal hides,
rhinoceros horn, spices and gold.
Accompanying the traders arriving from India were Brahmans (Hindu priests), who
converted many Funanese to Hinduism. Rich Funanese gained merit by financing
temples, while the poor earned theirs by contributing the labour to build them. By the
fifth century, shrines had been built on Funan hilltops and kings began to add the
Indian su
x -
varman
to their name, meaning “protector”
.
Funan was partly the architect of its own downfall when, in the late fifth or early
sixth century, assuming its position to be unassailable, it increased already steep
shipping tariffs. New ports along the coast began to compete, feuds sprang up, and the
state fragmented and declined.
Chenla
In the late sixth century,
Chenla
, previously a northern dependency of Funan, gained
its independence. Details of the Chenla period are particularly sparse, and (again) such
information as there is comes from Chinese sources (the name name “Chenla” is itself
of Chinese rather than Khmer origin).
By the seventh century, all references to Funan had ceased and the kingdom of
Chenla had established itself, covering an area roughly contiguous with that of
present-day Cambodia (and also including parts of Vietnam). Around this time
Bhavavarman I
founded a capital at
Sambor Prei Kuk
, in central Cambodia. He was
succeeded by
Ishanavarman I
(reigned 610-625), who founded Ishanapura (named in
accordance with the Indian-derived custom of naming a capital by su
xing the king's
name with-
pura -
the Sanskrit word for town) and whose state-temple at Sambor Prei
Kuk became the largest in Southeast Asia. Although already elderly when he became
king, Ishanavarman seems to have succeeded in annexing many smaller states. He was
succeeded by his son,
Bhavavarman II
, about whom nothing is known.
The capital tended to change location with each new king.
Jayavarman I
(great-
grandson of Ishanavarman; reigned 635-681) ruled over an area extending at least from
Battambang to Prey Veng. Although many sanctuaries were consecrated during his reign,
none can be specifically attributed to him, and his capital has so far not been identified.
Inscriptions indicate that he was an able soldier who succeeded in extending his territory,
though he was ultimately killed by invaders, probably from Java, after which the
2nd-3rd century
Late 6th century
Increasing influence of Indian culture and religion
on Funan, with many of the region's native Khmer
converted to Hinduism. First temples built
The Khmer kingdom of Chenla asserts its independence
from Funan. Bhavavarman establishes a new capital at
Sambor Prei Kuk
