The Chinese-Khmer Relations

The purpose of this paper is to seek the understanding of the positive relations between the ethnic Chinese minority and the majority Khmer in Cambodia.

Even though, Cambodia is evidently Indian in customs, culture, and influences, it is the Chinese imperial records that provided additional corroborated historical important events for the modern Khmer people to trace the links of their past. Chinese came to know ancient Cambodia through Khmer embassies and trade missions as early as the 3rd century.

For a religion-related purpose work, Khmer Buddhist monks named Nagasena (year 484), Mandrasena (year 503) and another unknown monk were sent from the Khmer court to translate Buddhist texts for the Chinese imperial court.
Also, Khmer military forces were known to accompany the Chinese forces against the Chinese enemies. In addition, different Khmer monarchs and their family members had been “guests of the Emperor” of the Chinese court.

What is interesting to note furthermore is the various Khmer legends (traditional stories) that included the ancient Chinese as characters and China as one of the settings. It is possible that these Khmer legends have survived through time to attest to the long forgotten relations between the Chinese and the Khmer people in the ancient past.

The very last ancient Khmer embassy to reach Chinese imperial court was in 1128, and the very last ancient Chinese imperial visit to Cambodia was in the 13th century. After that the two countries lost contact with each other, as Cambodia became the victim of their aggressive predatory surrounding neighbors.

However, the remaining ethnic Chinese minority in Cambodia had blended in with the Khmer people since the longest time. According to the last Chinese imperial emissary Zhou Daguan who visited Angkor Wat in the 13th century, a great many Chinese sailors took up permanent residence in Cambodia and married the native Khmer women.

The bond between China and Cambodia was eventually reestablished and strengthened again when Prince Sihanouk of Cambodia in July 1958 ended China’s isolation in the 1960’s by protesting for the seating of the People’s Republic of China at the United Nations. As a result, Chinese leaders have never forgotten Cambodia’s contribution to bring about the inclusion of China in the world community. The late Chinese premier Zhou Enlai even advised the Chinese in Cambodia to become Cambodian citizens and respect Cambodian laws, customs, and religions.

However, even before Zhou Enlai’s urging, Cambodia’s Chinese have adopted Khmer cultural practices such as visiting pagoda and commemorating various Khmer celebrations. In addition, historically from the 13th to the 19th centuries, Cambodia’s Chinese had the same legal rights as other Khmer. The Chinese could become provincial Khmer governors. In general, Khmer admired the Chinese qualities of industriousness and prudence. Cambodia’s Chinese were experts at tax collecting and organizing fish and rice trades. In addition, they were the only foreign inhabitants that were approved for monopolies in alcohol and fishing.

Mr.Yang Hao, a historian of Cambodia’s Chinese community, said “Chinese physically resembled Khmer people, …and in the countryside, they lived in conditions very similar to their Khmer neighbors.” In addition, Hao said, “Khmer people really admired the Chinese diligence and sacrifice” for building many of Cambodia’s first roads. The Khmer do not distinguish the culturally distinctive Chinese as a threat. During the Khmer Rouge regime (supported by China), Cambodia’s Chinese experienced the same suffering the way Khmer did.

However, China’s failure to rescue ethnic Chinese lives during the Pol Pot era saddened Cambodia’s Chinese. As a result, Cambodia’s Chinese replaced their traditional ethnic Chinese self-description as “hua qiao”—overseas Chinese---with a new name jyanbuzai huaren---Cambodian Chinese.

OhWell

Another intresting article, I enjoyed reading it.

Re: Jiangpuzai

I am wondering why the Chinese-Cambodians call Cambodia a "pu" (a city quarter) and a "zai" (a camp)?

.
speaking of that, there's a bas-relief depicting chinese soldiers marching with khmer soldiers to the battlefield.

click link: http://www.pbase.com/image/4484359

Chinese-Khmer Relations. It could be!!

As my personality. I really don't understand whats my origin come from! Because, My Dad and Mom were related to Cambodia, Viet and China. Both of them spoken triple Languages.

The most people who were living in my home-town. They're communicated with each others by using triple languages. Any way, the more languages we can speak, the more relationships we can deals. And No one will be discriminate to us.

BachMaSon,

RockHeart.
:genius:

To Menikani,

Thank you for your reading of the post and your positive comment.


To "AngkorWat19",

Thank you so much for reference link to the the bas-relief showing the Chinese soldiers walking shoulder to shoulder with the Khmer troops. This is a new information for me, and it will surely serve to provide more evidence of the Khmer and Chinese relations in the ancient past.

To Doan Du,

Thank you for your wonderful question. However, since that particular information in my post was extracted from the English-language PhonmPenhPost, I ask you to examine it closer this time. It is perhaps quite two distinctive Chinese words altogether.

You wrote "Jiangpuzai", while the term I referred to is "jyanbuzai huaren", which the PhnomPenhPost translated it to be "Cambodian Chinese".


To RockHeart,

Thank you for sharing a bit of yourself. Wow, so you claim three countries and can speak three languages. I admire your multilingual ability. Best wishes to you.

To one and to all,
FKR

Wow I didn't know that! I thought he said Khmer ugly because of our dark skin???

Wow I didn't know that! I thought he said Khmer ugly because of our dark skin???

but nevertheless the Khmer and Chinese has been getting along very much!!!

Hiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii Kambolizhuz,

Long time no chat. How have you been? Thank you for the comment. Yeah, what was up with that pale-skinned Chinese dude Zhou Daguan! Actually, Zhou Daguan did a great job in leaving us the details of everyday Khmer people and lives during our last moment of declining glory. We Khmer should be grateful for his important recorded objectivity of the ancient Khmer society.

However, regarding his ethnocentric subjectivity, we should care less. It doesn't matter. If according to the guy the Khmer were "ugly and dark skinned", then why did many Chinese sailors abandoned "glorious China" to marry the Khmer women and live in ancient Cambodia? What is also interesting to note is that Zhou Daguan himself also said that the Khmer women who lived in the palace and got shielded from the sun had very light skin color.

We should not be bothered by anyone's subjective view on our skin color. We are who we are the way we are born. Skin color is just one of the human features that had evolved to adapt to the environment. It serves to protect our survival interest.

Next time, I will post a scientific discovery of the truth regarding the different human complexion and hair textures. Thank you for triggering the idea.

Until Next Time,
FKR

Dark Skins, but it is so sweet...to compare others!! I love that styles!!
Especially, when they wear Sarong and wear"Ao Buk Co Chom Ho Dum Trung"Can we change the color skin??...Hehehehehe...Any way, its good custome.

BachMaSon,

RockHeart.
:genius:

Hi FKR,

I am following the Pinyin system which is the standardized method of writing Chinese in alphabet. I think the PhnomPenh Post might not be familiar with it. In any case, I am sure they meant Jiang and not Jyan.

Chinese is monosyllabic, so Jiangbuzai Huaren is actually 5 words.

Jiang (Mandarin) or Kan (Cantonese) = To explain, to say
Pu (Mandarin) or Bu (Cantonese) = City quarter, plaza
Zai (Mandarin ) or Tsai (Cantonese) = Camp, field quarter

Hua (Mandarin) or Hwa (Cantonese)= Chinese (or flower)
Ren (Mandarin) or Yan (Cantonese) = Person, human being

oh, interesting.........................news

It's Jianpuzai, not "Jiang"puzai.