Social Customs And Traditions In Cambodia
Sociologyindex, Social Customs And Traditions, Books On Customs And Traditions, Sociology Books 2011
Family Customs in Cambodia
Most of Cambodia's population live in rural areas as farmers. In the countryside, houses
are made up of palm leaves and bamboo and are usually built on stilts to protect them from
floods that occur annually.
A rural village is made up of a group of houses that center around a Buddhist
monastery (wat).
City life for the poor, is like life in the country, except that tremendous crime and
unsanitary conditions must also be taken into effect.
Social standing is reflected by material possessions, which is apparent in wealthy
and middle-class Cambodian lifestyles.
In the rural areas, clothing is simple and material possessions are hard to come by. Women
tend to wear cotton shirts with ankle length skirts (saving their sampots for religious
festivals).
Men and women both wear a krama, a multipurpose cotton garment. It can be used as a head covering, loincloth (for bathing), and as a bag for carrying items. In the city, Cambodians usually wear Western clothing.
About 90% of Cambodians are Khmer. Vietnamese comprise 5% of the population,
Chinese 1%, and 4% are other ethnicities, including Cham Muslims. Ninety-five percent of
Cambodians follow Theravada Buddhism. The Khmer practice a blend of Buddhism and
animism.
Family is extremely important. Many have lost family members in Cambodia, and a
significant number of households are headed by females due to the civil war. Extended
family structures are the norm, with large numbers of children. Grandparents head the
family, followed by parents, aunts and uncles. Families are patriarchal, with men as
providers and women in traditional roles, their position reinforced by culture, religion,
and gender. Children are taught respect and deference to adults and authority figures.
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Culture
and Customs of Laos
by Arne Kislenko
A must-have for high school and public
library shelves, this volume reveals contemporary culture and traditions in Laos.
This all-encompassing volume offers a comprehensive look at the contemporary culture that
defines this Southeast Asian country of Laos, examining everything from Buddhist
traditions to Laotian cuisine. Coverage includes a brief history of the nation followed by
in-depth narrative chapters on religion, literature, visual and performing arts, fashion,
gender roles, everyday social customs, and more. Through illustrative descriptions of
daily life, students will learn how traditional customs have shaped contemporary life in
Laos today. Few other resources provide the same extensive coverage on current culture in
Laos. Ideal for high school students as well as general readers, Culture and Customs of
Laos is a must-have for all library shelves.
The Southeast Asian country of Laos, one of the world's last-standing communist nations,
has often been overshadowed in the international newsroom by its more dominant neighbors,
Thailand, Vietnam, and Cambodia. Among one of the most bombed countries in the world, one
that suffered much during and after the Vietnam War, Laos has been struggling economically
and politically for decades. In spite of these challenges, a rich, beautiful culture has
survived in Laos. This exhaustive volume offers a comprehensive look at the contemporary
culture that defines this seemingly quiet country, from Buddhism to Laotian cuisine.
Coverage includes a brief history of the nation followed by in-depth narrative chapters on
religion, literature, visual and performing arts, fashion, gender roles, everyday social
customs, and more. Through illustrative descriptions of daily life, students will learn
how traditional customs have shaped contemporary life in Laos today. Few other resources
provide the same extensive coverage on current culture in Laos. Ideal for high school
students as well as general readers, Culture and Customs of Laos is a must-have for all
library shelves.
Many Buddhist statues from 500 on were
created in Cambodia. These indigenous Khmer images included both sitting Buddhas, and the
standing with bent leg walking-Buddha. “There is one Buddha head, supposed to be the
earliest, from Ran lok which is often said to recall the style of 3rd century Buddhas of
Amarvati, on India’s Southeast coast. It is this resemblance which authorizes the
assumption of its early date. There is indeed resemblance; but there are also marked
differences. For this Ran lok head is a distinctively Cambodian work, with the marks of
the sophisticated Cambodian style.” [The Art of Southeast Asia, Philip Rawson]