Figure 1.--Angor Wat in estern Cambodiawas built as Hindu religious complex by the Kymer Empire (12th century). It was converted to Buddhist temples (13 century). Cambodia has since been aargely Buddhist contry, except after the Vietnam War when the Kymer Rouge (1975-79) disrobed and murdered Budhist monk and religious scholars. These boy monks were photographed at Ankor Wat (2009).

India has played a major role in the development of Canbodian religion. Both Hindism and Buddhism originated in India. Hinduism is the traditional abcient religion of India. Buddhism originated in what is now northern India and Nepal (6th century BC). China is closer to Cambodia than India, but it was sea routes that carried trade and ideas like religion. The first organized relgion to reach Cambodia was Buddhism. Until then the population was primitive animists. The early Buddhist influence was missionaries sent by Indian King Ashoka. Hinduism was, however, promoted by the Funan kings (100 BC and 500 AD). Buddhism declined during the Chenla era (500-700 AD). Then a change occurred with Buddhism eventually becoming the dominant religion. Cambodia's transition from worshiping the The Hindu god-king to Mahayana bodhisattva-king appears to have been very gradual, probably inperceptable at the time. Both religions were tolerant, unlike the violent Christian Islamic divide in the West. There was a competuion, but not a violent one. But the once dominant Vaishnavite and Shaivite traditions shifted to the worship of the Gautama Buddha and the Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara. The Buddhist Sailendra kingdom gained contol of Cambodia as a vassal state (late-8th century AD). King Jayavarman II , the first real king of the Kymer Empire, proclaimed himself a god-king and identified himself with Shiva (9th century). Despite this Hindu orientation, he became recptive to Mahayana Buddhist influences. And as a result, Buddhism was beginning to replace Hinduism as Cambodia's principal religion. Ankor Wat, the largest religious complex in the world, was built as a Hindu shrine (12th century). It was converted into Buddhist temples (13th century). Since that time, Theravada Buddhism has not only been the dominant religion, but Cambodia’s state religion--except during the Kymer Rouge period. The principal religion in Cambodia is Theravada Buddhism. Buddhist thought is often complicated. The idea of lighting involves many consequences. Theravada Buddhism is more attentive to the good of others and thus more tolerant. This tolerant, non-prescriptive religion coexits with other religions like Hinduism and Shintoism. A core precepts require that each individual must take responsibility for his personal actions and failures. Theravada accepts as canonical the Prajnaparamita Sutra and the Lotus Sutra. The French introduced Christianity (9th century), but Buddhism is the dominant religion--about 85 pervent of Cambodiams are Buddhists. Theravada is one of the three great schools or vehicles/paths of Buddhism. It is applied to the Śrāvakayāna, the Buddhist path followed by a śrāvaka (a hearer or disciple as used in both Buddhism and Jainism) who desires to reach arhat status -- a perfected person who has attained nirvana. The term began to be used early after the foundation of Buddhism in Southeast Asia (about the first or second century AD). For nearly two mellennia it played an important role in Cambodian life. Theravada is often contrasted with Mahāyāna, which means the 'Great Vehicle'. The Kymer Rouge like all Communists were hostile to religion. They attempted to stamp out Buddhism. All monks that they could identified were disrobed and murdered. Most religious scholars were also murdered, the only survivors were those who managed to flle into exile. Any attempt at religious worship could get you killed by the Kymer Rouge. There is an ethnic character to religion in Cambodia. Virtually all ethnic Kymers (90 percen of the popiulation) and many non-Kymers adhere to Theravada Buddhism. There are two small ethnic-based Muslim communities, the Cham and the Malay, perhaps 3 percent of the population. Anout the same proprtio of the populations are Christians. And Christian missionaries are active. In the northeast of Cambodia, many of the tribal non-Kymer people practice animist religions.

Chronology

India has played a major role in the development of Canbodian religion. Both Hindism and Buddhism originated in India. Hinduism is the traditional abcient religion of India. Buddhism originated in what is now northern India and Nepal (6th century BC). China is closer to Cambodia than India, but it was sea routes that carried trade and ideas like religion. The first organized relgion to reach Cambodia was Buddhism. Until then the population was primitive animists. The early Buddhist influence was missionaries sent by Indian King Ashoka. Hinduism was, however, promoted by the Funan kings (100 BC and 500 AD). Buddhism declined during the Chenla era (500-700 AD). Then a change occurred with Buddhism eventually becoming the dominant religion. Cambodia's transition from worshiping the The Hindu god-king to Mahayana bodhisattva-king appears to have been very gradual, probably inperceptable at the time. Both religions were tolerant, unlike the violent Christian Islamic divide in the West. There was a competuion, but not a violent one. But the once dominant Vaishnavite and Shaivite traditions shifted to the worship of the Gautama Buddha and the Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara. The Buddhist Sailendra kingdom gained contol of Cambodia as a vassal state (late-8th century AD). King Jayavarman II , the first real king of the Kymer Empire, proclaimed himself a god-king and identified himself with Shiva (9th century). Hinduism was one of the Khmer Empire’s official religions. Despite this Hindu orientation, he became recptive to Mahayana Buddhist influences. And as a result, Buddhism was beginning to replace Hinduism as Cambodia's principal religion. Ankor Wat, the largest religious complex in the world, was built as a Hindu shrine (12th century). It is the only complex dedicated to Brahma. It was converted into Buddhist temples (13th century). Since that time, Theravada Buddhism has not only been the dominant religion, but Cambodia’s state religion--except during the Kymer Rouge period. The Kymer Rouge like all Communists were hostile to religion. They attempted to stamp out Buddhism. All monks that they could identified were disrobed and murdered. Most religious scholars were also murdered, the only survivors were those who managed to flle into exile. Any attempt at religious worship could get you killed by the Kymer Rouge.

Faiths

The principal religion in Cambodia is Theravada Buddhism. This is similar to the situation in Thailand, Burma, Sri Lanka. Buddhist thought is often complicated. The idea of lighting involves many consequences. Theravada Buddhism is more attentive to the good of others and thus more tolerant. This tolerant, non-prescriptive religion coexits with other religions like Hinduism and Shintoism. A core precepts require that each individual must take responsibility for his personal actions and failures. Theravada accepts as canonical the Prajnaparamita Sutra and the Lotus Sutra. The French introduced Christianity (9th century), but Buddhism is the dominant religion--about 85 pervent of Cambodiams are Buddhists. Theravada is one of the three great schools or vehicles/paths of Buddhism. It is applied to the Śrāvakayāna, the Buddhist path followed by a śrāvaka (a hearer or disciple as used in both Buddhism and Jainism) who desires to reach arhat status -- a perfected person who has attained nirvana. The term began to be used early after the foundation of Buddhism in Southeast Asia (about the first or second century AD). For nearly two mellennia it played an important role in Cambodian life. Theravada is often contrasted with Mahāyāna, which means the 'Great Vehicle'. The Cambodian approach to Buddhism has been describe as 'relaxed'. For the most part thee is not daily or evenkly participation in religious services. Cambodians commonly visit the Buddhist pagodas for the major holidays, such as Pchum Ben (Ancestor’s Day). For ,any this is the extent of their formal religious practive. Few Cambodians seem to abstain from all of the Five Precepts of Buddhist belief (prohibiting killing, stealing, fornication, lying, and drinking). While Cambodians may not follow all of the Buddhist rules, Cambodians, they mostly continue to accept reincarnation and the idea that one’s status is based on their behavior and actions informer reincarnations. One author suggests this is why many Cambodins treat dogs so badly. Anout 3 percent of the population is Muslim and about the the same proprtio are Christians. Muslim are primarily fomd amomg the Cham and Malay people. One report suggests that the number of Muslims is now growing among Kymer Cambodians in the capital and provinces. The first significant numbers of Christians came during the French colonial period. Western Christian missionaries are today active in Cambodia. There is now little trace left of Hinduim in Camodia, except archeological. While Hinduism is no longer practiced in Cambodia, it has influences Khmer Buddhist practices, including weddings, funerals, and the use of astrology in determining auspicious dates for important events. Traditional animisim survives among the tribal people. And while it is no common among ethnic Kymers today, Cambodian Buddhism has beem influenced by traitional practices. This includes varios aspects of ancestor worship, shamanism, and animism that predated both Buddhism and Hinduism. Cambodian homes and even temples) commonly have traditional amimist spirit houses. Theseare sn to appease bad spirits and protect the homes’ residents. Most Cambodians, especially in rural area, believe in ghosts and spirits. There are many varied folk tales about both sorcery and ghosts that many Khmers even today accept as fact.

Ethnicity

There is an ethnic character to religion in Cambodia. Virtually all ethnic Kymers (90 percen of the popiulation) and many non-Kymers adhere to Theravada Buddhism. There are two small ethnic-based Muslim communities, the Cham and the Malay, perhaps 3 percent of the population. In the northeast of Cambodia, many of the tribal non-Kymer people practice animist religions. Daoism and Confuism are practiced among Cambodia's Chinese minority.

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Created: 2:29 AM 10/24/2015
Last updated: 2:29 AM 10/24/2015