I disagree with Penny Edwards, Cambodge: The Cultivation of a Nation 1860-1945, in almost all her significant points/fronts - the origin of the term of "cambodia", angkor complex emerges the central icon of modern Khmer nationalism etc.
In my view, " Kampuchea/cambodia" has been used from at least 6th century.
Angkor vat being used as a national icon and pride pre-dated the french colonial power in Cambodia. Evidence in point. One of th first things King Ang duong did when he came to the throne, was, in 1846, to print money/coins with Angkor vat inscribed in the coins (prak prasad, as was known) with the inscription of the word " Indadpatha" (Angkor) in the doorway. On another coin, the King had the word "preah dambang" inscribed on it (preah dambang (sacred baton) is correct name/spelling of the province. Batdambang is a Thai accent of Pra (preah) dambang. Prah, spoken thai, pa/ba + dambang( ba/pa dambang < badambang). The original name of the province from Angkor era was vra tamvvang: (Preah neatr preah inscription). The two provinces were under Siam's suzerainty at the time (before french). Angkor was used as national (nationalist) pride/symbol against Siam and Vietnam.
Cambodge: The Cultivation of a Nation 1860-1945 is a good read though, considering she is relatively a "newcomer".
More later.
regards Bora touch
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Kamb/v/uja may have been used in the 6th century, but 'Cambodia' is strictly a modern term.
Michael Vickery
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Lok kru thom Michael Vickery,
My comments then are misplaced. I read Penny Adward's Cambodge some time ago and I forgot when she said "Cambodia" was first used. If my recollection does not betray me, she said "Cambodia" is of s 19th century invent/appellation.
That said, the first time "Cambodia" was used was by the Dutch in 17th century; "Cambodia" appears on European maps by Jan Jasson, 1635 and Dudley, 1665; John Seller, 1667; and by Da Vgnola, 1688; and Van Keulen, 1680. : (Alfon Van Der Kraan, Murder and Mayhem in 7th century Cambodia.); Dutch texts in Jerenias Van Vlet, The Short History of the Kings of Siam (1640)
Alexander Hamilton, who visited srok khmer in 1720, Called the country "Cambodia" and its people "Cambodians".
"Camboja" first appeared in a letter of 1513 from King Samuel to Pope Leo X. And Tome Pires mentioned "Camboja" in 1515: The Suma Oriental of Tome Pire -1512-1515; and on the map by Giacomo Gastaldi (of Italia), 1548;
and "Camboya" on map by G.B. Ramusio, 1554 and the map by Matellus 1596; "Camboia" on the map of Girolamo Olgiato, 1561 and 1570 and on the map by Abramham Ortelius, 1570 and on the map of P. Plancius (Dutch) 1594; and Antonio Sanches, 1641; also "Camboya" on the map of Gerard Mercator, 1569.
"Camboye" on the map by Jean Batiste Nolin (French), 1687; "Camboya" on the map by Simon de la Loubere, 1688.
"Cambodge" appears on early 19th century French maps/language.
If "Cambodia" by the Dutch in 1600s is regarded is as "modern" (use), then I am with you. If Penny Edwards refers to "Cambodia" as being of the 19th century "production, then the misplacement is hers.
Respectfully, Bora Touch
9 comments:
battambang is a khmer word meaning "lost stick", e.g. bat means "lost", and dambang(tambang) means "stick" or "club". there was legend for this name if you going into the history of battambang. remember too that many khmer names are spelled in french way, but if you listen to how the native khmer speak, it is different from the spelling here. the same with kratie, in khmer we say "kracheh" not kratie, but again cambodia just want to stick with the conventional spelling, that's all! it's always best to listen to how the native khmer say them because the spelling was created during french colonial era. the real khmer accent or sounds are really different from the actual spelling in english, if you ask any khmer person including me, you know!
The legend of ta dambang kranhuong and chau phjea krek, losing baton/dambang, is a post angkorian produce, which some had used it to justify the place's name, Batdambong.
The original name from Angor times, was vra tamvong (Prah/preah Dambang). as Mr. Bora Touch pointed out.
preah dambong in khmer accent or sounds! i guess in old khmer, preah was vra. you know, cambodia language have different era to it as well. we have the ancient khmer language, the old khmer language and the modern or new khmer langauge, all derived from each other, but still comprehensible to khmer people.
Dr. Bora Touch, you mentioned Alexander Hamilton, is he the guy who assist General Washington in American Revolution, and then later appointed as the first American secretary of treasury (The guy on US$10 note)?
Indeed, it is that Alexander Hamilton. He was a merchant traveling through the East and Cambodia in the late 1600s.
He attempted to establish trading relationship with the King of Cambodia, but at the time, most of what Cambodia can trade had been ravaged by War with Siam.
The King of Cambodia was also under the protectorate of the King of Vietnam - which means trade relationship had to be approved by the Vietnam court before Cambodia could accept.
Very tragic, we have been stuck and held hostage between these two ambitious states since the late 1500s.
To keep away all foreign players in Cambodia's politics only when Cambodia is STRONG and DETERMINE. All because of Vietnam's policy of expansionism for which China do not want to see and thus China has to get involved to minimize their quite aggression internally with the support of Hun Sen government and his ignorant ass kisser followers.
Thailand sees Cambodia at its weak also trying to seize the opportunity. So the minutes Cambodia is STRONG, you will see less of these foreign players in our country.
Vietnam also trying to buy time so status of limitation of 100 years to expire for Khmer Kampuchea Krom.
Vietnam is NOT helping Cambodia, they help themselves and Hun Sen government who being blinded/drown by power and stolen wealth but forgetting the long term consequences for the nation. This is another chapter of ignorant Khmer leaders...
the key is for khmer people from all walks of life to be our own advocates, to be proactive in changing and reforming our country, etc, etc, ok!
that's an interest piece of american and cambodian history that the one of the greatest american statesmen of that time, the founder fathers of america, alexander hamilton tried to contract and establish american trade with cambodia at the time of america becoming a new nation. i did not know that aspect of history. thanks mr. bora touch for research into it and learn about it from history. it means a lot to cambodia and khmer history because america wanted to establish contact with cambodia since before french colonial time in cambodia. and we know cambodia then was occupied by viet/youn thugs and siem thugs, of course. that was history, it shows a weal cambodia of the time! well, that was way after the angkor civilization decline. anyway...
i read somewhere that president lincoln also made diplomat contact with cambodia during his presidency.
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