Religion and culture of Cambodia. Cambodia

Since the 14th century, after Hinayana Buddhism began to spread widely in Cambodia, the main trends in the development of Cambodian literature were determined. Buddhist monasteries became the main cultural centers. This trend continued into the 16th and 19th centuries. As literary language in modern times, the Khmer language became widely used. Texts were written either on palm leaves or rice paper.

The most notable works of Khmer literature of that period was the "Ramke", which was a national version of the presentation of the ancient Indian "Ramayana". Apparently, it was created over a long period of time, from the 15th to the 18th centuries. Some experts consider it a monument, Khmer national culture because it is very different from the original.

At the heart of many literary works lay plots Jatak and there was a new literary genre sastra lbaeng, combining elements of secular and religious principles, in form very similar to fairy tales. He was very popular among the Khmer population until the end of the 19th century.

In modern times, poetic works also appeared, in particular, religious poetry, in which, in art form Buddhist moral principles. In religious literature, a genre of teachings for various social groups appears, in which advice was given on the rules of behavior in society, effective management housekeeping, observance of moral standards, etc.

In the 19th century poetry becomes widespread. The most famous poetic work was the poem "Kakei", written by King Ang Duong, in which, as a fundamental, the idea of ​​the inevitability of punishing a person for committed unseemly acts was carried out.

By the beginning of the New Age, after the transfer of the capital from Angkor to Phnom Penh, a decline in the construction of stone structures begins. Throughout this period, Angkor was gradually destroyed; overgrown with jungle and was rediscovered to the world by the French only at the end of the 19th century, raising the Khmers in their own eyes as a nation that created one of the most significant religious buildings in the history of mankind.

Architecture, sculpture and painting, as in other states of the Buddhist world, developed under the strong influence of the Buddhist religion. Many Buddhist monasteries and wooden palaces were built for the Khmer elite.

Since the end of the 19th century, under the influence of the French, Cambodian architecture has been penetrated European traditions, which leads to the creation of structures that combine elements of traditional and Western styles. A typical example of this kind of architecture is the building of the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh.

The theatrical art of the Khmer harmoniously combined elements of music, dance and verbal commentary of what was happening on the stage. Originating in ancient times, it continued its development in modern times.

In the 18th century, Khmer classical ballet was revived, which originated from folk dance and was interrupted in development in the XV-XVIII centuries. due to the Thai invasion, which led to the forced deportation of Cambodian dancers to Ayutthaya. His main plots were taken from the poem "Ramke". The dancers performed accompanied by musicians and a women's choir. Each new scene was preliminarily commented aloud by a special reciter. Every gesture of the dance had its own meaning. Great importance was attached to external paraphernalia: costumes, masks, make-up, etc. The main male roles were played by women.

In the lower classes, dance performances-pantomimes performed by men also based on scenes from "Ramke" were widely used. This genre was especially popular during the reign of Ang Duong and Norodom.

In modern times, shadow theater became widespread in Cambodia.

Until the middle of the XIX century. education in Cambodia was of a religious nature. There were schools at Buddhist monasteries for boys, where they learned the basics of literacy, accounting and crafts. After the arrival of the French in Cambodia in 1873, the first secular school for the children of the Khmer elite appeared in Phnom Penh, then secular schools began to open in some provincial centers.

In general, the Cambodian culture of the Modern Age had a great influence on the formation of public consciousness both in the pre-colonial and colonial periods.

Previously, Cambodia was called Kampuchea (from the Sanskrit name "Kambujadesa"). Until relatively recently, Cambodia was in the midst of a long-term civil war, which, fortunately, ended. Now Cambodia is a peaceful country where you can have a great vacation. This country has magnificent mountains, beautiful natural scenery, green forests, rivers with waterfalls, numerous Buddhist temples and monasteries, traditional Khmer villages, beaches with palm groves, delicious cuisine and rare Ayeyarwaddy freshwater dolphins.

Cambodia is located on the Indochina Peninsula in South-East Asia. Cambodia borders Vietnam to the east, Thailand to the northwest, and Laos to the northeast. In the southwest of the country is the Gulf of Thailand of the South China Sea. total area Cambodia, including the islands - 181,040 sq. km., and the total length state border- 2,572 km.

About 75% of the territory of Cambodia is occupied by plains, which are surrounded by highlands and low mountains. The Kravan Mountains stretch from the northwest of the country to the southeast. The most high peak in Cambodia - Mount Oral, whose height reaches 1,813 m.

Through the east of Cambodia, the Mekong River flows south, which is considered the longest river in this country.

The capital of Cambodia is Phnom Penh, which is now home to more than 1.6 million people. Phnom Penh was built in 1372 and became the capital of Cambodia in 1431.

The official language of the population of Cambodia is Khmer, belonging to the Mon-Khmer languages ​​of the Austroasiatic language family.

More than 95% of the population of Cambodia professes Buddhism (in particular, Theravada Buddhism is the most conservative direction of this religion).

According to the current Constitution, Cambodia is a constitutional monarchy. The head of state is the King, who is elected by the Council of the Royal Throne. The King appoints, with the approval of the National Assembly, the Prime Minister and ministers.

Legislative power belongs to the bicameral parliament - the National Assembly, consisting of the Senate (61 people) and the National Assembly (122 deputies).

Main political parties- Cambodia People's Party, Sam Rainsy Party and Buddhist Liberal Party.

Cambodia, like most other countries in Southeast Asia, has a hot climate with strong monsoon influences. In fact, there are four annual climatic seasons in Cambodia:

1. November-February is a cold and dry season.
2. March-May is a hot and dry season.
3. June-August is the hot and humid season.
4. September - early November is the cold and wet season.

Tourists are advised to visit Cambodia from November to February, when the average air temperature exceeds + 26C, and when there is little rain. During this period, the weather in the beach resort of Sihanoukville is just perfect, and the sea is very calm and warm.

In the southwest of Cambodia is the Gulf of Thailand of the South China Sea. Coastline is 443 km. The best time to visit beach resorts in Cambodia is during the dry season (November to April).

Through the east of Cambodia, the Mekong River flows south, which is considered the longest river in this country. Cambodia is home to Tonle Sap Lake (also called the "Great Lake"), one of the largest in Asia.

The history of Cambodia has centuries-old roots. It is believed that the state on the territory of modern Cambodia was formed in the 7th century AD. The Khmer Empire flourished in the 9th century when Jayavarman II declared independence from Java.

During the Middle Ages, the Khmer often fought with their neighbors (Vietnam and Siam claimed the territory of Cambodia).

In the end, in the 1860-80s, Cambodia, trying to find protection from Siam, falls under the protectorate of France.

Cambodia's independence was proclaimed only in 1953. Until 1975, a bloody civil war was going on in Cambodia, which ended with the victory of the Khmer Rouge, led by Pol Pot. As a result, the state of Kampuchea was formed, which fell in 1979 under the blows of the Vietnamese army.

Now Cambodia is considered a constitutional monarchy headed by the King.

Many different ethnic groups live in Cambodia, and therefore the culture of this country is very diverse and unique. Moreover, the ethnic groups of Cambodia celebrate the same holidays in different time. So, the Khmers are lunar New Year celebrated in mid-April, and the Vietnamese and Chinese, of whom there are a lot in Cambodia, in late February - early February.

By the way, the Khmer New Year is called "Chnam-Tmai". During this holiday, it is necessary to build sand hills, which are considered a symbol of Buddha's stupas. Moreover, every grain of sand in such a hill can save a person from sins.

Cambodia neighbors Thailand and Vietnam, which can be attributed to the "heavyweights" of culinary traditions. Therefore, very often they forget about the cuisine of Cambodia, giving preference to dishes from Thailand and Vietnam. However, once you try Khmer cuisine, you will fall in love with it forever...

Of course, you need to get used to Cambodian cuisine - for Europeans it will seem too exotic at first (for example, it uses fried grasshoppers and ants).

In Cambodia, tourists are recommended to try Bai sach chrouk (pork with rice), amok fish (served on a banana leaf), Lap Khmer salad (beef with vegetables and spices), Nom banh chok (red noodles ), "Kdam chaa" (fried crab), red ants with beef and basil, "Ang dtray-meuk" (fried squid), "Cha houy teuk" (jelly).

According to official figures, Cambodia now has several thousand historical, architectural and archaeological sites. The top 10 best attractions in Cambodia, in our opinion, may include the following:

1. Diamond Buddha Pagoda in Phnom Penh
2. Citadel of Angkor Thom
3. Royal Palace in Phnom Penh
4. Wat Phnom temple in Phnom Penh
5. Pre Can Monastery
6. Eyebrow Temple in Phnom Penh
7. Temple complex Wat Banan in Battambang
8. Wat Lang Ka Pagoda in Phnom Penh
9. angkor wat temple
10. Bayon Temple at Angkor

The largest Cambodian cities are Kampong Thom, Battambang, Sihanoukville, and, of course, Phnom Penh.

In Cambodia, tourists are waiting for several beach resorts. The most popular of them are Sihanoukville and Kampot.

On one of the islands near Kampot, the former king of Cambodia Sihanouk liked to relax. By the way, it is believed that the most the best dishes seafood is served in the restaurants of Kampot.

However, the most popular beach resort in Cambodia is Sihanoukville. Two of its beaches, Ochatial Beach and Sokha Beach, are especially popular. On the island near Sihanoukville there are excellent conditions for diving and fishing (there are very beautiful corals with a lot of exotic fish).

Tourists from Cambodia usually bring handicrafts, scarves, shawls, jewelry, palm sugar, Cambodian spices, tea, bamboo napkins, Cambodian musical instruments(bamboo flute, tro-kmae - a kind of three-string violin).

Banks:
Mon-Fri: 08:00-15:00

The shops:
08:00-20:00 seven days a week

The official name is the Kingdom of Cambodia (Preahreacheanachakr Kampuchea). Located in the southern part of the Indochinese Peninsula. Area 181,035 km2, population approx. 12.2 million people (2001). The official language is Khmer. The capital is Phnom Penh (900 thousand people, 2001). National holiday - Independence Day on November 9th. Currency unit- riel.

Member of the UN and a number of its specialized organizations, the IMF, IBRD, World Bank, Asian Development Bank, IAEA, etc.

Sights of Cambodia

Geography of Cambodia

It is located between 10° and 16° north latitude, 106° and 108° east longitude. In the southwest it is washed by the waters of the Gulf of Thailand. Coastline 443 km. The coast from the border with Thailand to the Koki River is low and swampy, further to Cape Sorivong it is steep, followed by a wide strip sandy beaches. In the section from Kampongsaom to Vealren Bay, the beaches are again replaced by rocks. Further to the border with Vietnam, the shores of the Gulf of Thailand are low and muddy. On the coast are the Samit and Vealren peninsulas, separated from one another by the Kampong Saom Bay. Cambodia owns a group of islands in the Gulf of Thailand. The largest of them is Kong Island with an area of ​​80 km2.

Cambodia is bordered by Laos to the northeast, Vietnam to the east and southeast, and Thailand to the north and northwest. Land borders: total length 2572 km; with Laos - 541 km, with Vietnam - 1228 km, with Thailand - 803 km.

Cambodia is a predominantly flat country. A significant part of the territory is occupied by the low-lying Central Plain, open to the northwest and southeast. Along the perimeter of the Central Plain are mountains and plateaus, incl. Kravan (Cardamonov) mountains - in the west, Dungrek mountains - in the north, Chloung plateau - in the east. The highest point of Cambodia is Mount Oral (1813 m), located in the system of mountains Kravan.

The river network of Cambodia is quite dense. The rivers belong to three main basins - the Gulf of Thailand, the Mekong and Tonle Sap Lake. In the dry season, the water area of ​​Cambodia's largest lake, Tonle Sap, is 2,700 km2, 150 km long, and 32 km wide. During the rainy season, its area increases by more than 3 times and reaches 10 thousand km2. The depth increases 5-10 times, reaching 12 m.

In Cambodia, there are mainly two types of soils: alluvial and lateritic (basalt). Alluvial are divided into sandy, meadow, or floodplain, clay, lateritic - into red, red-yellow and red-brown.

Depending on the height above sea level, Cambodia is divided into a number of climatic zones with vegetation characteristic of each of them. Approximately ½ of the country's territory (90 thousand km2) is covered with forests. There are two main types of forests: flooded - mangrove forest on the coast of the Gulf of Thailand and forests around Lake Tonle Sap, as well as upland - located in the mountains and on elevated plains. mangrove forest formed by low-growing trees and creeping shrubs with evergreen foliage. Among the upland forests most occupies the so-called. multi-tiered forest - the height of the trees of the upper tier reaches 40-45 m, the middle tier - trees 15-20 m high and lianas, shrubs, grasses, mosses, ferns grow below.

Of the predatory animals in Cambodia (mainly in mountain forests), there are a tiger, a leopard, a Bengal cat - the smallest animal from the cat family. Boars, wild deer, bulls, buffaloes live in the country. Many different types of monkeys, reptiles.

The subsoil of the country contains reserves precious stones, manganese, phosphorites, bauxites, insignificant reserves of iron ore. In the province of Kampong Thom traces of copper, gold and coal have been found. Placers of gold, zircon and corundum were found in the province of Stungtraeng, and a deposit of phosphorites (350 thousand tons) was found near the town of Tukmeah in the province of Kampot. There are also deposits of phosphorites in the province of Battambang (the districts of Phnomkrapa and Sampou - 360 thousand tons). In the same province, bauxite reserves of commercial importance (5-10 million tons) were discovered. In addition, there are deposits of iron, manganese, precious stones. Oil reserves have been discovered at the bottom of the Cambodian territory of the Gulf of Thailand.

Three factors determine the characteristics of the climate in Cambodia: a) the country is located near the equator within the tropical zone; b) is located in the tropical monsoon zone, which determines the presence of dry and wet seasons; c) from the sea, the Kravan mountains block the path of the humid monsoon, which causes more precipitation in the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthese mountains and on the coast than on the Central Plain. Throughout the year, the air temperature in the country is kept mainly within the range of +25-30°C.

There are two climatic seasons: from November to April, the northeast, or winter, monsoon blows. This period also includes the coolest months - December-January and the hottest - April, when the average air temperature can rise to +37-38°C. From May to November, the southwest, or summer, monsoon blows from the Indian Ocean. The country is in the rainy season. In general, 750-2000 mm of precipitation per year falls on the territory of Cambodia during the year. Most of them fall in the Kravan mountains. So, in 1923, 7971 mm fell in a year on Mule Island. On the Central Plain there are much fewer of them, in the region of the Northern Highlands they are somewhat more than on the Central Plain, but much less than in the Kravan mountains.

Population of Cambodia

The average population density is approx. 63 people per 1 km2. In the densely populated central part of the country, it reaches 90 people. per 1 km2.

Cambodia is among the countries with a very young and rapidly growing population. During 1875-1975, its number increased from 1.1 million by about 6 times. Despite the huge losses during the reign of the Khmer Rouge (from 1 to 2 million people), the population continued to grow steadily. The average annual increase in some years reached 2.1-2.2%, now it has slightly decreased - 1.4-1.7%. Age groups: 0-14 years old - 42%, 15-64 years old - 55%, 65 years and older - 3%.

Ethnic composition: Cambodians (Khmers) - 90%, Vietnamese - 5%, Chinese - 1%, the rest - Chams, Thais and small nationalities living in remote mountainous areas.

The languages ​​of the population of Cambodia belong to several language families: Austroasiatic, Thai, Malayo-Polynesian and Sino-Tibetan. The first of these is the Khmer language, which is spoken by the vast majority of the country's population. Of the European languages, French has gained some distribution and, over the years of independent development, English.

The most widespread religion in Cambodia is Buddhism of the southern branch - Hinayana (Theravada). Today it is the state religion, practiced by approx. 94% of the country's population. Along with Theravada, Mahayana Buddhism (Vietnamese and Chinese), Islam (Chams) are widespread. Among national minorities, the influence of traditional tribal cults remains.

Competently, according to various estimates, 32-36% of the population is over 15 years old.

History of Cambodia

The first information about the settlement of the territory of Cambodia by humans dates back to the Paleolithic era. By about the 14th millennium BC, as excavations at Moluprey, Longprao and Samrongsen showed, the population of Cambodia was already engaged in early agriculture, gathering, fishing and hunting.

From the 7th millennium BC on the territory of Cambodia dates back to the Neolithic, and from the 6th-5th millennium BC. - Late Neolithic. By this time, the population from the camps along the tops of the hills in the zone of the red lands began to descend into the river valleys. The first permanent settlements of farmers began to appear here, irrigated agriculture began to spread.

The first major state on the territory of modern Cambodia was Bapnom (1-6 centuries), also known as Funan (from the Chinese transliteration of the Khmer word phnom - mountain). It originated in the southeast of modern Cambodia, centered on the lower reaches of the Mekong. The capital of Bapnom, Vyedhapura, was also located here. In the 2-4 centuries. Bapnom was the most important state on the Indochinese peninsula, and its influence extended to the territories occupied by modern Thailand, Burma and Malaysia. The material basis of this state was valley agriculture, mainly rice growing along the banks of the Mekong and Tonle Sap, and developed handicraft production. Internal trade was developed in the country, as evidenced by the finds of local coins made of gold, silver, bronze and tin, as well as stone and metal weights.

By the 6th c. Bapnom is in decline, while in the north, the state of Chenla, previously dependent on him, is increasingly gaining strength. All R. 6th c. the ruler of Chenla Bhavavarman conquers Bapnom and establishes a new state of Cambodia, named after the mythical ancestor of the dynasty of rulers of Chenla, the ascetic Kambu. The political unity of the new state turned out to be fragile. Continuous wars and civil strife led to the fact that by 710 it broke up into two independent parts - Chenla of the Water in the southeast of Indochina and Chenla of the Earth in the middle reaches of the Mekong.

In the 9th century on the territory of the former Chenla Vody, the formation of a powerful and developed state of Southeast Asia at that time began - the empire of Kambujadesh with its center in the Angkor region. The core of this empire was one of the states into which Chenla Vody broke up - Indrapura, which was dependent on the rulers of Java. The history of the empire of Kambujadesh falls into three main periods: early - con. 8-10 centuries, heyday - early. 11th c. - early 13th century, late - 13th - ser. 14th century

The early period in the history of the empire is associated with the activities of Jayavarman II (802-54), the unifier of the Khmer lands and the founder of a new dynasty. In the last of the capitals he founded, Mahedraparvata, he proclaimed the independence of his state from the Javanese rulers, built the first religious center of the country and established the official cult of the deva-raja (god-king).

The type of state that developed under Jayavarman II was a form of unlimited monarchy, where the king was considered the incarnation of God.

At 10 - early. 13th centuries there is a further political strengthening of Kambujadesh, its transformation into a multi-ethnic empire. During this period, as a result of numerous aggressive campaigns, vast territories were captured, which included, in addition to the current Cambodia, parts of the lands of modern Burma, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam and Malaysia.

The greatest rise of Kambujadesh is associated with the names of Suryavarman II (1113-50) and Jayavarman VII (1181-1220). Suryavarman II, having managed to establish a good relationship with China, started wars in the east with Dai Viet and Tyampa, and in the west with the Mon state of Haripunjaya and the Thai principalities. The territory of the empire at that time significantly exceeded the territory of modern Cambodia. In addition to the Khmers, the Mons, Thais, Tyams, Malays, and mountain tribes lived in the empire. At that time, the majestic temple of Angkorwat was being built in the capital, which became the tomb of this monarch.

Another famous ruler of this period was Jayavarman VII. Having begun his activity with a victorious war with Tyampa, he later played an outstanding role in the transition of Khmer society to a new religion - Buddhism. Laying the foundations of a new religious system, Jayavarman VII launched a broad religious construction. During his reign, the famous Bayon and a number of other temples were erected.

Under Jayavarman VIII (1243-95) and his successors, the signs of the decline of the Khmer empire became increasingly apparent. Unsuccessful wars, especially against the Thai state of Skkothai, religious strife(the attempts to restore Shaivism as a state cult belong to this time) are increasingly weakening state power. The coming to power of a new dynasty led by King Chai (1336-40) was evidence of the final triumph of Theravada Buddhism in Cambodia.

In the 1st third of the 15th century. the decline of the western regions of the country with the center in Angkor was determined. After the capture of Angkor by the Thais in 1432, the capital of the country under King Ponya Yat was transferred east to the Mekong Valley in the region of modern Phnom Penh. Cambodia is losing all the territories of the non-Khmer population and is turning into a mono-ethnic state.

Gradually, the country becomes more and more dependent on rapidly growing neighbors - Vietnam and Siam. The rivalry of these states for dominance in the Indochinese Peninsula extremely exacerbated the internecine feuds of the Khmer feudal lords, who sought to rely on the support of foreign rulers in the struggle for power. As a result, Cambodia became doubly dependent on Siam and Vietnam. Relations of dual suzerainty were characteristic of the country in the 2nd half. 18th century - 1st half. 19th century

In 1863, following the conquest of the territory of Cochinchina (modern South Vietnam), France forced King Norodom of Cambodia (1860-1904) to sign a protectorate treaty that deprived Cambodia of the right to pursue an independent foreign policy. As part of the agreements that followed, the country established the position of the French High Resident and French residents in the provinces, created a colonial administration, which took over control over the establishment and collection of taxes, indirect taxation, and customs fees. The Khmer king was deprived of any participation in the affairs government controlled. He had only the "right" to sign decrees, he was the head of the Buddhist clergy and the nominal head of the Khmer administrative apparatus.

During the period of the French protectorate (1863-1953), the country went through an "apical modernization", which affected mainly the urban strata and the Khmer ruling elite. Serious changes in the agrarian sector, which would significantly improve the life of the Cambodian peasantry, which accounted for up to 90% of the population, did not happen. The Khmer peasantry, within the framework of the economic model created in the country, turned out to be in fact completely dependent on moneylenders and officials, balancing on the brink of survival. This situation predetermined political instability and the threat of a social explosion in the country for many decades to come. The country's achievement of independence in 1953 did not significantly change the situation. The process of social differentiation and the ruin of most peasant farms not only continued, but because of the unreasonable policy of the Sihanouk regime ruling in the country, it even intensified. The rejection of economic assistance from the United States, the nationalization of the banking sector and the sphere of export-import operations, attempts to oust usurers from the countryside in conditions when the state credit to the peasantry could be only 1/10 of the usurious one, pushed a long-awaited social explosion, the consequences of which were successfully take advantage of the Khmer communists in the face of the Khmer Rouge movement, led by Pol Pot. After the pro-American coup in Phnom Penh in March 1970, the Khmer communists, with the support of the Vietnamese troops, managed to take control of large areas of Cambodia, where from 1973 they began to implement their plans for the reorganization of the country. At this time, in the so-called. In the liberated regions, a process of broad socialization of the peasants' property, cultivated land, and even their agricultural implements began. There were so-called. cooperatives with common property, which, after the victory of the Khmer Rouge in the civil war and the capture of Phnom Penh in April 1975, were extended to the entire territory of the country. The Khmer Rouge, using the most severe repressions against their own people, tried to create a fundamentally different economic model - a non-commodity one, in which there would be no money and even commodity exchange, with total labor service and with total control over people, when all life individual person and his family would be under the control and control of the ruling regime.

The refusal of the Khmer Rouge to enter the zone of Vietnamese control, their territorial claims to Vietnam and the policy of aggravating the armed border conflict led to the fact that, as a result of the Vietnamese invasion in January 1979, the Khmer Rouge regime was overthrown and the Khmer communists came to power, closely associated with Vietnam. Following this, the country entered a new phase of civil war, when the surviving Khmer Rouge forces, together with the nationalist groups supporting Sihanouk, fought against the Vietnamese troops and the political regime formed in Phnom Penh. Only the intervention of the UN and the holding in the country of one of the largest peacekeeping operations in the history of this organization made it possible to put an end to decades of civil war and totalitarianism in Cambodia.

In 1993, under the auspices of the UN, parliamentary elections were held, which marked the country's transition to democratic development. The Khmer Rouge did not take part in the elections, but the failure of the boycott of the elections announced by them demonstrated a sharp drop in their influence in the country. As a result of the people's will, two political forces came to power: the People's Party of Cambodia (CPP), created on the basis of the Cambodian People's Party that ruled the country in 1979-90. People's Revolutionary Party of Cambodia, which abandoned all communist slogans and attributes, and the so-called. United National Front for a sovereign, independent, neutral and peaceful Cambodia - FUNCINPEC, which united non-communist and nationalist forces. The first received approx. 39% of the vote, the second - 45% and jointly formed the first democratic government, where the head of the Nationalists, Prince Rannarit, served as the first prime minister, and the head of the CPP, Hun Sen, as the second prime minister. Such a complex division of power, with two ministers in almost all the most important ministries, was initiated by both UN peacekeepers and the former king of Cambodia. Norodom Sihanouk, who in 1993, by decision of the deputies elected to the National Assembly, was proclaimed the official head of state. The goal of creating a coalition government was to prevent a new round of civil war in the country by all means. The Khmer Rouge movement, isolated in the jungle after the formation of a coalition government, began to quickly disintegrate, and its leaders began to look for opportunities to return to legal political struggle. The entire history of the country that followed the elections is the history of the struggle of two dominant political forces for control of Cambodia. At the same time, the CPP relies mainly on the rural areas (municipal elections in 2002, where the CPP received an overwhelming majority of votes, confirm this), and FUNCINPEC - on the urban strata (in the 1998 general election in Phnom Penh, the CPP received less than 30% of the vote, and the nationalists - more than 40 %). Despite the fact that sometimes this struggle brings Cambodia to the brink of a new civil war, as was the case in 1997, when many supporters of FUNCINPEC were forced to flee the country, accused of organizing a coup d'état, a certain balance of power between these largest political organizations of Cambodia is maintained, gradually quite civilized rules of political struggle are also being developed, which is the guarantor of an increasingly stable and predictable political development of Cambodia.

State structure and political system of Cambodia

Cambodia is a constitutional monarchy with a multi-party liberal democracy (since September 1, 1993).

Administrative division: 19 provinces (khet) and 2 cities of central subordination. The largest cities (thousand people): Phnom Penh, Battambang (94), Kampong Saom (former Sihanoukville) (33), Kampot (13).

The head of state is King Norodom Sihanouk (crowned September 24, 1993). Bicameral Parliament - Senate (61 seats) and National Assembly (122 seats); members of both chambers are elected for a term of 5 years.

supreme body legislative power - the National Assembly. The supreme body of executive power is the government of Cambodia, which is formed based on the results of parliamentary elections.

The Chairman of the National Assembly is Prince Norodom Rannarit. The head of government is Hun Sen, leader of the CPP.

Three political parties are represented in the National Assembly after the 1999 elections: 64 seats - the CPP, 43 seats - FUNCINPEC (leader Prince Norodom Rannarit) and 15 seats - the radically pro-American party Sam Rainsy (leader Sam Rainsy), sharply opposed to Hun Sen.

King Norodom Sihanouk has limited official power (reigns, but does not rule), but at the same time enjoys great influence. At the same time, the political regime in the country cannot be generally called democratic, despite the existence of a parliament, general and municipal elections, and other attributes of democratic power.

In the 1990s Cambodia has managed to achieve some success in the implementation of economic and political development programs. Political stability was seen as the basis and guarantee of economic development, the results of which, however, turned out to be lower than expected. Despite the fact that up to 60% of Cambodia's budget was formed from external assistance, 39% of the population still continues to be below the poverty line. In this regard, for 2001-05, the fight against poverty and the rise in living standards are declared priority tasks of the government.

In foreign policy, the country strives to be based on the principles of neutrality. Cambodia joined the Bali Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (SEA), joined ASEAN, and actively participates in the ASEAN Regional Forum on Security Issues (ARF). The main focus of foreign policy is on developing relations with neighboring ASEAN countries, as well as with the PRC and Japan, which leads the international committee for the reconstruction of Cambodia and provides largest volume aid promised to this country by the world community.

Of the economically developed countries, the main partners are the United States, France and, recently, Australia.

The US and Cambodia have fairly extensive trade ties. In 1992 the US lifted the embargo on trade with Cambodia. In 1996, an Agreement on Trade Relations was signed between the two countries. The United States is actively in favor of organizing an international trial of the Khmer Rouge, and the unresolved issue greatly complicates the position of the Hun Sen government in relations with the American administration. Until recently, the Cambodian government has rejected UN proposals to organize an international court to try the crimes of the Khmer Rouge, insisting on a national court. On this issue, the position of Cambodia is clearly supported by China.

The Royal Cambodian Armed Forces include the Army, Navy and Air Force; created in 1993 by the reunification of the Cambodian People's Army and two anti-communist resistance armies. The draft age is 18 years. In addition to the state Armed Forces, there are resistance forces in Cambodia, including the People's United Army (Khmer Rouge) and the separatist royalist movement.

Cambodia has diplomatic relations with the Russian Federation (established with the USSR in 1955).

Economy of Cambodia

Cambodia as a whole remains an underdeveloped agrarian state. This country, along with Laos and Myanmar, is one of the three most underdeveloped countries in Southeast Asia. Cambodia also stands out with an extremely low percentage of the budget for investment - only 4% (the lowest figure in Southeast Asia). Throughout the 1990s. the economy remained heavily dependent on foreign aid and investment, which declined sharply in 1996-98. GDP growth in 1999 - 4.3% (3.34 billion US dollars), in 2000 - 5.5%, in 2001 - 6.25%, in 2002 - St. 5%. 36% of the population lives below the poverty line. Unemployment 2.8% of the population.

The government declares the maintenance of macroeconomic stability and the implementation of economic reforms as the main goal in the economic sphere. The planned program includes measures to streamline the policy in the field of taxation and in the field of public expenditure management, as well as the restructuring of banks, new policy principles in the field of logging.

Cambodia is an agricultural country. 13-16% of the entire territory is cultivated, and St. 1/2 of the arable land is used to grow rice, the staple food for most of the population. AT agriculture employs 80-85% of the able-bodied population. Agricultural production accounts for 45% of GDP. The agrarian law adopted in 1992 provides for the following forms of land ownership: private property for a land plot with a house, ownership of agricultural land up to 5 hectares with inheritance permission, concession for large agricultural plots without the right to inherit, lease and sell. Rice production is, according to some sources, 15% of GDP. The yield remains very low - approx. 1.64 tons per 1 ha (for comparison: Thailand - 2.1, Philippines - 2.7 and Vietnam - 3.2 tons).

The second most important agricultural product is rubber. His plantations are located in the red soils of the provinces of Kampong Cham, where they cover 61,000 hectares. AT last years the area occupied by hevea has increased significantly (according to various estimates, from 100 to 150 thousand hectares, sometimes the figure is 330 thousand hectares). The main consumers of rubber: Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand.

Other crops grown in Cambodia include sugarcane, cassava, bananas, corn, coconut and other palms, citrus fruits, sweet potatoes, mangoes, cottonseed (ceiba five-starred), jute, olives, and spices.

Fishing (fish is the main source of animal protein) is carried out in the waters of the Gulf of Thailand and Lake Tonle Sap. In recent years, runoff from Phnom Penh's industrial enterprises has led to an ecological crisis in fishing areas - on Lake Tonle Sap and the Mekong River. The unique ecological complex of the lake and the Tonle Sap River is under serious threat due to: a) deforestation along the banks, which leads to land sliding into the lake, sharply increases the level of sediments; 2) an increase in the number of settlements along the shores of the lake. Animal husbandry includes cattle, pigs, buffaloes.

Approximately 3/4 of the area of ​​Cambodia is covered with forests, which are still little exploited legally, especially in remote mountainous areas with poorly developed infrastructure. The logging and sale of roundwood in Thailand is one of the main elements of the criminal business in the country. The Cambodian state is unable to stop this business. In order to somehow reduce forest loss, the government is taking original measures to increase the country's forest resources: the National Assembly adopted an amendment to the forest law, according to which, in order to obtain a wedding permit, newlyweds must plant two trees.

Most of the industrial enterprises of Cambodia are engaged in the processing of agricultural products and the manufacture of various kinds of consumer goods: cotton yarn, bicycle tires, rubber shoes, soap, cigarettes, soft drinks. As a result of hostilities and socio-economic upheavals in the 1970s-90s. The country's economy suffered enormous damage. There are (but not always functioning at full capacity) auto and tractor assembly, metalworking, ship repair, cement, chemical, pharmaceutical, textile, timber and paper enterprises.

Total length highways 15 thousand km, but only 1/5 has an asphalt surface. Two railway lines with a total length of approx. 650 km connect Phnom Penh with Poipet on the border with Thailand and with the city of Kampong Saom on the south coast.

Before the construction of a new port in Kampongsaom (former Sihanoukville), which provided Cambodia with access to the ocean through the Gulf of Thailand, Phnom Penh remained the main port center of the country. Large seagoing vessels can only ascend to Phnom Penh on the Mekong River during high water periods.

Exports: rubber, timber, soybeans, rice, corn, sesame, fruits, black pepper, fish. Imports: petroleum products, equipment, tractors, trucks, cement, consumer goods. Cambodia is completely dependent on imported oil and petroleum products. Main foreign trade partners: Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, Japan, Australia, Indonesia, France, Germany, USA. In the 1990s the trade deficit was gradually reduced. The volume of foreign trade in 1997 amounted to approx. $1.8 billion ($852 million - import, $425 million - export, $523 million - re-export).

In 2003, the government hoped for an increase in state revenue as a result of the resumption of tourist visits to the largest temple complex of Angkor, but due to the outbreak of SARS, positive results tourism business may be called into question. In March 2002, 29 tourist points were opened with information about the crimes of the Khmer Rouge regime.

Poor infrastructure development also hinders tourism. One of the steps towards overcoming these difficulties was the decision to build a new terminal for Sim Reap airport near Angkor. The Cambodian government signed a 20-year deal with a French consortium to fund it.

Science and culture

Education in Cambodia is now one of the government's priorities. There are several thousand primary schools in the country, located both in cities and in countryside. In these schools and equated to them, the so-called. In monastic schools, children receive elementary knowledge. In secondary schools, education has a wider range, in many foreign languages ​​are studied, primarily French and English. A significant number of medium educational institutions, especially in Phnom Penh, are private.

The main scientific center is the Cambodian Academy of Sciences, which includes several institutes, mainly in the humanities.

Cambodian culture has a long and rich history. Its origins go back to the Funan and Chenla periods, it strikes with the richness of forms in the era of the Kambujadesh empire.

The Angkor temple complex is one of the largest in the world. Such temples as Angkorvat - the tomb of the warrior king Survarman II, Bayon, which looks in all directions through the eyes of Jayavarman VII, the amazing Banteay Srei (Women's Citadel), striking with the highest art of bas-reliefs and images carved in stone, testify to the level of culture in ancient Cambodia.

Modern Cambodian culture, despite the losses suffered, is developing at a fairly rapid pace, combining appeal to traditional Khmer genres with modern forms. The country publishes both traditional everyday novels built on Buddhist ethics (Pet Tumkrovil and his novel "Mak Thung" - a modern processing of a medieval plot for the traditional Khmer bike theater), and in large volume detective literature and comics especially loved by the Khmers. Popular and included in the anthology for schoolchildren famous novels 1930 - 40s “Pka sropyn” (“Pailin rose”), Neak Thiema, works by Rym Kin.

A significant phenomenon of Khmer culture was the creation of literary works based on plots that arose on national soil or historical events of the Cambujadesh period. Such are the poem "Tum and Tieu", stories about the reign of Jayavarman VII and other great rulers of the country.

The Buddhist library plays a special role in the cultural life of the country. It contains many samples of Khmer folklore - fairy tales, legends, proverbs and sayings.

The Khmers and a number of the hill tribes of Cambodia speak closely related languages ​​that belong to the Mon-Khmer group. The Austroasiatic language family includes the Senoi and Semang of Malacca, Vietnamese, the Munda languages ​​of India, and the Mon language of Thailand.

The Khmae language is monotonous with traces of tonal stress. Vocabulary is characterized by the use of monosyllabic and two-syllable words. The language has no cases, no number, no tense. Words are difficult to pronounce for foreign-speaking people, they are very different from European ones, so if you decide to learn Khmer, you will need months and months of hard training just for pronunciation. There is a myth that is actively propagated by those people who have mastered the written language in a long torment, but do not really understand why they did it. These people everywhere, in personal communication and on various forums, with foam at the mouth, prove to everyone that mastering the Khmer language without learning the alphabet is IMPOSSIBLE. Of course, this is, to put it mildly, false. Thanks to its simplified grammar compared to many languages, Khmer is quite easy to master for everyday (everyday) communication, to the extent that explanation in this language and understanding local residents does not amount to any work. You can (and sometimes you need to get the fastest results) to master the Khmer language, bypassing the dreary study of the longest alphabet in the world.

Anthropology.

The Khmers, like the Vietnamese, Laotians, Thais, are considered to be the Thai-Malay anthropological type of the southern Mongoloid race. Cambodian hair color is dark to blue-black. Images of people of this type can be found on the bas-reliefs of the temples of Angkor.
The Highland Khmers and the Cham tribes have features characteristic of the Australoid race. It can be concluded that they belong to the remnant of the ancient Austroloid population of Southeast Asia.
The mountainous Khmers in the north and slightly to the east include kui, brao, stiengi, in the west and in the central part of the country - anrak, por, chon, samre. Highland Khmers in Cambodia are considered part of the Khmer nation.
In the northeast live close to the mountainous Khmers in culture and development of the tyams: Jarai and Rade. The Cham language belongs to the Austronesian family of languages.
Cambodians from Angkor have a darker skin color, a straight and high nose, wavy and soft hair.
Some Khmer tribes have features of the Samre and Por blacks living in the western part of Cambodia.

Origin.

The Khmers can be classified as ancient inhabitants region, confirming the peculiarities of language and anthropology.
Legends say that the naga snake was the progenitor of the people. In Indian mythology, snakes - nagas were the rulers of the earth and lived in the region of the extreme south.

According to Khmer tradition, many centuries ago, the king of Indraprashta, now Delhi, expelled his own son Preh Thogng from home. Preh Thongng, after a long ordeal, found himself on the island of Thlok. The island was located in a quiet, but rather large sea bay. In this very place, the prince met his charming beloved, who is the daughter of a sea serpent, perhaps the same one who laid the channel of the Mekong.
The girl's father was not against marriage and even drained all the water from the bay so that a new powerful state would form on this place.

They say that the spirit of the nine-headed Naga, who is the guardian of the state, lived in the Heavenly Tower. Every evening she changed into a woman and spent the night with the king. If the sovereign did not come on a date, various hardships fell upon the kingdom, but if the snake itself did not appear at the appointed hour, everyone knew that the king was destined imminent death. The tower still exists on the territory of the Angkor complex.

Khmer culture is closely intertwined with the culture neighboring nations, and, although the linguistic difference is obvious, the connection between the peoples is quite strong.

In the area of ​​​​Lake Tonle Sap, the brightest Neolithic culture of Southeast Asia, the Somrongsen, arose. She had connections with India and other regions of Asia, was familiar with the processing of bronze.

Indian culture influenced the formation of the first Cambodian states. In the 1st century AD, the state of Bapnom was formed, the capital at Vyadhapura. The economy was based on rice cultivation, handicrafts, trade and navigation, as well as plowing on buffaloes. Cities were built and temples were erected. The culture and religion combined elements of the Hindu and Buddhist cultures of South India.

Khmer culture and art.

The heyday of Khmer culture fell on the Angkor period (9th-13th centuries). The influence of Hinduism was strong until the 19th century. At the court, the caste of Brahmins who performed Hindu rites was given special honor. In modern times, the Khmers still have elements of Hinduism in the ceremonies of marriage, death and birth.
Gradually, the religion underwent changes, Hinduism was replaced by Theravada Buddhism, which combines the spiritual cult of "non-act" and elements of Brahmanism.
Class division for a long time preserved among the Khmer peoples. In ancient times, the Kui tribe were elephant trainers, and now they were hunters of their king.
The traditional Khmer clothing is the sarong. The hairstyle characteristic of the people is a short haircut for both men and women.

Kitchen.

The basis of nutrition in Indochina is rice without additives, and even without salt, the Khmers are no exception in this matter.
Rice is eaten with salted fish, prahok sauce and nuok mam sauce, which consists of peppers, fruits, onions, garlic and herbs.
All meals, apart from Thai food are not sharp. Soups are seasoned with lime. In addition, the diet includes grasshoppers, frogs, shrimp and turtle meat.
Meat is consumed only on holidays. Khmer's favorite drink is green tea.
As with many countries in Southeast Asia, there is a habit of betel consumption.

Marriage.

The Khmer family is traditionally small, polygamy occurs only among wealthy people in wealthy urban families. Marriages are made at the request of the youth. In the event that a girl accepts a gift from a young man in the form of a box with betel and areca nuts, then she agrees to make a couple with him.
Not marrying for a long time among the Khmers is considered bad manners. Men enter into a marriage union at the age of 20-25 years, women from 16 years.

Khmer Literature and Writing.

In temples and monasteries, the development of national writing, literature, and traditions took place. In the 7th century, the Khmer script was born based on the Grantha alphabet. The alphabet has 33 characters and 16 more symbols for vowels, which are not used on their own. The Khmer interpretation of the Ramayana, Ram Ker, is widely known.

Khmer theater and dance.

The dance had high level already from antiquity. Khmer dances are distinguished by harmony, sense of proportion and classical order. The ballet of Cambodia is widely known all over the world. Shadow theater "nang sbek" is also popular. Khmer drama combines dance, mime and singing. It is based on mythology and epic stories.

Khmer music.

The music is based on the pentatonic scale. Its structure is set by rhythm, so the main instruments are percussion: double timpani (sko-thom), drums (sampho, chayam), cymbals and gongs. Stringed instruments came to the Khmers in the 12th century, these are violins (tro-che, tro-sao, tro-kmae), lutes (ta dieu, tyapey and ta khe). The melody is led by an oboe (pei o, pay-pok, pra-pei) or a reed flute (khloi).
The classical orchestra is accompanied by the Royal Ballet. Number of instruments in classical and folk orchestra equally.
No festival is complete without musical accompaniment. Many Cambodian songs have been lost due to the lack of musical notation.
Since 1966, the Institute of Fine Arts has been operating in Phnom Penh. It trains dancers, actors and musicians. The Institute collects folklore, which is then processed and presented to the general public directly in the open air. Phnom Penh has its own concert hall.
The musical traditions of Cambodia remained unchanged until recently, when Western television invaded this country, planting a cult of consumption and destructive individualism. As a result, folk roots are gradually being eroded, and the place of authentic performers is being invaded by painted pop stars, clumsily copying the habits of Western pop idols. At the moment, modern music still contains real Khmer melody, and pure and strong voices are not replaced by miserable attempts of mediocrities nurtured by producer money, passed through the computer. But some 5-10 years will pass and we will see the same thing that is happening everywhere - the dominance of bad taste, implicated in advertising money.

Customs and traditions of Cambodia.

The Khmer character is calm, slightly melancholy. The people love their king and country, they truly profess Buddhism. The Khmer are tolerant of people of other faiths and ignorance of the laws of their country. They are categorically against the use of alcoholic beverages and drugs, but mostly against European ones. Women constantly chew betel, and men chew special tobacco and slightly narcotic herbs.
The Khmers have a sense of collectivism similar to that of the Japanese. But some tribalism still remains. Family and religion are at the top of the list of values, which is why the temple is the center of any Cambodian settlement.
"Wat" or "Wat" ("temple") is usually presented in the form of a pagoda. The holy place with statues of Buddha, reservoirs and quarter where the monks live is enclosed by walls. The temple takes responsibility for the education of the village children at its own expense.
When a young man reaches the age of sixteen, he goes to the temple and lives there for several years in a row. The young man works for the benefit of the temple, prays, studies and reflects on the eternity of life. The purpose of leaving the world is to study Buddhism, to raise the human status after reincarnation. In addition, a close connection with religion remains throughout life.

At the entrance to the temple, one should leave hats and shoes in front of the door, express their respect to the clergy and images of the Buddha. Donations to churches are encouraged. You can only go around the temple in a clockwise direction.

The traditional greeting of the Cambodians is a bow and handshake, similar to the Thai gesture "wai". But in this moment Khmer prefer to just shake hands. Women greet both men and women the same way. It is customary to give gifts when visiting an office, organization or when visiting.

The Khmer are reserved in showing such emotions as anger and anger, as to behave in this way is to behave in an unworthy way. You can not touch someone else's head, especially a child's, point a finger at a person. It is also ugly to accept and give an object in both hands, you can perform this action only right hand, put your feet on the table and show everyone your feet (feet are considered unclean due to touching the ground). And lifting up thumb hands is considered a sexual gesture.

Khmer casual wear is quite ordinary. Both men and women wear a blended or cotton sarong. Silk sarongs are worn during the festival, although rich people can afford to wear them daily. Wide-cut trousers and dresses that cover the body and do not restrict movement are popular in cities. During the passage of religious festivals, women dress in "hoi" (shirts of a special cut), but in ordinary life they look more than modest.

Tourists are advised to refrain from provocative shorts and miniskirts when visiting temples so as not to offend the religious feelings of Cambodians. It is better to wear lightweight trousers and closed shirts. In other cases, shorter and lighter clothing is acceptable.

The basis of the traditions and cultural heritage of the Khmers is the interweaving of two world religions (Hinduism and Buddhism). In ancient times, even before the advent of our era, the Cambodian territory was entirely under the influence of Hinduism. This religion was brought with them by sailors from India. Khmer temples and pagodas were built in accordance with Hindu canons, although they have features of the architectural style characteristic of Southeast Asia.
Folk and state creativity consisted of dances, songs, paintings and oral stories. Then it was replenished with such world masterpieces as the Indian epics "Ramayana" and "Mahabharata". The walls of many Hindu temples are decorated with scenes from these works.

At the end of the first millennium of our era, Buddhism completely took over the country.
Cambodian kings accept the new faith and begin to reconstruct the old Hindu temples. Now they worship the Buddha and the religious buildings built during this period look completely different. Significant changes are taking place both in folk and in the author's work. However, the Hindu foundation settled quite firmly, which is reflected in national songs, dances, painting, and shadow theater. In culture, one way or another, Hindu motifs are used and reflected. There is a layering of two religions on top of each other. Some ancient Hindu traditions have not sunk into oblivion. For example, Buddhists - Cambodians on the Thousand Lingam Creek go through the sacrament of asking for male power from the Hindu god Shiva, and treat this as a matter of course.