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103-412: Oral tradition indicates that Bokator (or an early form thereof) was the close-quarter combat system used by the ancient Cambodian armies before the founding of Angkor . The martial art encompasses hand-to-hand, wrestling and weapon techniques. Khmer martial arts have historically been known by multiple names depending on regions and masters but are now referred to by most as Bokator . The word Bokator

206-464: A Khmer traditional dance, as well as Khmer-style theatrical performances such as Lakhon Bassac . History of Cambodia The history of Cambodia , a country in mainland Southeast Asia , can be traced back to Indian civilization. Detailed records of a political structure on the territory of what is now Cambodia first appear in Chinese annals in reference to Funan , a polity that encompassed

309-434: A basic push kick technique aimed at exploiting openings in the opponent's defense. The kick can be delivered using either the heel or the foot, with the latter being preferred for its speed and power. Targets for the push kick range from below the belt to the chest and even up to the face, each offering different levels of impact and potential damage. In this Sneat , the opponent's kick is grabbed with either hand depending on

412-533: A bout between a Khmer martial artist and a Vietnamese servant. In the 1800s, King Norodom used to hold and watch traditional martial arts fights within the royal palace and surrounded exclusively by his court. French explorer Auguste Pavie was in charge of a telegraphic office from 1876 to 1879 in the remote Cambodian port of Kampot . During his time in Cambodia , he immersed himself in Cambodian culture and adopted

515-452: A boxer. He then used this land to establish a temple dedicated to the goddess Mahisasura in honour of his late mother, Queen Narapatindradevi. In the same inscription, the names of three boxers are explicitly mentioned as being called to the King's court: Dan , In , and Ayak , whereas another boxer named Vit is described as having borrowed a series of items. Ayak is presented as the master of

618-571: A cornerstone of Southeast Asian cultural legacy. The decline continued through a transitional period of approximately 100 years followed by the Middle Period of Cambodian history, also called the Post-Angkor Period , beginning in the mid 15th century. Although the Hindu cults had by then been all but replaced, the monument sites at the old capital remained an important spiritual centre. Yet since

721-488: A diverse array of elbow and knee strikes, shin kicks, submissions and ground fighting . Some of the weapons used in Bokator include the bamboo staff, short sticks, sword and lotus stick (20 cm long wooden weapon). Before any fights, Bokator athletes pay tribute to their master by doing a ritual dance, called Tvay Bangkum Romleuk Kun Kru ( Khmer : ថ្វាយបង្គំរម្លឹកគុណគ្រូ , lit.   ' to pay tribute and remember

824-519: A guardian, providing sustenance and attending to their well-being. These students endure rigorous training sessions, often lasting up to eight hours per day. Classes usually end with meditation and breathing exercises meant to help blood flow, blending spiritual and physical aspects. Bokator exhibits slight regional variations, encompassing differences in physical techniques, tools, terminology, and favored skills. For instance, Bokator masters from Pursat , Vihear Sour and Kompong Chhnang put an emphasis on

927-422: A period of 37 years, its five towers representing Mount Meru is considered to be the most accomplished expression of classical Khmer architecture . However, territorial expansion ended when Suryavarman II was killed in battle attempting to invade Đại Việt . It was followed by a period of dynastic upheaval and a Cham invasion that culminated in the sack of Angkor in 1177. King Jayavarman VII (reigned 1181–1219)

1030-425: A regular food surplus. Recent Geo-surveys have confirmed that Angkor maintained the largest pre-industrial settlement complex worldwide during the 12th and 13th centuries – some three quarters of a million people lived there. Sizeable contingents of the public workforce were to be redirected to monument building and infrastructure maintenance. A growing number of researchers relates the progressive over-exploitation of

1133-402: A ring. Tournaments were usually held on major festivals and enjoyed extreme popularity. Each minister and prominent figure had their own stable of fighters who also served as their bodyguards. The King acted as the saint patron of the sport and the aristocracy was particularly involved in the competitions. King Sisowath is said to have often won competitions. Tournaments were largely pursued for

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1236-634: A robust economy on the one hand and a disturbed culture and compromised royalty on the other were constant features of the Longvek era. By the 15th century, the Khmers' traditional neighbours, the Mon people in the west and the Cham people in the east had gradually been pushed aside or replaced by the resilient Siamese/Thai and Annamese/Vietnamese , respectively. These powers had perceived, understood and increasingly followed

1339-462: A singular centre of power. The Khmer Empire was established by the early 9th century. Sources refer here to a mythical initiation and consecration ceremony to claim political legitimacy by founder Jayavarman II at Mount Kulen (Mount Mahendra) in 802 CE. A succession of powerful sovereigns, continuing the Hindu devaraja cult tradition, reigned over the classical era of Khmer civilization until

1442-425: A skilled wrestler: In the exercise of wrestling, he would swiftly overcome ten very strong wrestlers and cast them to the ground in a heap by the thousand thrusts of his arms, as did the son of Kritavarya in combat for the one who had ten faces. Several ordinances from Yasovarman I (9th century) shed light on the regulations governing the policing of temples and convents. One ordinance permits fighters entry into

1545-485: A standstill after Jayavarman VII 's reign. According to author Michael Vickery there only exist external sources for Cambodia's 15th century, the Chinese Ming Shilu annals and the earliest Royal Chronicle of Ayutthaya. Wang Shi-zhen (王世貞), a Chinese scholar of the 16th century, remarked: "The official historians are unrestrained and are skilful at concealing the truth; but the memorials and statutes they record and

1648-481: A week. Tournaments occur at regional and national levels, sometimes with coordination by the Cambodia Kunbokator Federation (CKBF) and active participation from the masters. CKBF also supports the organization of performances, training sessions, and documentation initiatives to ensure the art's continuity. Bokator is characterized by hand-to-hand combat along with heavy use of weapons. Bokator uses

1751-433: A while, he observed a lack of awareness regarding Bokator. In 1995, he made the decision to return to Cambodia with the aim of reintroducing Bokator and increasing its visibility worldwide. In 2001, San Kim Sean moved back to Phnom Penh and, after getting permission from the new king, began teaching Bokator to local youth. That same year in the hopes of bringing all of the remaining living masters together he began traveling

1854-561: A world shaped by polarisation of the nuclear powers USA and Soviet Union. As the Indochinese war escalated, and Cambodia became increasingly involved, the Khmer Republic resulted in 1970. Another result was a civil war which by 1975, ended with the takeover by the Khmer Rouge . Cambodia endured its darkest hour – Democratic Kampuchea and the long aftermath of Vietnamese occupation ,

1957-404: Is already part of the training program for the police department and military forces. Masters, with at least five years of experience in Bokator, pass on their knowledge and skills to new generations, often in their homes, offering flexible training schedules to accommodate student apprentices, who are typically local public school students. Male and female practitioners train together multiple times

2060-589: Is an essential component of Bokator. In April 1930, King Sisowath Monivong invited Resident Superior Fernand Marie Joseph Antoine Lavit to witness traditional martial arts inside the Royal Palace as part of the Khmer New Year celebrations. Preceding the Second World War, Phnom Penh hosted diverse sporting events, including Khmer martial arts competitions. The sport used to be practiced on sand rather than in

2163-656: Is considered a special fighting technique. These 12 Tvear, along with the special Tvear, are further organised into three main divisions known as Khan . The first Khan, Atman Yut , encompasses Tvear 1 to 8 and focuses on hand and foot techniques. The second Khan, Horn Yut , consists of Tvear 9 to 10, which primarily involve the use of sticks. The third Khan, Khan Yut , includes Tvear 11 to 12 and employs techniques using swords and spears. Each Tvear comprises numerous additional techniques. Within these 12 Tvears, there are 374 sub-major fighting techniques called Me . Multiple Me are based on animal and deities. The white Krama forms to

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2266-452: Is considered to be a decisive supplement for future research. The "Lower Mekong Archaeological Project" focuses on the development of political complexity in this region during the early historic period. LOMAP survey results of 2003 to 2005, for example, have helped to determine that "...the region's importance continued unabated throughout the pre-Angkorian period...and that at least three [surveyed areas] bear Angkorian-period dates and suggest

2369-592: Is generally considered to be Cambodia's greatest King. A Mahayana Buddhist , he initiates his reign by striking back against Champa in a successful campaign. During his nearly forty years in power he becomes the most prolific monument builder, who establishes the city of Angkor Thom with its central temple the Bayon . Further outstanding works are attributed to him – Banteay Kdei , Ta Prohm , Neak Pean and Sra Srang. The construction of an impressive number of utilitarian and secular projects and edifices, such as maintenance of

2472-459: Is mentioned in the first Khmer dictionary developed in 1938 by the Buddhist scholar Chuon Nath . The term is believed to derive from the phrase bok tao ( Khmer : បុកតោ ) meaning "to pound the lion". According to the origin myth, a lion was attacking a village when a warrior, armed with only a knife, defeated the animal bare-handed, killing it with a single knee strike . Bokator is considered to be

2575-403: Is one of the most important sources of understanding historical Angkor as the text offers valuable information on the everyday life and the habits of the inhabitants of Angkor. The last Sanskrit inscription is dated 1327, and records the succession of Indrajayavarman by Jayavarman IX Parameshwara (1327–1336). The empire was an agrarian state that consisted essentially of three social classes,

2678-467: Is reserved for grandmasters who have devoted their lives to Bokator. Bokator techniques make use of a wide range of body parts and weapons, including hands, elbows, knees, feet, sticks, swords, and spears. The techniques are categorised into five major subsets: Tvear, Kol, Mesorm, Kbach, and Sneat. Bokator comprises 12 primary fighting techniques referred to as Tvear in Khmer. Additionally, Tvear Maha Romdoh

2781-518: The Indochinese Union given a perceived entity and was able to carry and reclaim its identity. After 80 years of colonial hibernation , the brief episode of Japanese occupation during World War II , that coincided with the investiture of king Sihanouk was the opening act for the irreversible process towards re-emancipation and modern Cambodian history. The Kingdom of Cambodia (1953–70) , independent since 1953, struggled to remain neutral in

2884-469: The International Review of Sociology noticed the customary inclusion of martial arts tournaments within major celebrations, often featuring matches between Khmer and Cham champions. These competitions were noted to be characterised by mutual respect, with the audience remaining impartial towards both rival parties. During the era of French rule, Buddhist monks played a significant role in contesting

2987-618: The Maritime Jade Road , which was in place in the region for 3,000 years, beginning in 2000 BCE to 1000 CE. Skulls and human bones found at Samrong Sen in Kampong Chhnang Province date from 1500 BCE. Heng Sophady (2007) has drawn comparisons between Samrong Sen and the circular earthwork sites of eastern Cambodia. These people may have migrated from South-eastern China to the Indochinese Peninsula. Scholars trace

3090-602: The Maritime Silk Road . Trade routes , that eventually ended in distant Rome are corroborated by Roman and Persian coins and artefacts, unearthed at archaeological sites of 2nd and 3rd century settlements. Funan is associated with myths, such as the Kattigara legend and the Khmer founding legend in which an Indian Brahman or prince named Preah Thaong in Khmer, Kaundinya in Sanskrit and Hun-t’ien in Chinese records marries

3193-548: The Me based on Hanuman , lion, elephant, apsara , and crocodile, while the green Krama corresponds to the duck, crab, horse, bird, and dragon styles. Examples of common Sneat include: This Sneat is a defensive move employed to counter an opponent's kick directed at the rib area while both fighters are in an upright position. The technique involves utilizing the knee to block the incoming kick, and it can be executed in two variations: same direction blocking style and sliding blockade. In

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3296-498: The Neolithic period in the cave. Finds since 2012 lead to the common interpretation, that the cave contains the archaeological remains of a first occupation by hunter and gatherer groups, followed by Neolithic people with highly developed hunting strategies and stone tool making techniques, as well as highly artistic pottery making and design, and with elaborate social, cultural, symbolic and exequial practices. Cambodia participated in

3399-689: The People's Republic of Kampuchea and the UN Mandate towards Modern Cambodia since 1993. Radiocarbon dating of a cave at Laang Spean in Battambang Province , northwest Cambodia confirmed the presence of Hoabinhian stone tools from 6000 to 7000 BCE and pottery from 4200 BCE. Starting in 2009 archaeological research of the Franco-Cambodian Prehistoric Mission has documented a complete cultural sequence from 71.000 years BP to

3502-429: The 11th century. A new dynasty of provincial origin introduced Buddhism , which according to some scholars resulted in royal religious discontinuities and general decline. The royal chronology ends in the 14th century. Great achievements in administration , agriculture , architecture , hydrology , logistics , urban planning and the arts are testimony to a creative and progressive civilisation - in its complexity

3605-537: The 1970s as they are generally based on single remarks in the Chinese annals, as author Claude Jacques emphasised the very vague character of the Chinese terms 'Funan' and 'Chenla', while more domestic epigraphic sources become available. Claude Jacques summarises: "Very basic historical mistakes have been made" because "the history of pre-Angkorean Cambodia was reconstructed much more on the basis of Chinese records than on that of [Cambodian] inscriptions" and as new inscriptions were discovered, researchers "preferred to adjust

3708-423: The 7th century (inscription K.367) discovered at Vat Phu praises the "science of combatting" of King Jayavarman I : He [Jayavarman I], the first of those who knew the science of combatting the impetuosity of elephants, the force of cavalry, the will of man. Further evidence of martial traditions can be found in a 9th-century inscription from Thnal Baray (inscription K.282C) which depicts King Yasovarman I as

3811-587: The Burmese-Siamese wars as mercenaries. When the embassy arrived in Luzon, the rulers were now Spaniards, so they asked them for aid too, together with their Latin American troops imported from Mexico , in order to restore the then Christianised King, Satha II, as monarch of Cambodia, this, after a Thai/Siamese invasion was repelled. However that was only temporary. Nevertheless, the future King, Ang Duong , also enlisted

3914-494: The Cambodian's muscles, prompting the Khmer to retaliate by mimicking a trap around his wrists. Both wrestlers played along cheerfully before commencing the bout, earning admiration and encouragement from men while drawing cries from concerned women. Boxing, stick-fighting, and wrestling, which are core components of Bokator, were described by French records in 1905 as among the favourite pastimes of Khmer people . The 1907 edition of

4017-462: The French placing the kingdom under the protection of France. The original treaty left Cambodian sovereignty intact, but French control gradually increased, with important landmarks in 1877, 1884, and 1897, until by the end of the century the king's authority no longer existed outside the palace. Norodom died in 1904, and his two successors, Sisowath and Monivong, were content to allow the French to control

4120-465: The Khmer Empire are characterised by unparalleled technical and artistic progress and achievements, political integrity and administrative stability. The empire represents the cultural and technical apogee of the Cambodian and Southeast Asian pre-industrial civilisation. The Khmer Empire was preceded by Chenla, a polity with shifting centres of power, which was split into Land Chenla and Water Chenla in

4223-618: The Malay Peninsula route to the Strait of Malacca starting from the 5th century CE; rather, it suggests that the conquest of Funan by Zhenla was the exact reason for the shifting of maritime trade route in the 7th century CE.... "As Funan was indeed in decline caused by shifts in Southeast Asian maritime trade routes, rulers had to seek new sources of wealth inland." "By the end of the fifth century, international trade through southeast Asia

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4326-544: The Mekong Delta in the 17th century. This event initiates the slow process of Cambodia losing access to the seas and independent marine trade. Siamese and Vietnamese dominance intensified during the 17th and 18th century, resulting in frequent displacements of the seat of power as the Khmer royal authority decreased to the state of a vassal. In the early 19th century with dynasties in Vietnam and Siam firmly established, Cambodia

4429-642: The Shivaite Hindu state and the central cult of the sovereign as warlord and protector – the "Varman". This centralised system of governance appointed royal functionaries to provinces. The Mahidharapura dynasty – its first king was Jayavarman VI (1080 to 1107), which originated west of the Dângrêk Mountains in the Mun river valley discontinued the old "ritual policy", genealogical traditions and crucially, Hinduism as exclusive state religion. Some historians relate

4532-637: The Siamese result in loss of territory and eventually the conquest of the capital Longvek in 1594. Richard Cocks , of the East India Company established trade with Cochin , China, and Cambodia by 1618, but the Cambodia commerce was not authorized by the directors in London and was short-lived until it was revived in 1651, again without authorization. The Vietnamese on their "Southward March" reach Prei Nokor/Saigon at

4635-532: The aid of the French who were allied to the Spanish (As Spain was ruled by a French royal dynasty the Bourbons ). The Cambodian king agreed to colonial France's offers of protection in order to restore the existence of the Cambodian monarchy, which took effect with King Norodom Prohmbarirak signing and officially recognising the French protectorate on 11 August 1863. In August 1863 King Norodom signed an agreement with

4738-689: The arm-locks, hand-locks and neck-locks used in Bokator are depicted on the walls of Bayon temple. Longvek , the Cambodian capital during the 16th century, used to serve as a center for the country's military. It was a gathering point for people of knowledge including scholars and martial artists. According to Bokator master Om Yom, areas such as Svay Chrum District , Kraing Leav and Pungro in Rolea B'ier District of Kampong Chhnang Province used to be areas known for training in martial arts. The Royal Cambodian Armed Forces continues to train in that area today. A 1773 Siamese poem mentions Khmer boxing , describing

4841-673: The art. After the Pol Pot era, San Kim Sean had to flee Cambodia under accusations by the Vietnamese of teaching hapkido and Bokator (which he was) and starting to form an army, an accusation of which he was innocent. Once in America he started teaching hapkido at a local YMCA in Houston, Texas and later moved to Long Beach, California. After living in the United States and teaching and promoting hapkido for

4944-482: The audience, whereas precise and controlled strikes were followed by applause. Losers were comforted by the audience. Boxers wrapped their hands with fabric, on which sand or even broken glass might be sprinkled during heated matches. Pavie additionally provides a detailed account of a wrestling match between a Khmer and a Cham wrestler. The wrestlers engaged in playful preliminaries: the Cham initiated by humorously examining

5047-529: The authority of the French administration through their activism. In response, the French colonial administration banned in 1920 Buddhist monks from instructing and participating in Khmer martial arts, aiming to prevent their potential contribution to social upheaval. Sappho Marchal, an expert in Khmer art and a contributor to the French journal Revue des arts asiatiques , detailed in 1927 the ceremonial dance known as Tvay Bangkum Romleuk Kun Kru , performed before every fight. This ritual, which still persists today,

5150-556: The available bulk material on the Angkor plain. Dikes of the East Baray still exist today, which are more than 7 km (4 mi) long and 1.8 km (1 mi) wide. The largest component is the West Baray, a reservoir about 8 km (5 mi) long and 2 km (1 mi) across, containing approximately 50 million m of water. Royal administration was based on the religious idea of

5253-555: The boxers of Gamryan , presently identified as Phnom Mrech in Preah Vihear province . Bokator as practised today represents a modern form of the martial art used by Khmer soldiers during the Angkor period (9th–15th century) and depicted in carvings and bas-reliefs found throughout the Angkor temples. Many bas-reliefs show groups of soldiers at the entrance or in the outbuildings of palaces engaging in martial arts matches. A large number of

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5356-553: The capital Shreshthapura located in modern-day southern Laos. The immense influence on the identity of Cambodia to come was wrought by the Khmer Kingdom of Bhavapura , in the modern day Cambodian city of Kampong Thom . Its legacy was its most important sovereign, Ishanavarman who completely conquered the kingdom of Funan during 612–628. He chose his new capital at the Sambor Prei Kuk , naming it Ishanapura. The six centuries of

5459-535: The coast and in the lower Mekong River valley and the delta regions in houses on stilts where they cultivated rice, fished and kept domesticated animals. Chinese annals contain detailed records of the first known organised polity, the Kingdom of Funan , on Cambodian and Vietnamese territory characterised by "high population and urban centers, the production of surplus food...socio-political stratification [and] legitimized by Indian religious ideologies". Centered around

5562-443: The combatants head and biceps. In the past the cords were believed to be enchanted to increase strength, although now they are just ceremonial. Advanced Bokator practitioners learn to use the krama as a weapon. It serves various purposes including pulling, tying, wrestling, choking, and joint locking. Additionally, they can employ the scarf as a whip to target an opponent's eyes, impairing their vision. Stones can also be concealed within

5665-471: The continued importance of the delta." The History of the Chinese Sui dynasty contains records that a state called Chenla sent an embassy to China in 616 or 617 CE It says, that Chenla was a vassal of Funan , but under its ruler Citrasena-Mahendravarman conquered Funan and gained independence. Most of the Chinese recordings on Chenla, including that of Chenla conquering Funan, have been contested since

5768-425: The country seeking out Bokator lok kru , or instructors, who had survived the regime. The few men he found were old, ranging from sixty to ninety years of age and weary of 30 years of oppression; many were afraid to teach the art openly. After much persuasion and with government approval, the former masters relented and Sean effectively reintroduced Bokator to the Cambodian people. The first national Bokator competition

5871-679: The country was split into Land Chenla  [ km ] and Water Chenla  [ km ] . The names signify a northern and a southern half, which may conveniently be referred to as Upper and Lower Chenla. By the late 8th century Water Chenla had become a vassal of the Sailendra dynasty of Java – the last of its kings were killed and the polity incorporated into the Javanese monarchy around 790 CE. Land Chenla acquired independence under Jayavarman II in 802 CE Ancient Chinese records mention two kings, Shrutavarman and Shreshthavarman who ruled at

5974-586: The country, but in 1940 France was defeated in a brief border war with Thailand and forced to surrender the provinces of Battambang and Angkor (the ancient site of Angkor itself was retained). King Monivong died in April 1941, and the French placed the obscure Prince Sihanouk on the throne as king, believing that the inexperienced 18-year old would be more pliable than Monivong's middle-aged son, Prince Monireth. Svay Chrum District Svay Chrum District (Khmer: ស្រុកស្វាយជ្រំ ), lit.   ' The Mango camp '

6077-478: The delicate local eco-system and its resources alongside large scale deforestation and resulting erosion to the empires' eventual decline. Under king Suryavarman II (1113–1150) the empire reached its greatest geographic extent as it directly or indirectly controlled Indochina , the Gulf of Thailand and large areas of northern maritime Southeast Asia . Suryavarman II commissioned the temple of Angkor Wat , built in

6180-516: The demise of Angkor, it put an end to the pattern of ambivalent sovereignty that Cambodia’s imperial experiment on its western frontier had so effectively prolonged." Sources for the 16th century are more numerous. The kingdom is centred at the Mekong, prospering as an integral part of the Asian maritime trade network , via which the first contact with European explorers and adventurers does occur. Wars with

6283-463: The direction of the kick. Once the kick is caught, the practitioner follows up by using their elbow to strike the opponent's thigh, targeting the muscle to inflict pain and disrupt their attack. According to local belief, Samprouch commune ( Khmer : សំព្រោជ ) in Kampong Thom province was home to many Bokator martial artists and was named after an event that took place during the Siamese occupation of

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6386-423: The documents they copy cannot be discarded." The central reference point for the entire 15th century is a Siamese intervention of some undisclosed nature at the capital Yasodharapura (Angkor Thom) around the year 1431. Historians relate the event to the shift of Cambodia's political centre southward to the region of Phnom Penh , Longvek and later Oudong . "As Siam became Cambodia’s primary nemesis after

6489-760: The early 8th century. By the late 8th century Water Chenla was absorbed by the Malays of the Srivijaya Empire and the Javanese of the Shailandra Empire and eventually incorporated into Java and Srivijaya . Jayavarman II , ruler of Land Chenla, initiates a mythical Hindu consecration ceremony at Mount Kulen (Mount Mahendra) in 802 CE, intended to proclaim political autonomy and royal legitimacy. As he declared himself devaraja - god-king, divinely appointed and uncontested, he simultaneously declares independence from Shailandra and Srivijaya. He established Hariharalaya ,

6592-474: The east and to the Malay peninsula in the west" and "Here we will look at two empires of this period...Funan and Srivijaya". The question of how Funan came to an end is in the face of almost universal scholarly conflict impossible to pin down. Chenla is the name of Funan's successor in Chinese annals, first appearing in 616/617 CE ...the fall of Funan was not the result of the shifting of maritime trade route from

6695-470: The ecological consequences. Epigraphy in temples, ends in the third decade of the fourteenth, and does not resume until the mid-16th century. Recording of the Royal Chronology discontinues with King Jayavarman IX Parameshwara (or Jayavarma-Paramesvara) – there exists not a single contemporary record of even a king's name for over 200 years. Construction of monumental temple architecture had come to

6798-998: The economy. The term "Post-Angkor Period of Cambodia", also the "Middle Period" refers to the historical era from the early 15th century to 1863, the beginning of the French Protectorate of Cambodia. Reliable sources – particularly for the 15th and 16th century – are very rare. A conclusive explanation that relates to concrete events manifesting the decline of the Khmer Empire has not yet been produced. However, most modern historians contest that several distinct and gradual changes of religious, dynastic, administrative and military nature, environmental problems and ecological imbalance coincided with shifts of power in Indochina and must all be taken into account to make an interpretation. In recent years, focus has notably shifted towards studies on climate changes, human–environment interactions and

6901-448: The elite, workers and slaves. The elite included advisers, military leaders, courtiers, priests, religious ascetics and officials. Workers included agricultural labourers and also a variety of craftsman for construction projects. Slaves were often captives from military campaigns or distant villages. Coinage did not exist and the barter economy was based on agricultural produce, principally rice, with regional trade as an insignificant part of

7004-458: The empires' decline to these religious discontinuities. The area that comprises the various capitals was spread out over around 1,000 km (386 sq mi), it is nowadays commonly called Angkor . The combination of sophisticated wet-rice agriculture, based on an engineered irrigation system and the Tonlé Sap 's spectacular abundance in fish and aquatic fauna, as protein source guaranteed

7107-451: The end of the Funan era - around 500 A.D. as it provides the first concrete evidence for sustained maritime trade and socio-political interaction with India and South Asia. By the 1st century settlers have developed complex, organised societies and a varied religious cosmology, that required advanced spoken languages very much related to those of the present day. The most advanced groups lived along

7210-418: The extensive road network of Suryavarman I , in particular the royal road to Phimai and the many rest houses, bridges and hospitals make Jayavarman VII unique among all imperial rulers. In August 1296, the Chinese diplomat Zhou Daguan arrived at Angkor and remained at the court of king Srindravarman until July 1297. He wrote a detailed report, The Customs of Cambodia , on life in Angkor. His portrayal

7313-479: The fighters, making their fists even harder. This practice was documented by the French newspaper Le Saïgon sportif in 1933 and is said to enable fighters to inflict severe injuries with a punch. Fighters used to apply a specific ointment to toughen their skin. Some Bokator students dedicate their lives to mastering the martial art. Many of them reside within the martial arts school. They obediently follow their master's lead, who assumes dual roles as an instructor and

7416-476: The first capital of the Angkorean area near the modern town of Roluos . Indravarman I (877–889) and his son and successor Yasovarman I (889–900), who established the capital Yasodharapura ordered the construction of huge water reservoirs (barays) north of the capital. The water management network depended on elaborate configurations of channels, ponds, and embankments built from huge quantities of clayey sand,

7519-543: The first cultivation of rice and the first bronze making in Southeast Asia to these people. 2010 Examination of skeletal material from graves at Phum Snay in north-west Cambodia revealed an exceptionally high number of injuries, especially to the head, likely to have been caused by interpersonal violence. The graves also contain a quantity of swords and other offensive weapons used in conflict. The Iron Age period of Southeast Asia begins around 500 BCE and lasts until

7622-551: The imperative of controlling the lower Mekong basin as the key to control all Indochina . A weak Khmer kingdom only encouraged the strategists in Ayutthaya (later in Bangkok ) and in Huế . Attacks on and conquests of Khmer royal residences left sovereigns without a ceremonial and legitimate power base. Interference in succession and marriage policies added to the decay of royal prestige. Oudong

7725-844: The local communities. To further promote and safeguard Bokator, the Cambodia Kun Bokator Federation was established under the National Olympic Committee of Cambodia, with backing from the Ministry of Education, Youth, and Sports. This effort allows masters and apprentices from across the country to continue their practice. The art is also practiced outside Cambodia, notably in the United States, Europe, and Australia, with support from Cambodian diaspora communities. In 2020, masters from various Cambodian provinces formed an interprovincial network to share experiences, training techniques, and document their knowledge. Notably, Bokator

7828-515: The local lifestyle. In the introduction of his book Au royaume du million d'éléphant (In the Kingdom of the Million Elephants), Pavie vividly describes Khmer martial arts as they were practiced during grand festivals. Stick fighting was practiced with respect, order and discipline, captivating crowds as engaged men competed in front of their fiancé. Forceful strikes typically drew disapproval from

7931-400: The local ruler, a princess named Nagi Soma (Lieu-Ye in Chinese records), thus establishing the first Cambodian royal dynasty . Scholars debate as to how deep the narrative is rooted in actual events and on Kaundinya's origin and status. A Chinese document, that underwent 4 alterations and a 3rd-century epigraphic inscription of Champa are the contemporary sources. Some scholars consider

8034-538: The lower Mekong and Bassac rivers from the first to sixth century CE with "walled and moated cities" such as Angkor Borei in Takeo Province and Óc Eo in modern An Giang Province , Vietnam . Early Funan was composed of loose communities, each with its own ruler, linked by a common culture and a shared economy of rice farming people in the hinterland and traders in the coastal towns, who were economically interdependent, as surplus rice production found its way to

8137-404: The master ' ) This ritual is performed with a music called Pleng Pradal ( Khmer : ភ្លេងប្រដាល់ , lit.   ' boxing music ' ) played by an orchestra consisting of drums, cymbals and sralai . When fighting, Bokator athletes still wear the uniforms of ancient Khmer armies. A krama (scarf) is folded around their waist and blue and red silk cords called, sangvar day are tied around

8240-509: The mid 15th century the core population steadily moved to the east and – with brief exceptions – settled at the confluence of the Mekong and Tonle Sap rivers at Chaktomuk , Longvek and Oudong . Maritime trade was the basis for a very prosperous 16th century. But, as a result foreigners – Muslim Malays and Cham, Christian European adventurers and missionaries – increasingly disturbed and influenced government affairs. Ambiguous fortunes,

8343-524: The newly discovered facts to the initial outline rather than to call the Chinese reports into question". The notion of Chenla's centre being in modern Laos has also been contested. "All that is required is that it be inland from Funan." The most important political record of pre-Angkor Cambodia, the inscription K53 from Ba Phnom, dated 667 CE does not indicate any political discontinuity, either in royal succession of kings Rudravarman, Bhavavarman I, Mahendravarman [Citrasena], Īśānavarman, and Jayavarman I or in

8446-532: The northwestern provinces of Cambodia from 1795 to 1907. Siamese soldiers are said to have attacked the village in an attempt to abduct young girls but the villagers, skilled in Bokator, successfully defended themselves, causing the soldiers to flee hastily. In honor of this event, the village was named Siem Prouch ( Khmer : សៀមប្រូច ), meaning Siamese fleeing , which later evolved into Samprouch . Beyond martial arts, Bokator finds artistic applications in Chhay Yam,

8549-414: The oldest martial art currently being practiced in the Kingdom of Cambodia . The martial art is believed to trace its origin back to the 1st century AD, a time when early Khmer people, living amidst the wilderness, emulated the movements of animals for survival, resulting in the animal-inspired techniques found in Bokator. The martial arts in Cambodia stem from a long tradition; an inscription dating from

8652-632: The period 2012-2013 dignitaries of the Chinese Kingdom of Wu visited the Funan city Vyadharapura. Envoys Kang Tai and Zhu Ying defined Funan as to be a distinct Hindu culture. Trade with China had begun after the southward expansion of the Han Dynasty , around the 2nd century BCE Effectively Funan "controlled strategic land routes in addition to coastal areas" and occupied a prominent position as an "economic and administrative hub" between The Indian Ocean trade network and China, collectively known as

8755-456: The ports. By 1986 Funan controlled the strategic coastline of Indochina and the maritime trade routes. Cultural and religious ideas reached Funan via the Indian Ocean trade route. Trade with India had commenced well before 500 BCE as Sanskrit hadn't yet replaced Pali . Funan's language has been determined as to have been an early form of Khmer and its written form was Sanskrit . In

8858-490: The sake of glory as they did not involve any financial compensation. Bokator was practiced by members of the anti-colonial Khmer Issarak movement founded in 1945, who fought for the independence of Cambodia. During the troubled Khmer Republic era from 1970 to 1975, the practice of Bokator led to suspicions of mutiny in both Khmer Rouge-controlled and government-regulated areas. As a result, Bokator fighters did not publicly train but had to resort instead to secret trainings. At

8961-460: The same direction blocking style, the defender blocks the attack by using their knee in conjunction with raising both hands in front of the face to prevent frontal assaults. This requires a strong stance and quick reaction from the practitioner. The effectiveness of this technique depends on the sequence of kicks delivered by the opponent. This Sneat is considered one of the nine main and basic movements of blocking and defense in Bokator. This Sneat

9064-409: The scarf and launched akin to ancient sling projectiles. Bokator fighters used to wrap their hands with a white rope. It involved tightly wrapping the rope around all five fingers, ensuring they are securely attached. The rope used for the hand wrapping technique is referred to as Ampeh Plork ( Khmer : អំបោះភ្លុក , lit.   ' ivory rope ' ). A kind of cement was then poured onto the hands of

9167-530: The southernmost part of the Indochinese peninsula during the 1st to 6th centuries. Centered at the lower Mekong, Funan is noted as the oldest regional Hindu culture, which suggests prolonged socio-economic interaction with maritime trading partners of the Indosphere in the west. By the 6th century a civilization, called Chenla or Zhenla in Chinese annals, firmly replaced Funan, as it controlled larger, more undulating areas of Indochina and maintained more than

9270-464: The sport among Kashmiri players. The Cambodia Kun Bokator Federation (CKBF), established in 2004, plays a pivotal role in facilitating national-level training, workshops, seminars, and documenting Bokator techniques and skills. It provides a platform for masters to exchange information and knowledge. Since 2020, the Ministry of Education, Youth, and Sports (MoEYS) has been working to integrate Bokator into formal and non-formal education curricula, while it

9373-473: The status of the family of officials who produced the inscription. Another inscription of a few years later, K44, 674 CE, commemorating a foundation in Kampot province under the patronage of Jayavarman I, refers to an earlier foundation in the time of King Raudravarma, presumably Rudravarman of Funan, and again there is no suggestion of political discontinuity. The History of the T'ang asserts that shortly after 706

9476-430: The story to be simply an allegory for the diffusion of Indic Hindu and Buddhist beliefs into ancient local cosmology and culture whereas some historians dismiss it chronologically. Chinese annals report that Funan reached its territorial climax in the early 3rd century under the rule of king Fan Shih-man, extending as far south as Malaysia and as far west as Burma . A system of mercantilism in commercial monopolies

9579-558: The temples and reveals their esteemed status within the society of the Khmer empire : Particularly, the brave must be esteemed, who has proven his courage in fights. The one who embraces fighting should be held in higher regard than the one who shies away, for upon him rests the defense of right. Two imposing statues of wrestlers commissioned by King Jayavarman IV were discovered in Koh Ker and are estimated to date back to around 930 CE. Boxing

9682-524: The time of the Pol Pot regime (1975–1979) those who practiced traditional arts were either systematically exterminated by the Khmer Rouge , fled as refugees or stopped teaching and hid. After the Khmer Rouge regime, the Vietnamese occupation of Cambodia began and native martial arts were completely outlawed. San Kim Sean is often referred to as the father of modern Bokator and is largely credited with reviving

9785-506: The west and south". Historians maintain contradicting ideas about Funan's political status and integrity. Miriam T. Stark calls it simply Funan: [The]"notion of Fu Nan as an early "state"...has been built largely by historians using documentary and historical evidence" and Michael Vickery remarks: "Nevertheless, it is...unlikely that the several ports constituted a unified state, much less an 'empire'". Other sources though, imply imperial status: "Vassal kingdoms spread to southern Vietnam in

9888-447: The wrestling skills. For his school of Bokator, San Kim Sean developed a krama based system similar to a belt system to organize and represent the training levels. Bokator encompasses over 10,000 moves, and as students progressively master them, they receive different-colored krama to denote their advancement. Starting with a white krama, beginners advance through green, blue, red, brown, and then ten degrees of black. A golden krama

9991-670: Was added as a new discipline for the Southeast Asian Games in 2023. In India , the first National Kun Bokator Championship was held in Srinagar in 2023, organized by the Kun Bokator Federation of India. Representatives from 12 states participated in this event, alongside two coaches from Cambodia who shared their expertise. A National Level Kun Bokator Seminar was conducted for coaches and referees to ensure smooth proceedings. The championship has sparked increased interest in

10094-429: Was almost entirely directed through the Strait of Malacca. Funan, from the point of view of this trade, had outlived its usefulness." "Nothing in the epigraphical record authorizes such interpretations; and the inscriptions which retrospectively bridge the so- called Funan-Chenla transition do not indicate a political break at all." The archaeological approach to and interpretation of the entire early historic period

10197-442: Was established in 1601 as the last royal residence of the Middle Period. The 19th-century arrival of then technologically more advanced and ambitious European colonial powers with concrete policies of global control put an end to regional feuds and as Siam/Thailand escaped colonisation as a buffer state, Vietnam was to be the focal point of French colonial ambition. Cambodia, although largely neglected, had been colonized by

10300-490: Was established. Exports ranged from forest products to precious metals and commodities such as gold, elephants, ivory, rhinoceros horn, kingfisher feathers, wild spices like cardamom, lacquer, hides and aromatic wood. Under Fan Shih-man Funan maintained a formidable fleet and was administered by an advanced bureaucracy, based on a "tribute-based economy, that produced a surplus which was used to support foreign traders along its coasts and ostensibly to launch expansionist missions to

10403-890: Was held in Phnom Penh at the Olympic Stadium in 2006. The competition involved 300 participants. Bokator has been inscribed in 2022 (17.COM) on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity . Bokator boasts around 7,000 practitioners both in Cambodia and abroad. Dedicated grandmasters, including Ith Pen, Sen Sam Ath, San Kim Sean, Ros Serei, Am Yom, Suong Neng, Ponh Keun, Voeng Sophal, Ke Sam On, Kim Chiev, Chet Ay, and Kao Kob, work tirelessly to preserve and pass on this tradition. Across thirteen Cambodian provinces, Bokator community schools exist, where these grand masters teach and receive support from

10506-453: Was known and practiced during the Khmer empire , as evidenced by both carvings and inscriptions. An inscription dated 966 AD from Prasat Ta Siu, known as the inscription of Kok Samron, recounts a boxing match ordered by royal decree, the outcome of which resulted in the granting of a rice field. Another inscription dated 979 AD from Prasat Char (inscription K.257) mentions that Prince Narapatindravarman, son of Jayavarman IV , purchased land from

10609-517: Was placed under joint suzerainty, having lost its national sovereignty. British agent John Crawfurd states: "...the King of that ancient Kingdom is ready to throw himself under the protection of any European nation..." To save Cambodia from being incorporated into Vietnam and Siam, the Cambodians entreated the aid of the Luzones /Lucoes (Filipinos from Luzon - Philippines ) that previously participated in

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