CURRENT RESEARCH &
RESEARCH SUMMARIES

2. OC CHOUN, Dean Faculty of Letters, Phanom Penh University, Cambodia (Translated from Khmer to English by Dorasy Paul, Ph.D. student, Department of Anthropology, University of Michigan)

Stone Inscriptions as a Source of Study of Cambodian Literature and History

Cambodian has a rich collection of stone inscriptions. As of 1988, a total of 1150 Cambodian inscriptions have been discovered. The earliest document on some Cambodian inscriptions was published in 1873 by a Dutch scientist, Heinrich Kern. French experts on Sanskrit language and the French School of the Far East, however, contributed most of the effort to the discoveries and studies of Cambodian inscriptions. At the present time on recently discovery inscriptions are presented in Cambodia, France and Thailand.

Cambodian inscriptions date from the 6th through 12th centuries; i.e., from the Nokor Phnom or Funan Kingdom to the end of Kambujadeca period. The earliest inscriptions written in Cambodian language are the Angkor Borei inscriptions (K600) which probably originated in the year 611 A.D. Various maps prepared by Henri Parmentier revealed that inscriptions in Cambodian and Sanskrit were found over a wide area covering the present countries of Cambodia, Cocinchine, eastern Thailand and southern Laos.

Inscriptions were written in Cambodian, Sanskrit, or in both languages. Many Cambodian and Sanskrit inscriptions have been translated into French over the past century. There are 503 Sanskrit inscriptions, usually written in verse. Sanskrit texts were mostly related to Hinduism and Buddhism, to the Kings and royal families, to history, battles, and important leaders and constructions of monuments. Cambodian inscriptions include 619 texts of which 164 are from the pre-Angkor period and 455 from the Angkor period. Cambodian texts were written with simple vocabulary and were easier to understand by the general public than texts in Sanskrit. Except for a few texts that narrated historical events, most Cambodian texts can be considered administrative and judicial documents, or news reports. Cambodian texts also described social, economic and religious activities in various parts of the country.

Inscriptions contain important records of the early history of political, economical, and social developments of Cambodia. Chronology of reigns of Cambodian Kings and of construction of various monuments before and during the Angkor periods was established from inscriptions. Studies of Cambodian language advanced at a fast pace after the publication of the eight volumes on Cambodian inscriptions by George Coedes between 1937 and 1966. Studies on vocabulary, grammar, and etymology of old Cambodian as well as the influence of Sanskrit on Cambodian were based on inscriptions. Scientists in many countries are continuing their research on old Cambodian. A dictionary of old language has already been published. Inscriptions were also used for research on the Mon-Khmer languages and the 90 dialects of the Mon-Khmer family.