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Encyclopedia > Funan
This article is part of
the History of Cambodia series

Early history of Cambodia
Funan (68 AD – 550 AD)
Chenla (550 AD – 802 AD)
Khmer Empire (802 AD – 1431 AD)
Rule over Isan
Dark ages of Cambodia (1593 – 1863)
Loss of Mekong Delta to Việt Nam
French Colonial Rule (1863–1953)
Post-Independence Cambodia
Cambodian Civil War (1967–1975)
Coup of 1970
Việt Nam War Incursion of 1970
Khmer Rouge Regime (1975–1979)
Việt Nam-Khmer Rouge War (1975–1989)
Vietnamese Occupation (1979–1989)
Modern Cambodia (1990–present)
1992–93 UNTAC
Timeline
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Funan (Old Khmer Bnam, Modern Khmer Phnom (i.e., "mountain"), Vietnamese Phù Nam) was a pre-Angkor Indianized Khmer kingdom located around the Mekong delta. It is believed to have been established in the first century C.E, although extensive human settlement in the region may have gone back as far as the 4th century B.C.E. Though regarded by Chinese envoys as a single unified empire, Funan may have been a collection of city-states that sometimes warred with one another and at other times constituted a political unity. At its height, Funan and all its principalities covered much of mainland Southeast Asia, including within its scope the territory of modern day Cambodia and Southern Vietnam, as well as parts of Laos, Thailand and Myanmar, and extending into the Malay Peninsula. [1] This is the History of Cambodia series. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 557 pixelsFull resolution (900 × 627 pixel, file size: 146 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Angkor Wat (Cambodia) - seen from the west entrance. ... Prehistory and early kingdoms Archaeological evidence indicates that parts of the region now called Cambodia were inhabited during the first and second millennia BCE by a Neolithic culture may have migrated from southeastern China to the Indochinese Peninsula. ... Chenla, known from Chinese records as Zhenla (真腊), was an early Khmer kingdom. ... Map of Asia and Europe c. ... The history of Isan has been determined by its geography: situated between Cambodia, Laos and Thailand, it has been dominated by each in turn, although its relative infertility meant it was more often a battleground than a prize. ... This does not cite any references or sources. ... The Khmer Krom (Khmer: ) are the indigenous ethnic Khmer minority living in southern Vietnam, especially in the Mekong River delta. ... Flag Capital Phnom Penh Language(s) French, Khmer Political structure Protectorate Puppet monarch  - 1860-1904 Norodom Historical era New Imperialism  - Protectorate established 1863  - Merged into Indochinese Union 1887  - Independence November 9, 1953 In 1863, Cambodia under king Norodom became a protectorate of France. ... Combatants Khmer Republic, United States, Republic of Vietnam Khmer Rouge, Democratic Republic of Vietnam, National Liberation Front of South Vietnam (NLF) Strength ~250,000 FANK troops ~100,000 (60,000) Khmer Rouge Casualties ~600,000 dead, 1,000,000+ wounded[1] The Cambodian Civil War was a conflict that pitted... The Cambodian coup of 1970 refers to removal of Prince Norodom Sihanouk and the subsequent elevation of Lon Nol as head of state in Cambodia in 1970. ... Belligerents Republic of Vietnam, United States National Front for the Liberation of South Vietnam, Democratic Republic of Vietnam Commanders II Corps: Lu Mong Lan III Corps: Do Cao Tri IV Corps: Nguyen Viet Thanh Creighton W. Abrams (U.S.) B-3 Front: Pham Hung (political) Hoang Van Thai (military) Strength... Belligerents Socialist Republic of Vietnam Soviet Union (allegedly supporting) Laos Democratic Kampuchea China Peoples Republic of China Commanders Văn Tiến DÅ©ng Pol Pot Strength 150,000+ Vietnamese troops, supported by around 20,000 KNUFNS 85,000+ troops located on northern frontier 70,000+ vast amounts consisting... After the fall of Democratic Kampuchea, Cambodia was under Vietnamese occupation and in a civil war during the 1980s. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... This is a timeline of Cambodian history. ... Funan DigitaLife Mall (Chinese: 福南中心), also known as Funan The IT Mall or simply Funan Centre, is a shopping centre located near the Civic District in Singapore. ... Map of the Angkor region in Cambodia. ... The Mekong is one of the world’s major rivers. ... Location of Southeast Asia Southeast Asia is a subregion of Asia. ... Northern Vietnam and Southern Vietnam are two general regions within Vietnam. ... Anthem: Kaba Ma Kyei Capital Naypyidaw , Largest city Yangon (Rangoon) Official languages Burmese Recognised regional languages Jingpho, Shan, Karen, Mon, Rakhine Demonym Burmese Government Military junta  -  Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council Senior General Than Shwe  -  Vice Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council Vice-Senior General... The Malay Peninsula (Malay: Semenanjung Tanah Melayu) is a major peninsula located in Southeast Asia. ...


Little is known about Funan, except that it was a powerful trading state, as evidenced by the discovery of Roman, Chinese, and Indian goods during archaeological excavations at the ancient port of Oc Eo in southern Vietnam. The capital, initially located at Vyadhapura (City of the Hunter) near the modern Cambodian town of Phumi Banam in the Prey Veng Province, may have been moved to Oc Eo at a later time.[2] Most of what is known about Funan is from records by Chinese and Cham sources dating from the third to sixth centuries and from archaelogical excavations. For other uses, see Roman Empire (disambiguation). ... Categories: Possible copyright violations ... Prey Veng is a province of Cambodia. ...

Contents

Origin

The race and language of the Funanese are not known, but Chinese records dating from the third century A.D reveals the same origin myth of the Khmer people that survives in modern Khmer folklore. [3] [4] [5] In a tenth century document of the Chinese official Rang Tai's visit to Funan in the middle of the third century A.D records one of the earliest variants of the legend. In it, Rang Tai learned that the original sovereign of Funan was a women name Liu-Ye. According to the story, Kaundinya had been given instruction in a dream to take a magic bow from a temple and to embark on a journey. He did so and went to Cambodia, where a local queen (Liu-ye) launched an attack on the Brahmin's boat. With the aid of the divine bow, Kaundinya repelled the attack and persuaded the defeated queen to marry him. Their lineage became the royal dynasty of Funan.[6]. A similar account is recorded in the seventh century History of Chin. [7] The Khmer people are the predominant ethnic group in Cambodia, accounting for approximately 90% of the 13. ...


Although the Chinese records shows bias, similar names have been recorded in stone inscriptions at My Son dating to 657 A.D. In this Cham version, the prince is known as Kaudinya and the queen as Soma, the daughter of the naga king. A Khmer inscription from the tenth century described the ruling line as descendants of Sri-Kaudinya and the daughter of Soma. [8] [9] [10] The same origin myth in modern Khmer folklore gives the name Preah Thaong to the prince and Neang Neak to the queen. In this version, Preah Thaong arrives by sea to an island marked by a giant thlok tree, native to Cambodia. On the Island, he found the home of the nagas and met Neang Neak, daughter of the naga king. He married her with blessing from her father and returned to the human world. The naga king drank the sea around the island and gave the name Kampuchea Thipdei, which in sanskrit (Kambuja Dhipati) translates ino the king of Kambuja. In another version, it is stated that Preah Thaong fights Neang Neak. The continuation of the same origin myth implies that modern Khmers are descendants of the Funanese people. [11] [12] [13] My son temple Mỹ Sơn is a temple complex, located in Quang Nam province in Vietnam, 69km south-west of Danang, was an imperial city during the Champa dynasty. ... The word Naga can refer to several different things. ...


It is debatable who founded Funan. However, it is very unlikely that the empire was founded by Indian traders because they would likely not have had the knowledge needed to start an empire. It is thought Funan existed before Indianization but gained political power and territories through trade and cultural exchange with India.  :]The first Khmer inscription dated shortly after the fall of Funan and those dating to later dates are concentrated in southern Cambodia suggests that the Khmers already inhabited lowland Cambodia. [14]


History

Funan's Empire at it's greatest extent.
Funan's Empire at it's greatest extent.

The Funanese Empire reached its greatest extent under the rule of Fan Shih-man in the early third century C.E., extending as far south as Malaysia and as far west as Burma. The Funanese established a strong system of mercantilism and commercial monopolies that would become a pattern for empires in the region. Fan Shih-man expanded the fleet and improved the Funanese bureaucracy, creating a quasi-feudal pattern that left local customs and identities largely intact, particularly in the empire's farther reaches. Image File history File linksMetadata FunanMap001. ... Image File history File linksMetadata FunanMap001. ... // Overview Events 212: Constitutio Antoniniana grants citizenship to all free Roman men 212-216: Baths of Caracalla 230-232: Sassanid dynasty of Persia launches a war to reconquer lost lands in the Roman east 235-284: Crisis of the Third Century shakes Roman Empire 250-538: Kofun era, the first...


Organization

Keeping in mind that the Funanese records does not survive into modern time, much of what is known is from archaeological excavation. Excavations had yield discoveries of brick wall structures, precious metals and pottery from southern Cambodia and Vietnam. Also found was a large canal system that linked the settlements of Angkor Borei and coastal outlets in the ports suggests a highly organized government. [15] Funan, a complex and sophisticated society with a high population density, advance technology and a complex social system dominated the area of Cambodia because of the Khmer people's ability to produce food in Cambodia's fertile plains.


Culture

Funanese culture was a mixture of native beliefs and Indian ideas. The kingdom is said to have been heavily influenced by Indian culture, and to have employed Indians for state administration purposes. Sanskrit was the language at the court, and the Funanese advocated Hindu and, after the fifth century, Buddhist religious doctrines. Records show that taxes were paid in silver, gold, pearls, and perfumed wood. K'ang T'ai reported that the Funanese practiced slavery and that justice was rendered through trial by ordeal, including such methods as carrying a red-hot iron chain and retrieving gold rings and eggs from boiling water. Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ... Sanskrit ( , for short ) is a classical language of India, a liturgical language of Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, and Jainism, and one of the 23 official languages of India. ... This article discusses the adherents of Hinduism. ... Europe in 450 The 5th century is the period from 401 to 500 in accordance with the Julian calendar in the Christian Era. ... A replica of an ancient statue found among the ruins of a temple at Sarnath Buddhism is a philosophy based on the teachings of the Buddha, Siddhārtha Gautama, a prince of the Shakyas, whose lifetime is traditionally given as 566 to 486 BCE. It had subsequently been accepted by... Trial by Ordeal is a judicial practice by which the guilt or innocence of the accused is determined by subjecting them to a painful task. ...


Archaeological evidence largely corresponds to Chinese records. the Chinese described the Funanese as people who lived on stilt houses, cultivated rice and sent tributes of gold, silver, ivory and exotic animals. [16]


K'ang T'ai's report was unflattering to Funanese civilization, though Chinese court records show that a group of Funanese musicians visited China in 263 C.E. The Chinese Emperor was so impressed that he ordered the establishment of an institute for Funanese music near Nanking. The Funanese were reported also to have extensive book collections and archives throughout their country, demonstrating a high level of scholarly achievement. Nanjing (南京, Pinyin: Nánjīng, Wade-Giles: Nan-ching; Postal System Pinyin: Nanking, formerly Jinling 金陵, Jiangning 江宁, and Tianjing 天京) is the central city of downstream Yangtze Basin and is a renowned historical and cultural city. ...


Economy

Funan was Southeast Asia's first great economy. The Kingdom was rich because of trade and agriculture. Citizens lived relaxed lifestyles. The Funanese population was concentrated mainly along the Mekong River: the area was a natural region for the development of an economy based on fishing and rice cultivation. The Funanese economy depended on rice surpluses produced by an extensive inland irrigation system. Maritime trade also played an extremely important role in the development of Funan. Archaeological remnants of what was the kingdom's main port, Oc Eo, were found to include Roman as well as Persian, Indian, and Greek artifacts. Location of Southeast Asia Southeast Asia is a subregion of Asia. ... View of the Mekong before the sunset The Mekong is one of the worlds major rivers. ... Workers harvest catfish from the Delta Pride Catfish farms in Mississippi Aquaculture is the cultivation of aquatic organisms. ... For other uses, see Rice (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Rice (disambiguation). ... Irrigation is the artificial application of water to the soil usually for assisting in growing crops. ... Ancient Rome was a civilization that grew from a small agricultural community founded on the Italian Peninsula circa the 9th century BC to a massive empire straddling the Mediterranean Sea. ... Persia redirects here. ...


Legacy

King Fan Shih-man, the greatest king of Funan, and his successors sent ambassadors to China and India. The kingdom likely accelerated the process of Indianization into Southeast Asia. Later kingdoms of Southeast Asia emulated the Funanese court. Location of Southeast Asia Southeast Asia is a subregion of Asia. ...


During its golden age Funan controlled modern southern Vietnam, Cambodia, central Thailand, northern Malaysia, and southern Burma. Although Funan collapsed under the pressure of neighboring Chenla, its capital Vyadhapura remained the largest and most important urban center in the region until Angkor Thom. Chenla, known from Chinese records as Zhenla (真腊), was an early Khmer kingdom. ... Face-tower of the South Gate, showing Avalokiteshvara Bayon temple, Angkor Thom The Terrace of the Leper King, showing apsara Angkor Thom was the fortified inner royal city built by Jayavarman VII (1181 - 1220?), Buddhist king of the Khmer Empire, at the end of the 12th Century, after Angkor had...


The Funan kingdom had an efficient navy and rose to prosperity by regulating the sea trade between China and India.


Funan collapsed in the sixth century and was absorbed by the Chenla kingdom who are undeniably Khmers. Funan is held to be the first Khmer kingdom and the forerunner of the mighty Khmer Empire. The Khmers and the Funanese share the same origin myth and under Funan, Cambodia became an indianized polity which had a profound effect on its culture. Chenla, known from Chinese records as Zhenla (真腊), was an early Khmer kingdom. ... The Khmer people are the predominant ethnic group in Cambodia, accounting for approximately 90% of the 13. ... Map of Asia and Europe c. ...


Relations

Asia in 400 AD, showing Funan and its neighbors.
Asia in 400 AD, showing Funan and its neighbors.

The French historian George Coedès once hypothesized a relation between the rulers of Funan and the Sailendra dynasty of Indonesia. Coedès believed that the title of "mountain lord" used by the kings of Sailendra may also have been used by the kings of Funan, since the name "Funan" is related to the Khmer "phnom," which means "mountain."[17] Other scholars have rejected this hypothesis, pointing to the lack of evidence in early Cambodian epigraphy for the use of any such titles.[18] The Funanese also traded with the Liang dynasty of southern China. [19] Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 483 pixelsFull resolution (1964 × 1185 pixels, file size: 693 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Author: Thomas A. Lessman. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 483 pixelsFull resolution (1964 × 1185 pixels, file size: 693 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Author: Thomas A. Lessman. ... George Coedès (1886-1969)was a 20th century scholar of southeast Asian archaeology and history. ... Sailendra ( meaning Lord of the Mountain in Sanskrit ) was the name of an Indonesian dynasty, emerging in Central Java at the end of the 8 th century. ...


Little is known about Funan's political history apart from its relations with China. A brief conflict is recorded to have happened in the 270's when Funan and its neighbor Champa joined forces to attack the Chinese province of Tongking, located in what is now modern Northern Vietnam. In 357, Funan became a vassal of China, and would continue as such until its disintegration in the sixth century. Chenla, a vassal of Funan eventually absorbed Funan entirely. Events Quintillus briefly holds power over the Roman Empire, and is succeeded by Aurelian Vandals and Sarmatians driven out of Roman territory Romans leave Utrecht after regular invasions of Germanic people. ... South East Asia circa 1100 C.E. Champa territory in green. ... Tonkin, also spelled Tongkin or Tongking, is the northernmost part of Vietnam, south of Chinas Yunnan and Guangxi Provinces, east of northern Laos, and west of the Gulf of Tonkin. ... Northern Vietnam and Southern Vietnam are two general regions within Vietnam. ... Events Battle of Strasbourg (357): Julian leads the Roman forces to victory against the Alamanni at Strasbourg Births Deaths Category: 357 ... The 6th century is the period from 501 - 600 in accordance with the Julian calendar in the Christian Era. ... Chenla, known from Chinese records as Zhenla (真腊), was an early Khmer kingdom. ...


Funan rulers

-see List of Kings of Cambodia


Notes

  1. ^ Kenneth R. Hall, Maritime Trade and Early Development in Early Southeast Asia, p.38, University of Hawaii Press, Honolulu HI 1985
  2. ^ Coedès, The Indianized States of Southeast Asia, pp.36 ff.
  3. ^ ,Rudiger Kaudinya,Preah Thaong and the Nagi Soma: Some Aspects of a Cambodian Legend, p. 339
  4. ^ George Ceodes, The Indianized States of Southeast Asia, pp 36-38
  5. ^ R.C Majumdar, Kambuja-Desa or An Ancient Cambodian Colony in Cambodia
  6. ^ Coedès, The Indianized States of Southeast Asia, p.37.
  7. ^ Paul Pelliot,Le Fou-na, p.254
  8. ^ R.C Majumdar, Kambuja-Desa or An Ancient Cambodian Colony in Cambodia, p. 23
  9. ^ Louis Finot,Notes d'Epigraphie: Les Inscriptions de Mi-So, p.923
  10. ^ George Coedes,The Indianized States of Southeast Asia, pp.496-497.
  11. ^ Rudiger Gaudes, Kaundinya, Preah Thong, and the Nagi Soma: Some Aspects of a Cambodian Legend, p. 337
  12. ^ Eveline Poree-Maspero, Nouvelle Etude sur la Nagi Soma, pp. 239 & 246
  13. ^ R.C Majumdar, Kambuja-Desa or An Ancient Cambodian Colony in Cambodia, pp. 18-19
  14. ^ Michael Vickery,:]What to Do about The Khmers, Journal of Southeast Asian Studies 27, 2, 1996. p. 390,
  15. ^ Charles Holcombe, Trade Buddhism: Maritime trade, immigration, and the Buddhist landfall in early Japan, p. 280
  16. ^ Paul Pelliot,Le Fou-nan, BEFEO 3, 1903. pp. 248-303
  17. ^ Coedès, The Indianized States of Southeast Asia, p.36.
  18. ^ Vickery, "Funan Reviewed," pp.103, 132-133.
  19. ^ Charles Holcombe, Trade Buddhism: Maritime trade, immigration, and the Buddhist landfall in early Japan, p. 280

References

  • M. Vickery (2003–2004). "Funan reviewed: Deconstructing the Ancients." Bulletin de l'École Française d' Extrême Orient: 101–143.
  • George Coedès, The Indianized States of Southeast Asia (translated from the French by Susan Brown Cowing). Honolulu: East West Center Press, 1968.

External links

  • http://lcweb2.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?frd/cstdy:@field(DOCID+kh0014)
Wikimedia Commons has media related to:
Funan

See also

Categories: Possible copyright violations ... Map of the Angkor region in Cambodia. ... Chenla, known from Chinese records as Zhenla (真腊), was an early Khmer kingdom. ... Map of Asia and Europe c. ... There are and were a very large number of monarchies in the world. ...

  Results from FactBites:
 
Funan - Khmer Civilization Cambodia (552 words)
Even a myth of Funan itself suggested that the world was created by a "Naga" King, a Hindu water deity, who drank up the flooding waters, and the origin of Funan started from the marriage of an Indian Brahmin Kaundinya to an indigenous "naga" princess named Soma.
The weakening of the Funan Empire was unclear, and it was overthrown by one of its vassal state of Chenla in early 7th century.
Funan thus had laid a basic foundation for the evolution of Angkor Civilization in later centuries.
funan he river in chengdu (163 words)
In ancient times, the Funan River, also known as the Jinjiang River, was Chengdu's city moat.
In 1997, the Chengdu Municipal Government completed the harnessing of the Funan River.
The river is acclaimed as a "green necklace around the neck of Chengdu".
  More results at FactBites »


 
 

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