The custom by the Khmer women of leaving their chest uncovered
by Dr. Michel Tranet . Published date: 8 August 2009

Along the wall of the temples of the Angkorian period, we can see hundreds of sculptures of princesses, heavenly dancers or celestial nymphs, as well as of high or low ranking people clad in the same manner. The statue of the Indradevi princess, the wife of the great Jayavarman VII, also displays an uncovered chest. This nakedness can be also observed in the portraits of Funan (Nokor Phnom) dating from the 1st to the 7th centuries and of Chenla from the 7th-9th centuries.Base on the archeological chronicles, we can assume that the custom of dressing has existed since the prehistoric era.In other words, through historic documentation, we can come to the conclusion that the figures of the celestial or of the human being of the past time are representative of an ancestral tradition. This custom of leaving the breast bare has been interrupted with the arrival of the French.Up to the 19th century, Khmer women still certainly carried out this custom in any circumstances as it was the natural custom and through the outcome of the research, we can find out that this tradition has been fading from day to day when the European culture influenced significantly Khmer society in that era. In contradiction, the Khmer hill tribes, living in the mountain maintain this custom as far as today.Those primitive Khmers must be regarded as our ancestors as well as the people from pre-Angkorian and Angkorian period. This manner of dressing does reflect chastity rather than neglect.Thai researchers have recently discovered statues representing Khmer Angkorian dancers, wearing a thin dress (shirt) in the 12th century, different from some celestial nymphs (Apsara) on the wall of Angkor Wat or Baphuon temple (M.Tranet).

This article is sponsored by | your ad here

<< Home