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The earliest written
language to have been
found in the region is
in Sanskrit, an
Indian sacred language.
The writings were carved
in stones which could be
dated back to 5th and
6th century, which show
a strong influence of
the Indian culture over
the indigenous people.
Sometimes later, the
Khmer Language seems
to appear with many of
its characters and words
derived from Sanskrit.
An oldest stone
inscription written in
Khmer language were
found to be carved in
612 A.D. as its text
said.
The contents of these
stone inscriptions which
were housed in the
temples were mostly
concern with religions,
its ritual and
philosophy, Indian epics
of Ramayana and
Mahabharata,
Kings' salutations and
some poetic verses. Some
of these stone
inscriptions also list
the assets which were
owned by the temples and
by the dignitaries as
well as the different
objects needed for
ritual ceremonies.
Although these assets
and objects had long
been disappeared, these
listings served as
another jigsaw in our
quest for knowledge of
the Angkor. Little
things had been said
about the ordinary life
of the local people,
however, these stone
inscriptions had helped
us to retrace the
history of Khmer and to
understand its political
and cultural structure.
Around 1,200 stone
inscriptions written in
Sanskrit and Khmer had
been discovered.
The inscriptions were
careful engraved on the
stone with a great work
of real arts in order to
show high respects to
the gods of the
temples. This could
lead us to imagine that
the Khmers were devout
to their gods in whom
they revered as their
protector, and god's
blessing would bring
them prosperity.
Many Angkor temples had
been found to contain
the stone inscriptions
in both languages -
Sanskrit and Khmer,
however, their contents
could be differentiated
into two distinct
characteristics although
both of them served for
a religious purpose.
Those inscriptions
written in Sanskrit
addressed more or less
directly to the gods in
term of religious
prayers and rituals.
Sanskrit is the sacred
language of India and
was maintained in the
original form by the
Khmers so that its value
to their gods would not
be deviated by any form
of translation.
Generally, the Khmer
inscription had its
own distinction and the
content was mostly a
listing of assets,
covering from paddy
fields, cattle, objects
and furniture, as well
as the names of slaves
which were owned by the
temples. In many
instances, some of the
stone inscriptions were
placed in the shrine by
donors who could be the
dignitaries or the
elites of Khmer ruling
class. These
inscriptions could be
varied, ranging from the
listing of assets to
some poetic verses.
According to Zhou
Daguan in the
Chinese annals, the
ancient Khmers knew how
to write on the latina
leaves as well as by
chalks on the animal's
skin. Unfortunately,
these materials seem to
have been decayed over
the past centuries due
to damp weathers and
insects.
It is hard to believe
that such a high
civilization of Khmer
with a well-developed
writing system would
barely have any
literature. Only three
Khmer literatures
are known since they
were preserved in the
stone inscription. Many
literatures and other
Khmer manuscripts, being
written on unendurable
materials other than on
stone, are believed to
have been lost with
time, and some may have
been survived until
present day as local
folklores.
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