Origin of Nokor Phnom
In the 1st century CE, the Khmer population consisted of various groups such as Phnong, Charay, and Kuy, along with other smaller ethnic groups, collectively referred to as the "Upper Khmer." These communities spoke Austroasiatic languages, with variations depending on local contexts and the development of their own linguistic patterns.
Illustration — Origin of Nokor Phnom
🗣️ Language and Culture
The Khmer people at that time were unfamiliar with words like “population,” “assembly,” or “grace,” since these terms originated from Sanskrit in India. Similar to modern loanwords (e.g., “radio,” “caramel”), Sanskrit gradually entered daily life in Khmer society over hundreds of years.
🌏 The Origin of Relations
In the 1st century, an Indian merchant named Kaunidya traveled by sea and settled in present-day Cambodia. He met the local Khmer elite, and after marrying the daughter of the chief, he established the first city called “Vnom.”
📜 Reasons for Adopting Indian Language
- Use of Indian language on tools and ornaments (stupa, singha statues)
- Use of Indian language in state records (population, villages)
- Religion: Brahmanical rituals and texts were written in Sanskrit
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