The Khmer Kings and the History of Cambodia : Book I
Summary:
- Author (s):
- Kenneth T. So (Author),
Jacqueline So (Cover Design) - Release:
- 2017
- Category:
- Books
- Order a Copy:
- From Amazon →
The Khmer Kings and the History of Cambodia: Book I
1st Century to 1595: Funan, Chenla, Angkor and Longvek Periods
From 1100-1200 CE, Angkor reached its zenith under the reigns of Suryavarman II, the builder of Angkor Wat, and Jayavarman VII, the builder of Bayon. The book examines prominent roles played by the sacerdotal families (Brahmapurohita); examines the origins and meaning of the word Chenla; details the multi-century odyssey of the Emerald Buddha; considers the crucial role played by Neak Ta Khleang Moeung; the identity of the Leper king; the origin of Ponhea Yat; the rise and fall of Sdach Kân; as well as hundreds of related topics such as how Angkor Wat was built according to the Indian cosmology of the Yuga periods, and the explanation for the Khmer lunisolar calendar system.
The emergence of the Siamese capital of Ayutthaya brought economic and military challenges to Angkor, ultimately leading to the fall of Angkor, which is examined in detail. Aggression between Ayutthaya and Angkor pushed the Khmer kings to relocate their capitals farther south and east, leading to the Longvek period of Khmer history.
About this Edition:
Book I covers every significant Cambodian historical event, place, temple and person from the 1st century to 1595 CE, supplemented by detailed genealogical charts, photos, diagrams, appendices, references, bibliography and full index.
Read also:
The Khmer Kings and the History of Cambodia: Book II
– 1595 to the Contemporary Period
2017 • Book details • Buy on Amazon
Book Details:
Paperback
Publisher: DatASIA, Inc.
Date of Publishing: November 1, 2017
Language: English
Pages: 364
Cambodian-American Rocket Scientist Publishes Cambodian History Opus
Kenneth T. So, an award-winning Cambodian-American scientist who worked for NASA and aerospace companies for 35 years, has completed a 25-year project more challenging than rocket science: creating a monumental, 800 page history of Cambodia, from its origins to the present day.
Despite its spectacular monuments at Angkor, which attest of a powerful empire that dominated Southeast Asia a millennium ago, whole chapters of Cambodia’s history remain a mystery.
This is what led Kenneth T. So—a Cambodian-American senior rocket scientist who worked for NASA and aerospace companies for 35 years—to try filling the gaps.
For a quarter of a century, he applied himself to his historical research during his every free moment, using the same dedication that had earned him the NASA Langley Research Center’s Chairman Certificate of Appreciation in the late 1980s. Since his retirement, So has worked full time to complete his monumental opus, commenting “Compiling a detailed history is not rocket science…it is much harder!” His books became available on Amazon worldwide Nov. 1.
Entitled “Khmer Kings and the History of Cambodia,” his 2-volume work covers more than 2,000 years of the country’s history, including the Angkorean era that spanned six centuries, and the Cold War era of the 1960s and 1970s during which Cambodia fell under the control of a genocidal government, the Khmer Rouge.
“Khmer Kings and the History of Cambodia-Book I” focuses on the shaping of the nation, covering the periods from the first century on, which became known as Funan and Chenla, up to the 1590s when Siam—as Thailand was then called—sacked the country’s capital of Longvek, an episode that profoundly marked Cambodia in every way. “Khmer Kings and the History of Cambodia-Book II” covers the country’s history and evolution from 1595 up to the present day.
These Cambodian history books are especially significant because they were written by a Cambodian who spent his entire life with the culture, and fluent in the Khmer language. Over the past 150 years, most books on the subject have been written by Western scholars, who interpreted the kingdom’s history from their own perspectives.
“Khmer Kings and the History of Cambodia” sets a new, comprehensive benchmark of understanding. Weighing close to 11 pounds (5 kilos), the two-volume set totals 804 pages, with more than 150 color photos and diagrams—including what may be the most detailed genealogical chart of Cambodia’s royal families ever published—as well as a reference section, a bibliography, appendices and a full index.