2. History of Funan

Human settlements in South Vietnam and south Cambodia, situated on the gulf of Siam, between the lower Menam basin and the Mekong delta was occupied originally by the Funanese.^[1] According to some experts, “Funan” was the Chinese form of the ancient Khmer word bnam (mountain).^[2] The population of Funan belong to Mon-Khmer. Their main activities were agriculture and trade; intensive trade had been conducted with India since the third century B.C., as demonstrated by relics and inscriptions. Neak Ta Dambang Dek inscription^[3], this inscription Coedès has suggested that this Jayavarman, husband of Kulaprabhavati, should be identified with the king of Funan. Prasat Pram Loven inscription^[4], this inscription founded in Thap Muoi belong to Dong Thap province of Vietnam, it mention that a prince named Gunavarman who appears to be the son of Jayavarman and Kulaprabhavati records the consecration of Chakratirthasvamin, a foot-print of Visnu.) I

ndian customs had a major influence on Funanese civilization, which obtained practical and cultural teachings from India and adapted them to meet its own needs, thus producing its own original version. beside the contact with India, Funan also had been relations with China that in studies in Sanskrit inscriptions of ancient Cambodia has been mentions:

“Exchange of political envoys and political intercourse with China and Cambodia took place during the 3^rd–4^th centuries A.D. after the visit of Kang Tai and Chu Ying, the two Chinese envoys, Funan also sent several political emissaries. During the reign of the Chinese king Sun Ch’uan of the Wu dynasty, the first envoy from Funan was sent along with some musicians and indigenous products as presents to the Chinese emperor. These Chinese envoys have referred to the Kaundinya dynasty in Funan.”^[5]

These contacts were continued from the 4^th to the 7^th century and between 243 A.D. and 287 A.D., Funan sent five missions to China while others followed at irregurlar intervals.^[6] Beside the missions there are also with many presents which included ivory stupas. But however, in spite of all these political activities Funan does not appear to have any deep-rooted cultural influence from China.

The capital of Funan was Vyadhapura, whose location is uncertain (it may have been in the Prei Veng area, at the root of Ba Phnom, or further south, at Angkor Borei)^[7], while the main port was Oc-èo, a huge trading center situated to the north of what is now Kien Giang province (Rach Gia) in Vietnam, which even had contacts with Rome, as demonstrated by the Roman and Hellenistic relics found.^[8]

In 514 Rudravarman, son of a concubine of Kaundinya Jayavarman, succeeded to the throne and chose as his capital Angkor Borei, where he probably lived until after 539. The first Funanese sculptures, in the style of Phnom Da, a sacred hill at Angkor Borei, are attributed to that period.^[9] Rudravarman sent delegations to China, like his predecessor, and it is known from inscriptions that he appointed as court doctors two brothers from a family of Brahmans from Adhyapura, which was to supply ministers to four generations of kings. From this time on, there was a close connection between the sovereigns and certain families of Brahmans, who came to play a key role in the history of the Khmer Empire.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Mahesh K. Sharan, Studies in Sanskrit Inscriptions of Ancient Cambodia, Delhi: 1974, p. 24.

[2]:

Ibid, p. 26.

[3]:

Ibid, p. 52.

[4]:

Art & Archaeology of Fu Nan Pre-Khmer Kingdom of the Lower Mekong Valley, ed by, James C.M. Khoo, Bangkok: 2003, p. 63.

[5]:

Mahesh K. Sharan, Studies in Sanskrit Inscriptions of Ancient Cambodia, Delhi: 1974, p. 25.

[6]:

D. G. E. Hall, History South East Asia, New York: 1964, p. 23-31.

[7]:

M. K. Sharan, Studies in Sanskrit Inscriptions of Ancient Cambodia, Delhi: 1974, p. 27.

[8]:

A. K. Coomaraswamy, History of Indian and Indonesia Art, London: 1972, p. 236.

[9]:

M. K. Sharan, Studies in Sanskrit Inscriptions of Ancient Cambodia, Delhi: 1974, p. 21.