A short review of Khmer education history: Education during the Chenla period
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.69496/cjess.v3i1.160Keywords:
Angkor empire, Cambodian education history, Chenla period, Religious education, Sanskrit literacyAbstract
This paper focuses on the education system in the Chenla Kingdom (approximately years 550-802 AD), an essential period in the development of Khmer culture from the Funan Kingdom to the Angkor Era. This paper considers educational literature, history, Khmer inscriptions, and the Chinese chronicles to study educational institutions, curriculum, accessibility, methods of instruction, and the sociocultural functions of education. From the results of the historical documents, it is clear that the education process was mainly conducted at religious institutions such as temples, shrines, hermitages, and Disāpāmokkha schools. Education was mainly accessible to the members of the ruling elite, such as the royal family, nobles, high officials, and religious leaders. The curriculum was deeply influenced by the Indian civilization and mainly consisted of religious studies, reading and writing Sanskrit, philosophy, ethics, mathematics, astronomy, and administration. Instruction was mainly done through apprenticeship and oral instruction. Education was very crucial in preserving cultural tradition and governance, promoting literacy, and laying the intellectual foundation of the Angkor Era.
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