American Culture: Traditions and Customs of the United States

<div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbUKwlIiGUShM0z-axPTmXygw43dtyLSwDQdxg1WzEbyEyp4yf0t61jFjg39fkpt5n51nmFa7ZlHqyQPP4KyZM8CtyDNqAJGJ3PDtVR3Mbx4wr1fHddvtQ83yR3vaFwZF3efyZcnai3RM/s1600/shutterstock_71188660.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbUKwlIiGUShM0z-axPTmXygw43dtyLSwDQdxg1WzEbyEyp4yf0t61jFjg39fkpt5n51nmFa7ZlHqyQPP4KyZM8CtyDNqAJGJ3PDtVR3Mbx4wr1fHddvtQ83yR3vaFwZF3efyZcnai3RM/s1600/shutterstock_71188660.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> American culture encompasses the customs and traditions of the United States, including language, religion, food and the arts. Nearly every region of the world has influenced American culture, as it is a country of immigrants, most notably the English who colonized the country beginning in the early 1600s. U.S. culture has also been shaped by the cultures of Native Americans, Latin Americans, Africans and Asians.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> The United States is sometimes described as a "melting pot" in which different cultures have contributed their own distinct "flavors" to American culture. Just as cultures from around the world have influenced American culture, today American culture influences the world. The term Western culture often refers broadly to the cultures of the United States and Europe.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> As the third largest country in the word with a population of more than 315 million, the United States is the most culturally diverse country in the world. The Northeast, South, Midwest, Southeast and Western regions of the United States all have distinct traditions and customs. Here is a brief overview of the culture of the United States. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> <strong>Language</strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> There is no official language of the United States, although 31 of 50 states have made English their official language or given it exceptional status. More than 90 percent of the U.S. population speaks and understands at least some English, and most official business is conducted in <a href="http://www.livescience.com/18062-english-language-positive-bias.html">English</a>.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> While almost every language in the world is spoken in the United States, Spanish, Chinese, French and German are among the most frequently spoken non-English languages. Each region of the United States, in particular the South, has its own spin on the language with unique pronunciations and phrases.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> <strong>Religion</strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> Nearly every known religion is practiced in the United States, which was founded on the basis of <a href="http://www.livescience.com/21328-freedom-of-religion.html">religious freedom</a>. More than 75 percent of Americans identify themselves as Christians. About half are Protestant, about one-quarter are Catholic, and a small percentage are Mormon. After Christianity, Judaism is the second most-identified religious affiliation, at about 1.4 percent of the population. About 20 percent of the population has no religious affiliation.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> <strong>American style</strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> Clothing styles vary by region and climate, but the American style of dressing is predominantly casual. Denim, sneakers and cowboy hats and boots are some items of clothing that are closely associated with Americans. Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein, Michael Kors and Victoria Secret are some well-known American brands. American fashion is widely influenced by celebrities.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> <strong>American food</strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> American cuisine has been influenced by Europeans and Native Americans in its early history. Today, there are a number of foods that are commonly identified as American, such as hamburgers, hot dogs, potato chips, macaroni and cheese and meat loaf. "As American as apple pie" has come to mean something that is authentically American.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> There are also styles of cooking and types of foods that are specific to a region. Southern-style cooking is often called American comfort food and includes dishes such as fried chicken, collard greens, black-eyed peas and corn bread. Tex-Mex, popular in Texas and the Southwest, is a blend of Spanish and Mexican cooking styles and includes items such as chili and burritos and relies heavily on shredded cheese and beans.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> <strong>Arts</strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> The United States is widely known around the world as a leader in mass media production, including television and movies. The television broadcasting industry took hold in the United States in the early 1950s and American television programs are shown around the world. The United States also has a vibrant movie industry, centered in Hollywood, and American movies are popular worldwide.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> New York is home to Broadway and Americans have a rich theatrical history.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> American folk art is an artistic style and is identified with quilts and other hand-crafted items.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> American music is very diverse with many, many styles, including rhythm and blues, jazz, gospel, country and western, bluegrass, rock 'n' roll and hip hop.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> <strong>Sports</strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> The United States is a sports-minded country, with millions of fans who follow football, baseball, basketball and hockey, among other <a href="http://www.livescience.com/topics/sports-science/">sports</a>. The game of baseball, which was developed in colonial America and became an organized sport in the mid-1800s, is known as America’s favorite pastime, although its popularity has been eclipsed by football.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> <strong>American holidays</strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> Americans celebrate their independence from Britain on July 4. Memorial Day, celebrated on the last Monday in May, honors those who have died in military service. Labor Day, observed on the first Monday in September, celebrates country’s workforce. Thanksgiving, another distinctive American holiday, falls on the fourth Thursday in November and dates back to colonial times to celebrate the harvest. Presidents’ Day, marking the birthdays of George Washington and <a href="http://www.livescience.com/1276-abraham-lincoln-16th-president.html">Abraham Lincoln</a>, is a federal holiday that occurs on the third Monday in February. The contributions of veterans are honored on Veterans’ Day, observed on Nov. 11. The contributions of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. are remembered on the third Monday in January.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">source:http://www.livescience.com/28945-american-culture.html</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>

American Culture: Traditions and Customs of the United States

 American culture encompasses the customs and traditions of the United States, including language, religion, food and the arts. Nearly ever...

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Chinese Wedding

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitO5N61iMd3KvKbCEiX4R18CA4rxIFwnw3bhKmA-6Ck8CzWeW457DcddTX0f5q7YGhfmq-qSoVxLWesx4dDsV149dAu0-Fwoxh7pc8XsCZPyDvi89ZRIvLi_gMPb0QNBWPjmt_7STK1RM/s1600/chainese-wedding.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitO5N61iMd3KvKbCEiX4R18CA4rxIFwnw3bhKmA-6Ck8CzWeW457DcddTX0f5q7YGhfmq-qSoVxLWesx4dDsV149dAu0-Fwoxh7pc8XsCZPyDvi89ZRIvLi_gMPb0QNBWPjmt_7STK1RM/s1600/chainese-wedding.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><h3 style="text-align: justify;">Getting Married in China</h3><div style="text-align: justify;">I had the delightful experience of attending several different types of weddings in China – including my own! Yes, I married a Chinese man in China! It was no easy task, as getting information on the correct procedures to follow for acceptance was not easy to get. Not many foreigners actually marry in China. Ours was probably similar to what we would consider a “court house” wedding – only there wasn’t even a court house ceremony. The whole thing was just the signing of documents at different official department offices and having medical examinations.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I think things are starting to ease up some in China now, but in the years 2000-2006, if you wanted to marry, you had to go back to your home province to do the paperwork process - which was costly and time consuming for young couples. Many young couples celebrate their marriage at the first Chinese New Year - after the marriage documents arrive.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">My marriage was probably the most simplistic type of procedure. We just wanted to get legal – so that my husband would not get hauled off to jail for living with a foreigner and not being married or fully divorced. Those laws have changed now.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Most Chinese families, having just one child in the family, now make a very big production of the wedding– even in the country side. Weddings can range from large to small and are full of culture and tradition – even though they may appear to be quite westernized looking from the outside in.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Something that is extremely well done in China is the Wedding Photo Album. That is usually done over a period of several days, long before the actual wedding. The pictures produced are fantasy and dreams - but a wonderful keepsake - one that every couple looks forward to creating and showing to their friends and family. </div><div style="text-align: justify;">At rich weddings, you may go to a 5 star <a href="http://www.chinese-traditions-and-culture.com/chinese-wedding.html#" id="_GPLITA_0" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent ! important; border: medium none ! important; display: inline ! important; float: none ! important; height: auto ! important; margin: 0px ! important; min-height: 0px ! important; min-width: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important; text-decoration: underline ! important; vertical-align: baseline ! important; width: auto ! important;" title="Click to Continue > by UTubeNoAds">hotel<img src="http://cdncache-a.akamaihd.net/items/it/img/arrow-10x10.png" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent ! important; border: medium none ! important; display: inline ! important; float: none ! important; height: 10px ! important; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px ! important; min-height: 0px ! important; min-width: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important; vertical-align: super ! important; width: 10px ! important;" /></a> for the lavish reception. You will be expected to give a "red envelope" containing money as a gift to the newlyweds. To show that they are not in need of your money - don't be surprised if later in the evening, they come back to you and present you with a red envelope containing half the money you originally gave them!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">It is not uncommon for the Bride to have 3 wedding dresses. She will have a white western style gown, a traditional red qipao and perhaps another lovely ballroom gown - all worn over the course of the same day.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">At the wedding reception, it is common procedure to hire host for entertainment. They will play games and sing songs during the course of the dinner, while the bride and groom go from table to table toasting their guests. The bride and groom do not eat at the reception.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">In the countryside, firecrackers (cherry bombs) are a popular way of celebrating a wedding.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Honeymoons – may be spent with entire family.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">It is not uncommon to move into the family home with parents for the first several years of marriage. Usually, the bride moves into the grooms family home. Modern parents now ask that before they give permission for their daughter to marry, the groom must prove that he has enough money to buy a home for their daughter. </div><h2 style="text-align: justify;">Auspicious Days</h2><div style="text-align: justify;">The Chinese still rely on fortune tellers to predict the most auspicious days (and years) to marry. Many couples will postpone their wedding plans until the right day or right year that promises success. In some provinces, you will find very large groups of couples getting married the same day - because they believe in the luck of that day - for most success in their marriage. </div><div style="text-align: justify;">In China, it is common for many young couples live together the year before they are actually married and start on the paperwork process. The most common time to celebrate a marriage is at Chinese New Year or on auspicious days. </div><div style="text-align: justify;">source:http://www.chinese-traditions-and-culture.com/chinese-wedding.html</div><h3 style="text-align: justify;"> </h3><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>

Chinese Wedding

Getting Married in China I had the delightful experience of attending several different types of weddings in China – including my own! Yes...

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Culture Values

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD7nXFa3EztaVgTcAYxvPKv_pDcOAFvKxN6yYOnyB803-7KkMICJMPIIxfmqdRMgZ3-UNkSA-3ZUcBHtLFGMmQfmQX7aznX3J_wMgUX2PIVe__vrJGlMBTyQWD28q2tfT7eH1ZjsjpCtE/s1600/Vietnamese-Dragon-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD7nXFa3EztaVgTcAYxvPKv_pDcOAFvKxN6yYOnyB803-7KkMICJMPIIxfmqdRMgZ3-UNkSA-3ZUcBHtLFGMmQfmQX7aznX3J_wMgUX2PIVe__vrJGlMBTyQWD28q2tfT7eH1ZjsjpCtE/s1600/Vietnamese-Dragon-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>In Asian myths, no <span class="IL_AD" id="IL_AD2">creature</span> is as impressive as the dragon. For Vietnamese peasants, the dragon was a vivid symbol of the fourfold deity-clouds, rain, thunder and lighting. Represented by an S shape, dragons are depicted on artifacts dating back to the Dong Son-Au Lac culture, which existed in northern Vietnam in the first millennium B.C. Later came the cult of Tu Phap, or the Four Miracles. Long ago stargazers identified the Dragon constellation made up of seven stars arranged like an S. The brightest star is the Mind (Tam), also known as the Divine (Than) star. The word Than may also be read as Thin (Dragon), which denotes the third month of the lunar calendar and represents the Yang vital energy.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaW3YvqDvUcpjB-jGdMBDI_SNH6Fjakj32kUiChHJNnIf_UVK81XJvwfCLBFjbEicDN372qJH63kpQzRonXiV-wXPN90bCS0dHcnp9IGANasmuAQyTjWjPOZg7uDc1i6hoI0uEzjdJ5xg/s1600/Vietnamese-Dragon-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaW3YvqDvUcpjB-jGdMBDI_SNH6Fjakj32kUiChHJNnIf_UVK81XJvwfCLBFjbEicDN372qJH63kpQzRonXiV-wXPN90bCS0dHcnp9IGANasmuAQyTjWjPOZg7uDc1i6hoI0uEzjdJ5xg/s1600/Vietnamese-Dragon-2.jpg" /></a></div>Dragons were also associated with kingship. Every Vietnamese person knows the legend of Lac Long Quan and Au Co. Lac Long Quan (King Dragon of the Lac Bird Clan) is known as the forefather of the Vietnamese people. He is said to have been the son of a dragon, while his wife, Au Co, was the child of a fairy. Their eldest son, King Hung, taught the people to tattoo their chests, bellies and thighs with dragon images to protect themselves from aquatic monsters.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmhpjOQ-LaQ996-46yDkgyEFAGFHYXqRcOMltovX8Nv89ftT39dDyE3UIYbChX3bXM-dwtYO1tT6sPeDUjatKYUhTqW-MucNYIJ37qsLCvy1pxJszqCIuoE07ZGRKhi9OCf0BTEIcCOmY/s1600/Vietnamese-Dragon-3.jpg" />During the Ly Dynasty (11th to early 13th centuries), the dragon became a common decorative motif in plastic arts. In the royal edict on the transfer of the capital to Thang Long in 1010, it was written: “The Capital is chosen due to the lay of the land, which affects a coiling dragon and a sitting tiger”. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Legend has it that on the sunny day when the royal barge landed at Dai La, the king saw a golden dragon rise into the sky. Taking this as a good omen, he named the new capital Thang Long, or City of the Soaring Dragon. The modern city of Hanoi stands on this same site.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglKld59GsCpYyUh1zSRVOWfFK6idTBlxIGwTSkmP5lbaetdBVieVqCTNkB4PcKASGuIGB1QAoVNIZoL7oxqHruNL8pG73vKXpVSGjBejk4dyzdr1sAphFgg3xjSNMRVgXaF4KWV1ltjFc/s1600/Ly-Dragon-Head.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglKld59GsCpYyUh1zSRVOWfFK6idTBlxIGwTSkmP5lbaetdBVieVqCTNkB4PcKASGuIGB1QAoVNIZoL7oxqHruNL8pG73vKXpVSGjBejk4dyzdr1sAphFgg3xjSNMRVgXaF4KWV1ltjFc/s1600/Ly-Dragon-Head.jpg" /></a></div>The Ly king had a cluster of shops and inns built up to the walls of an ancient temple once dedicated to the dragon deity. One night, the dragon deity revealed himself in the form of a violent northerly wind, which knocked down all of the houses but left the temple intact. Following this event, the king cheerfully proclaimed: “This is the Dragon God, who takes his charge over earthly affairs”.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmvv-quFGs5OOvLzL0bQo6Df603sBQYA9zrxWuJLZGgDesjebqolkRFruIDVSSJUCkZb1_posJjhIskMRU4WOBmGnVj7CqL4x4yNR6ZGlxsV4elG2Tm_Ifh33tskFjunXGTVBj9IKCfB0/s1600/Vietnamese-Dragon-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmvv-quFGs5OOvLzL0bQo6Df603sBQYA9zrxWuJLZGgDesjebqolkRFruIDVSSJUCkZb1_posJjhIskMRU4WOBmGnVj7CqL4x4yNR6ZGlxsV4elG2Tm_Ifh33tskFjunXGTVBj9IKCfB0/s1600/Vietnamese-Dragon-4.jpg" /></a></div>The Ly dragon was derived from India’s mythical Naga, which Southeast Asian peoples influenced by Indian mythology had transformed into a sea god. The Ly depiction of the dragon is both sophisticated and unique. The dragon’s elaborate head is raised, flame-co loured crest thrust out, a jewel held in its jaws. Its mane, ears and beard flutter gracefully behind, while its lithe, undulating body soars above the waves. The dragon was usually depicted inside a stone, a piece of wood, a bodhi leaf, or a lotus petal. Dragon images appear on the pedestals of statues of Amitabha Avalokitecvara (Kwan Kin), on cylindrical stone pillars in <span class="IL_AD" id="IL_AD3">the hall</span> dedicated to heaven in Thang Long Citadel, and on a five meter-high hexagonal stone pillar in Giam Pagoda in Bac Ninh province. The latter is considered by art historians to be a colossal linga. Lingas symbolize the male Yang element, while dragons symbolize the Yin element.<br /><br />That dragons, or long, associated with royalty, are revealed by the names given to the king’s personal effects and person, such as long con (royal <span class="IL_AD" id="IL_AD5">tunics</span>), long chau (royal boat), long thi (royal person), and long dien (royal countenance). <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9GBKPDYwK7kD5ugVf5RALluJ0jJHL0VUHGUlpstBtlybmLDwGmwTxdNUQaL8cFMSp_rxI2ELjIrEDDB-ykrM1JisIrY1GoJvuoJUa3wz2F0xrBAwa6vUGs9e09sGdgROXUuq4RI2aJow/s1600/Tran-Dynasty-Dragon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9GBKPDYwK7kD5ugVf5RALluJ0jJHL0VUHGUlpstBtlybmLDwGmwTxdNUQaL8cFMSp_rxI2ELjIrEDDB-ykrM1JisIrY1GoJvuoJUa3wz2F0xrBAwa6vUGs9e09sGdgROXUuq4RI2aJow/s1600/Tran-Dynasty-Dragon.jpg" /></a></div>During the Tran Dynasty (early 13th to end of 14th centuries), the dragon retained the sophisticated style of the Ly dragon, yet changed to reflect the greater authority of the dynasty which defeated invading Mongol forces three times. The image became more detailed, with a large head, forked horn, four fierce a claws (stone carving in Boi Khe Pagoda), and a massive, rounded body, covered in carp scales (Pho Minh Pagoda).<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSIQU7x7dwprorlScH3B70fs998Ty1Tlh5FyRQuObxP2XFpVnQ6s4NhAsZ6_RpA1Wa_jH6VWAamn9WhD8WbMaeotL4z91LMLkPlOhuYBduNAnHZ21RYTLCMaDUP1BDwudXQx1YcH4Gi5o/s1600/Le-dynasty-dragon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSIQU7x7dwprorlScH3B70fs998Ty1Tlh5FyRQuObxP2XFpVnQ6s4NhAsZ6_RpA1Wa_jH6VWAamn9WhD8WbMaeotL4z91LMLkPlOhuYBduNAnHZ21RYTLCMaDUP1BDwudXQx1YcH4Gi5o/s1600/Le-dynasty-dragon.jpg" /></a></div>The dragon took on a whole new appearance under the Le Dynasty (early 15th to end of 18th centuries). With a raised head, forked horn, wide forehead, prominent nose, large, forceful eyes, five claws, and two splayed feet, a dragon crept up the balustrade of Kinh Thien Hall’s central staircase. This fierce and imposing dragon was clearly a symbol of royal authority. <span class="IL_AD" id="IL_AD4">Examples of</span> Le era dragons may be found carved in stone in Co Loa Temple, carved on wooden doors in Keo Pagoda, and carved in the royal stone bed in Dinh Temple.<br />The Nguyen Dynasty (early 19th to mid 20th centuries) had dragons much like those of the Le. The top ridges of palace roofs were decorated with undulating dragons covered in sparkling porcelain tiles.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhovm7ryPeR8sLl2eXkymII3ftjB4G6Ec_n_1tePRwGPWOkJNFdioiXE0NZii5ibgxXRIH7cewFwGhXF_jRWh_HV877a_UujnOwScKWCJPPn_o0KDvU3UDCeykg2X2ypcgEnBZznGTBgZ8/s1600/Thang-Long-Dragon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhovm7ryPeR8sLl2eXkymII3ftjB4G6Ec_n_1tePRwGPWOkJNFdioiXE0NZii5ibgxXRIH7cewFwGhXF_jRWh_HV877a_UujnOwScKWCJPPn_o0KDvU3UDCeykg2X2ypcgEnBZznGTBgZ8/s1600/Thang-Long-Dragon.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Initially, dragons in Vietnam were associated with water and Yin energy. Dragons were popular among the common people, who believed that rain was created by nine dragons, which took water from the sea to pour down on the rice paddies. The <span class="IL_AD" id="IL_AD1">dragon dance</span>, a great favorite among people of all walks of life, was used to invoke rain. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Many place names in Vietnam bear the word long (dragon), as in Ha Long Bay (Where the Dragon Descended) or the Cuu Long River (Nine Dragons).</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Dragons occupied the top position in traditional geomancy, especially for sovereigns. It was said that Le Hoan was able to found the Anterior Le Dynasty (980-1009 A.D.) because his grandfather’s tomb was situated on a “vein in the dragon’s jaw”. The Royal Chronicle of the Restored Le Dynasty contains a story about Prince Lang Lieu, who saw a black dragon perched on his father’s tomb. “Golden dragons for emperors, black dragons for kings,” states this ancient text.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Like Chinese monarchs, Vietnamese sovereigns chose the dragon as the symbol of their power. But unlike the Chinese dragons, which were shown descending from heaven and spitting fire, the Vietnamese dragons were shown ascending from water. Though imposing and fierce, the Vietnamese dragons were never threatening.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">source:http://www.vietnam-culture.com/articles-221-34/Tale-of-Vietnamese-Dragon.aspx </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmCzKtD2WS5rxyHrUGn5pzFf0-frzaMGP439PxaJsgj5M17tIS2AcKPvj8kmYvzk6FPrcTZS6-VK9pvSdt5WXlGlporAGd89HFotBbKbJ7x7zplC0gj2LA-M9ER3N32ew-J_4Qks5xN0M/s1600/Vietnamese-Dragon-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmhpjOQ-LaQ996-46yDkgyEFAGFHYXqRcOMltovX8Nv89ftT39dDyE3UIYbChX3bXM-dwtYO1tT6sPeDUjatKYUhTqW-MucNYIJ37qsLCvy1pxJszqCIuoE07ZGRKhi9OCf0BTEIcCOmY/s1600/Vietnamese-Dragon-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>

Culture Values

In Asian myths, no creature is as impressive as the dragon. For Vietnamese peasants, the dragon was a vivid symbol of the fourfold deity-...

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Thailand Cultural Norms and Traditions

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfSWXolutLFdnLZeVrkRz5_cDGj2R1LS2CsYIgFKDt7U0jpaaL_iSmDoJEDWIfvnG-LSTRF0D2RrmTkEvBinl3U9Hziv347cLDtmZtdFhtnn2fzZG2ArlSsWN19_hcgQnHRp_avw-Rk2I/s1600/Blog-Thai-King-Queen-300x199.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfSWXolutLFdnLZeVrkRz5_cDGj2R1LS2CsYIgFKDt7U0jpaaL_iSmDoJEDWIfvnG-LSTRF0D2RrmTkEvBinl3U9Hziv347cLDtmZtdFhtnn2fzZG2ArlSsWN19_hcgQnHRp_avw-Rk2I/s1600/Blog-Thai-King-Queen-300x199.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Thailand is one of the most fascinating countries to visit on earth. Culturally there are many practices and beliefs that are very different to those from Western societies.  Here’s a few to whet your appetite to learn more, and to practice respectfully while you travel throughout Thailand.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">• The Royal Family of Thailand is held in very high respect. Making derogatory remarks about any of the royal family is against the law. The penalty is 3 - 15 years’ imprisonment, depending on the severity.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>• The traditional greeting is with two hands prayer-like palms together known as a wâi.  If a local gives a wâi to you, to be polite, it is nice to wâi back. A wâi, however, is always appreciated.  Watch this short video on how to give a wâi.<br /><br />• Thai culture places certain spiritual importance to certain parts of the body. You should not point your feet at people, touch people with your feet, prop your feet up on seats or tables or step over people sitting on the ground. The head in contrast has a much higher importance. Avoid touching people on the head as this is considered very rude. You should also avoid sitting on pillows meant for head rests. In some rural areas, food is often served while seated on the ground. Stepping over food on the ground is another extremely rude gesture and will surely embarrass your Thai host.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdstjb9hNl_AZrPbSBXpiyjEgH6E4bwiSAZJmJAkZ-O1NFvOqy6aJurGvcRPTFywlGPRafub6OFxzJ1SOrB-gNtmpGomRB9nNt3LG6FgomDTLng8MVAHfW-7SQ0rkGqwSSFybli__haec/s1600/Blog-Thai-culture-1-300x236.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdstjb9hNl_AZrPbSBXpiyjEgH6E4bwiSAZJmJAkZ-O1NFvOqy6aJurGvcRPTFywlGPRafub6OFxzJ1SOrB-gNtmpGomRB9nNt3LG6FgomDTLng8MVAHfW-7SQ0rkGqwSSFybli__haec/s1600/Blog-Thai-culture-1-300x236.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">• Throughout all of Thailand, if you notice a pile of shoes at or near an entrance to a home, shop or guesthouse, you should remove your shoes before entry; it is considered rude not to do so.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">• Books and other written materials are given special status over other secular objects. You shouldn’t slide books or documents across a table top nor place them on the ground. Use a chair or stand if one is available.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">• Most of Thailand’s attractions are of cultural significance. Places like temples and palaces are highly respected by the locals for their religious values and there are certain customs and etiquette you need to respect when visiting these places such as; you are required to wear “polite dress” when visiting official buildings and palaces. This means no flip-flop, no shorts, no skirt above the knee for ladies, no sleeveless t-shirts.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Find these interesting? Thailand is full of culturally fascinating practices and things to learn about. Go ahead, learn as much as you can before you visit, and while there, ask questions and see how locals treat each other.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">soruce:http://www.isvolunteers.org/blog/thailand-cultural-norms-and-traditions/ </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>

Thailand Cultural Norms and Traditions

Thailand is one of the most fascinating countries to visit on earth. Culturally there are many practices and beliefs that are very differe...

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Khmer Wedding

<div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivz0fIKMVQ9saQ2UMJ6NaZu_5HlwpOwuYPzlC1Uargsxx_CFH5hGZKL8agYRNd3W9Sca6HJ10CKPtSRMUOEPRfW0cG-A2kZii6zEFBOwCM2gpADpP3G26EzNnLE-HD37oCR3VMlS-Lavs/s1600/Khmer_Wedding1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivz0fIKMVQ9saQ2UMJ6NaZu_5HlwpOwuYPzlC1Uargsxx_CFH5hGZKL8agYRNd3W9Sca6HJ10CKPtSRMUOEPRfW0cG-A2kZii6zEFBOwCM2gpADpP3G26EzNnLE-HD37oCR3VMlS-Lavs/s1600/Khmer_Wedding1.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">In Khmer wedding, it has a lot of ceremonies held in chronological orders. They show the historical roots related to the Buddha’s period which existed ages ago. According to a book “Khmer Wedding Rules” of Oknha Nov, it puts that in ancient Khmer wedding laws, people perform a song describing God Vesandor Borom Pothisat arranging the marriage between his children – Chealy and Kroesna. And some other songs are about the marriage arrangement of God Ream and Seda. Oknha Nov wrote that the current wedding preparations are arranged according to the rules drawn up by King Preah Chey Chesda Thebdey.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> According to the king’s book, it puts that all ceremonies in Khmer wedding are related to mythical stories such as a story "Som Sla Kanseng". It is told that there were two men who went to feed their buffalos in the field would like to make friends with each other and wanted to be relative by marriage with each other because one had a son and the other had a daughter. In order to prove their words, they ask for betel nuts packed in krama from each other to show their promise that their children would marry to each other.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Another story is “the three betel flowers”. It describes that there were four men who had different skills – swimming, shooting, fortune telling, and magic. After completing their study, they returned home. Along the way back near a stream, the fortune teller said that day they were going to meet a girl and become their wife. Then a big bird swooped down on a girl, Khemry, who was having a bath. Right away the shooting man took his bow and shot the bird down back to the stream.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The swimmer then swam to bring her to the ground but she was just dead. After that the magic man helped her be alive again. All four men felt in love with the lad, so they were judged by the Buddha that she would become a wife of someone who swam to help her because he was able to touch her body first. And the fortune teller, magic man, and shooting man would become the father, mother, and brother respectively. Since then in all weddings, the bride and the groom must have three betel flowers in order to show gratitude towards their parents and brothers/sisters.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivz0fIKMVQ9saQ2UMJ6NaZu_5HlwpOwuYPzlC1Uargsxx_CFH5hGZKL8agYRNd3W9Sca6HJ10CKPtSRMUOEPRfW0cG-A2kZii6zEFBOwCM2gpADpP3G26EzNnLE-HD37oCR3VMlS-Lavs/s1600/Khmer_Wedding1.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivz0fIKMVQ9saQ2UMJ6NaZu_5HlwpOwuYPzlC1Uargsxx_CFH5hGZKL8agYRNd3W9Sca6HJ10CKPtSRMUOEPRfW0cG-A2kZii6zEFBOwCM2gpADpP3G26EzNnLE-HD37oCR3VMlS-Lavs/s1600/Khmer_Wedding1.jpg" /></a> Setting-the-date ceremony and the groom holding the scarf are told that Prince Thaong was married to Princess Tevtey, a daughter of the sea dragon king. After setting the date already, Tevtey had to bring him to her father at dragon world, so the sea dragon’s daughter asked the prince to hold her scarf in order to dive into the dragon world. In the meanwhile, the dragon king commanded his man to kill the prince at the gate in order to test the prince’s ability. But the daughter had known this; hence, she disguised herself as the prince by changing her skirt and it was put on the prince instead so that the killer was not able to kill the prince. That is why in the current Khmer wedding it was seen that there is clothes change between the groom and the bride, and the groom holding the bride’s scarf in to the room, accompanied by “Phat Cheay and Neang Neak” songs, etc.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The ceremony called “Chey Haong Sousdey Haong Men Haong” in wedding ceremony performed until now is followed by an ancient story recorded in “the rules of wedding” book. It describes that Once upon a time there were two brothers – Chey and Sousdey. At that time, there was no king to continue after the previous king had died in Cambodia, so the officials in the palace relied on the holy elephant and horse to find a man to be their king. Then the animals approached the brothers’ house. Consequently, they knew that one of the brothers was the suitable man to be crowned. Chey became the king and Sousdey became his assistant at the same time. When crowned, the people whooped to bless the king. They said “Chey Haong Sousdey Haong Men Haong” simultaneously. The blessing is adapted to use in the wedding until now.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> "Bongvil Popil" ceremony in the Khmer wedding is also written in “collective Khmer legends” book, volume 9. According to the legend, it is told that once upon a time, there was a man named Chey Sorya who had completed the magic training already from Eyso God, so he asked the God for a sacred relic as a blessing tool for the weddings of human being. Then the God gave the man a replica of his penis and a replica of his wife’s vagina as the blessing tools to spread their reputation in the world. Eyso God took diamond sand from the universe to make a gold banyan leaf representing his wife’s vagina and took a diamond rock from Himalaya Mountain to make a candle representing his penis and supposed them to be “two blessings”. He then told the man to take the candle wrapped in the banyan leaf to circle three times around grooms and brides in order to inhale the smoke making them powerful. The “Popil” ceremony is believed to bring harmony and joyfulness for the new couples making them successful in all challenges. Since Khmer people firmly and sincerely believe in “Popil”, it is performed not only in wedding ceremony but also in other ceremonies such as housewarming, birthday, etc.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">"Holding a Sword" tradition in the wedding progress is also told that once upon a time there was a high ranking knight in Peareansey Palace, who fell in love with a daughter of the villager and deposit a piece of gold as a dowry and promised to marry in three months’ time. Three years had gone, so she was married to her neighbor villager but on the wedding day, the knight appeared and took out his sword and killed the man who was the groom. Then the chief clergyman had prayed to dismiss all bad things at the place. The clergyman had analyzed on the power of the sword. That is why people use a sword in the wedding when the bride and the groom are in pair for blessing.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Tradition on Khmer Wedding Season</strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Wedding ceremony is very meaningful for each of individual’s life who follows their tradition and the laws of the country. That is why this ceremony is carefully dealt with concerning to choosing the date which is believed to bring luck and harmony for the people’s lives and starting a new families. Some families do not allow their children to marry in the rain season and some delay it for two years after the engagement ceremony because of the fortune telling. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2xOat7BUBnx2wDw6uawt64Az8xaFpPtsqdwQeLvFp9oYm4XZ17MzQgUXhetlSuVIcXTeqPdL92YEEpX5h27r5jYOcpBlvR0iu5dM_71_D8EoAKYQsiB5CdZHdWnW4pMiCyQDDgp4SLiU/s1600/Khmer_Wedding2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2xOat7BUBnx2wDw6uawt64Az8xaFpPtsqdwQeLvFp9oYm4XZ17MzQgUXhetlSuVIcXTeqPdL92YEEpX5h27r5jYOcpBlvR0iu5dM_71_D8EoAKYQsiB5CdZHdWnW4pMiCyQDDgp4SLiU/s1600/Khmer_Wedding2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">According to Mr. Nhean Phoeun, a researcher and publisher of Khmer tradition of national and international festival committee, he said that Khmer tradition allows people to marry only in a period of six months in a year but not the other six. Wedding can be carried out only in the 30-day months. Those six months could be in early May, July, October, January, and March. But for engagement ceremony and matching the natural chemistry between son and daughter, they could be performed in any month.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">He continued that for the above months, there are only 7 days of each month that are good days. According to the Khmer tradition, they should not perform on their birthday, religious day, lunar or and solar eclipse, and during Khmer new years.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Actually, the reason people do not get married in the rain season is that there are a lot of rains that make it difficult for the wedding reception, procession, and other ceremonies. It is also difficult for the guests travelling to wedding party and it is when farmers are busy with their fields.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">source:http://www.tourismcambodia.com/culture/art-and-culture/khmer-wedding.htm </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>

Khmer Wedding

In Khmer wedding, it has a lot of ceremonies held in chronological orders. They show the historical roots related to the Buddha’s period w...

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Khmer Dance

<div style="text-align: justify;">Classical Dance of Cambodia The epic poem of Rama (Ramayana) is believed to have been revealed to a Hindu holy man named Valmiki by Brahma, the god of creation. This religious literary work, dating from about ad 4, is known in various versions throughout India and Southeast Asia. In Cambodia, the story has been set to music and dance and performed by the Royal Ballet since the 18th century.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Although the epic is also known in the villages, where it is translated orally or dramatized in the popular shadow puppet theater, the ballet was traditionally a courtly art performed in the palace or for princely festivals. The music of the ballet is performed by the Pinpeat orchestra, which is made up of traditional xylophones, metallophones, horizontal gongs, drums, and cymbals. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>History</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOQomgp_0zZALBZz78iPqOovYuBFYInthnxLUiIYjvTp8wpfA80Vw0kkelVcVyv6snp-6wgQu81RtWLtAXNGW_4FNdxsBd6U44M1zL10SOA5uBqEDdmEdlrRpqWFrAFKcUxNnGTqw2AiU/s1600/apsara_stand.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOQomgp_0zZALBZz78iPqOovYuBFYInthnxLUiIYjvTp8wpfA80Vw0kkelVcVyv6snp-6wgQu81RtWLtAXNGW_4FNdxsBd6U44M1zL10SOA5uBqEDdmEdlrRpqWFrAFKcUxNnGTqw2AiU/s1600/apsara_stand.jpg" width="260" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Khmer classical dance derived from Indian court dance, which traces its origins to the apsarases of Hindu mythology, heavenly female nymphs who were born to dance for the gods. The traditions of Thailand and Java (in Indonesia) also influenced the music and dance of Cambodia. In classical Cambodian dance, women, dressed in brightly colored costumes with elaborate headdresses, perform slow, graceful movements accompanied by a percussive ensemble known as the Pin Peat. Pinpeat orchestras include drums, gongs, and bamboo xylophones. <b> </b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />In Cambodia's villages, plays performed by actors wearing masks are popular. Shadow plays, performed using black leather puppets that enact scenes from the Reamkern, are also enjoyed. Folk dancing is popular in rural Cambodia and is performed spontaneously to a drumbeat.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyuwV6JW5M6UN5HjVOZpCdkqbqMuNSfbslYAukOuuNtc0EDOj3UM-x_uHGBlZoM-D3menvFrwSzkj2_NxFrJr5EzCm4qn-UwoY7rar3mjlfAW88sDoBgCVFDUWbTktOk8maZnEhq3hSNw/s1600/apsara.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyuwV6JW5M6UN5HjVOZpCdkqbqMuNSfbslYAukOuuNtc0EDOj3UM-x_uHGBlZoM-D3menvFrwSzkj2_NxFrJr5EzCm4qn-UwoY7rar3mjlfAW88sDoBgCVFDUWbTktOk8maZnEhq3hSNw/s1600/apsara.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><b>Apsara Dance</b> </b></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">At the heart of classical form is the Apsara, the joyful, almost wanton dancer whose images are everywhere. Princess Buppha Devi, who currently serves as the Minister of Culture, is a master of Apsara dancing, which dates to the 1st century.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The graceful movements of the Apsara dancers, adorned with gold headdresses and silken tunics and skirts, are carved on the walls of many of the temples at Angkor. Estimates are that there were 3,000 Apsara dancers in the 12th century court of King Jayavarman VII.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH4Jyi3cx4GvaqDkd98D4BnjeTsr3TXt_XHMaSN8Irt2TzZh5wLf9uuNrV0arZUMnRUTRiUVUmRSD8qggL1ZWeyqvxWk4N7Sn_G9EfIUrtZ7E83IwBRpBju0s7Y0gwo5NMYJH6hgDAY1k/s1600/kagnoak.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH4Jyi3cx4GvaqDkd98D4BnjeTsr3TXt_XHMaSN8Irt2TzZh5wLf9uuNrV0arZUMnRUTRiUVUmRSD8qggL1ZWeyqvxWk4N7Sn_G9EfIUrtZ7E83IwBRpBju0s7Y0gwo5NMYJH6hgDAY1k/s1600/kagnoak.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"> Over the centuries Khmer dancing lent its influence to the classical ballet of neighboring countries, and some of its postures and movements are similar to other Southeast Asian dance forms. But according to Princess Buppha Devi, "The Khmer kingdom started its traditions in the 8th century, 500 years before Thailand." In 1400, with the sacking of the Angkor Empire, the Apsara dancers were seized and taken to Thailand. </div><div style="text-align: justify;">Apsara dancing is one of two elements of classical ballet, the other being "today" dancing, the depiction of early myths. Many of the dances involve performing a fragment of the Ramayana, the ancient Indian epic that is one and a half times as long as the Odyssey.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />Others are based on the legendary battles and mythical sagas carved in bas relief on the walls of the temples of Angkor-including the Churning of the Sea of Milk, the great battle between gods and demons for the holy liquid that gives immortality. There are 100 dances and dramas.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQD3yK_uvMUvvwD41ITNzPv68rzpWgqZIH-2kU0e14cNiFiD486OHdvmxTBUeAxN_ZTkJgUKvD5-smzLZbOTBm8Jl80vUSJ7bzpLygRsgg-PbIsTDAiwHd4UO_E0LGeNQ1JeqQNj_7eG4/s1600/angrot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQD3yK_uvMUvvwD41ITNzPv68rzpWgqZIH-2kU0e14cNiFiD486OHdvmxTBUeAxN_ZTkJgUKvD5-smzLZbOTBm8Jl80vUSJ7bzpLygRsgg-PbIsTDAiwHd4UO_E0LGeNQ1JeqQNj_7eG4/s1600/angrot.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>source:http://www.tourismcambodia.com/culture/art-and-culture/khmer-dance.htm<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div></div>

Khmer Dance

Classical Dance of Cambodia The epic poem of Rama (Ramayana) is believed to have been revealed to a Hindu holy man named Valmiki by Brahma,...

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Khmer Art and Culture

<div style="text-align: justify;">Throughout Cambodia's history, religious principles guided and inspired its arts. A unique Khmer style emerged from the combination of indigenous animistic beliefs and the originally Indian religions of Hinduism and Buddhism. These two religions, along with the Sanskrit language and other elements of Indian civilization, arrived in mainland Southeast Asia during the first few centuries ad.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Seafaring merchants following the coast from India to China brought them to the port cities along the Gulf of Thailand, which were then controlled by the state of Funan in Cambodia. At varying times, Cambodian culture also absorbed Javanese, Chinese, and Thai influences.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYcPdiOY0ygogHjCQEd8MoKeB8Ty949jBgjuzESPZaLft_Ze284bXtWJrYSqrYdszHQ3ebs7V7uIGYOhnQEZ_UmMTeL2YwF1_dJe2eWyMOBSXMplBHIrb0stJmiMsdsEL9TujwqYtNr-k/s1600/KhmerSculpture.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYcPdiOY0ygogHjCQEd8MoKeB8Ty949jBgjuzESPZaLft_Ze284bXtWJrYSqrYdszHQ3ebs7V7uIGYOhnQEZ_UmMTeL2YwF1_dJe2eWyMOBSXMplBHIrb0stJmiMsdsEL9TujwqYtNr-k/s1600/KhmerSculpture.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Between the 9th and 15th centuries, a prosperous and powerful empire flourished in northwestern Cambodia. The Khmer kingdom of Angkor, named for its capital city, dominated much of what is now Laos, Vietnam, and Thailand. The kingdom drew its religious and political inspiration from India. The literary language of the court was Sanskrit; the spoken language was Khmer. Massive temples from this period, including Angkor Wat and the Bayon at Angkor Thum, testify to the power of Angkor and the grandeur of its architecture and decorative art. The unparalleled achievements in art, architecture, music, and dance during this period served as models for later cultural development in Cambodia.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Angkor faded into obscurity after the capital moved south to Phnom Penh in the 15th century, probably due in part to frequent invasions by the neighboring Thais. The jungle rapidly grew over the monuments. In the centuries that followed, frequent wars reduced the territory, wealth, and power of Cambodian monarchs. However, an independent state with its capital near Phnom Penh survived until the 19th century. The most important work of Cambodian literature, the Reamker (a Khmer-language version of the Indian myth of the Ramayana), was composed during this time.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">France, which began administering Cambodia in 1863, rediscovered the temples at Angkor and worked to preserve them beginning in the early 20th century. Cambodia's traditional culture and the monuments of Angkor were endangered between 1970 and 1990 due to civil war. The Communist Khmer Rouge regime, which opposed and mistrusted religion and education, banned all of Cambodia's traditional arts and its written language. Since 1991, when Cambodia's warring factions signed a peace accord, international organizations have helped the Cambodian government restore the sites at Angkor and revive Cambodia's traditional crafts.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Type of Khmer Art & Architecture</strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKbewwhWdv_isE255VnIzI-E3z-PYPC-LBgOFGJlzLUyg2o05_UQdT0xQBpddd3QjC3EN-ZiHfs_BJ1yB6gT0zpsOhj2p4wR8WmozzpTp1OglUGWPuDhLUIsby5KaD9wGeHjf4NroxEZw/s1600/Bayon_wall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKbewwhWdv_isE255VnIzI-E3z-PYPC-LBgOFGJlzLUyg2o05_UQdT0xQBpddd3QjC3EN-ZiHfs_BJ1yB6gT0zpsOhj2p4wR8WmozzpTp1OglUGWPuDhLUIsby5KaD9wGeHjf4NroxEZw/s1600/Bayon_wall.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>1. Sculpture</strong><br />The stone carving skill of the ancient Khmer was basically inherited from the Indian civilization, however, it was later evolved into its own unique Khmer style. The Khmer sculptures were carved from stone with great craftsmanship and many of them represent the Hindu deities such as Shiva, Vishnu, Brahmans, the elephant god Ganesha and many other gods and goddesses, as well as Hindu mythical monsters such as the serpent naga, the demon kala, the giant makara, and the mythical lions. Some large sculptures even portray the epics of the Hindu myths such as Mahabharata and Ramayana.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">In later centuries, the Buddha statues appeared and enshrined in many temples. The most astounding Buddha statues are found in Angkor Thom (Bayon) where the magnificent statues of four-faced Bodhisattava Avalokiteshvara, the lord Buddha, were sculptured on fifty towers. Although each sculpture bears the common characteristics of the supernatural being it represents as described in the epics or myths, its details reveal the personal imagination of its sculptor. In addition, some sculptures depict the important events such as the war against its foreign invaders while some reveal the everyday life of the Khmer people such as the relief carvings of Angkor Thom.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCF0TMXH5vPsnXr2WO51u6Sb7iyKospYo1UyKeg0OQ13obHlL44q2EkRzZCaZPuCyoYD-BKdP1OCe4kxA8I6ts9gKpRit-qT-bLZJ5-IQXYmutgRihkWtuvpSXRSO4h6f4DfmYIHFVcZk/s1600/Architecture.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="289" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCF0TMXH5vPsnXr2WO51u6Sb7iyKospYo1UyKeg0OQ13obHlL44q2EkRzZCaZPuCyoYD-BKdP1OCe4kxA8I6ts9gKpRit-qT-bLZJ5-IQXYmutgRihkWtuvpSXRSO4h6f4DfmYIHFVcZk/s1600/Architecture.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">  <strong>2. Architecture</strong><br />The house of the local people in ancient Khmer was more or less similar to those found today in villages of modern Cambodia. It was elevated about two and a half meters above the ground with the wooden ladder and was built by wooden piles which supported the floor, the walls and the roof. The wall was made up of either the straws or the bamboo with the roof covered with the thatched leaves of dry coconut palms.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The architecture of the dignitaries' houses and the palaces was somewhat different from those of the laymen, and differed in sizes, layouts and dimensions. The materials used to built the house consisted of stronger wooden planks, generally made up of teakwood, and the roof was covered with tiles for the inner rooms and with thatched leaves for the outer corners. These differences clearly identified the classes of the people by which the laymen were not even dare to put up a single tile on their roof.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">According to Hinduism, the gods reside in the five sacred mountains with central Mount Meru and these mountains are surrounded by the cosmic ocean. The structure of the Khmer temples mostly symbolizes the heavenly residence of the gods with five towers, called Prasats. The central dominant tower or Prasat represents the Mount Meru with four smaller ones, each at its corners, to represent the other four sacred mountains of the heaven. In some temples, there are galleries connecting the towers. The moat surrounding the temple symbolizes the cosmic ocean.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> source: http://www.tourismcambodia.com/culture/art-and-culture.htm </div>

Khmer Art and Culture

Throughout Cambodia's history, religious principles guided and inspired its arts. A unique Khmer style emerged from the combination of ...

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