Khmer is another ethnic minority with a relatively large population, with a population of about 800,000. Khmer people live in the southern provinces of Shuozhuang, Charong, Yonglong and Dishi, as well as the Vietnam-Cambodia border from Hexian to Xining.
Khmer people are a nation with a long history and splendid culture. As early as the 7th century, Khmer culture reached its peak in 1 1 and12nd centuries, and its symbol was the splendid Angkor civilization. In fact, Gaomian people were the masters of the Mekong Delta a long time ago. As early as 300 years ago, this land belonged to the real wax country. The real wax country has a vast territory, including Cambodia (then called "Luzhenla") and the Mekong Delta in southern Vietnam (then called "Shuizhenla"). At the end of 17, the occupying power in central Vietnam was incorporated into the territory of Vietnam, and the border of Vietnam extended southward, adjacent to Zhenla. During the following 100 years, Ruan Chao in southern Vietnam constantly exerted political and military pressure on Zhenla, and the war between the two countries never stopped. Finally, the Mekong Delta was incorporated into the territory of Vietnam, and the Khmer residents living in this area became a nation in Vietnam. However, the social structure, national culture and customs of Khmer residents in Vietnam and Cambodia are still the same.
Khmer residents believe in Buddhism, which is an important part of people's spiritual life. Hinayana Buddhism was introduced in13rd century and later became the orthodox religion of Khmer people. According to statistics, there are about 400 temples and 1000 monks in Jiulongjiang Plain where Khmer people live together. Men must become monks before they reach adulthood. Monks are respected, and parents have to bow down when they see their son who becomes a monk in the temple. Monastery is not only a place for chanting and preaching, but also a school for literacy and imparting scientific knowledge. Temples have become the sustenance of people's spiritual life, and the ashes after death should also be sent to temples for preservation. Temples have no land of their own, and all expenses, including the life of monks, depend on the charity of villagers. The folk beliefs and sacrificial customs of Khmer people are closely related to Buddhism. Activities related to religion are organized almost every month. Mainly include: water-splashing festival, bathing Buddha during festivals, etc. On the Mid-Autumn Festival, children will get bananas and glutinous rice slices and predict their luck for a year. Fly banana raft lights and fly kites along the river. The traditional dragon boat race is held in the sowing and transplanting season because of the rain; When plowing the land for the first time, a ceremony should also be held; Valley sacrifice calls for the soul of the valley, and the image of the soul of the valley is a female Buddha sitting on the back of a rice-eared fish.
Khmer villages are small in scale and generally consist of several to dozens of houses. There are many coconut trees and sugar palm trees in the village. In Khmer villages, the temple buildings in the center are tall and magnificent, especially in the simple straw houses. Temple architecture is not only gorgeous, but also unique. There are Buddha statues in the temple, which are vivid and full of national style.
Khmer cottage industries, including textiles and textiles, are famous in some fields, including sericulture, silk weaving and skirt making. The pottery industry is also very developed.
Khmer people, both men and women, usually wear a T-shirt and a long scarf with a checkered pattern, sometimes wrapped around their heads and sometimes over their shoulders. This kind of long scarf has attracted the favor of Vietnamese people, and they have followed suit.
Khmer people's daily diet is mainly japonica rice, fish sauce, vegetables and beans, with little meat. During the festival, there are all kinds of meat and fish products, all kinds of cakes, rich and varied, as well as glutinous rice and rice noodles. Khmer people also like to add some condiments to dishes, such as curry, coconut meat, coconut juice and sugar palm fruit.
Khmer residents can sing and dance, and almost all men, women and children can dance. Folk dances include Denton's encouragement, peacock dance, coconut oil dance, wedding dance and divine dance. Traditional folk dances include Jie Molun, Zhao Rong and Zhe Le Xi. These dance forms have fixed programs and high artistic level. Song and dance are inseparable from music. Khmer music is developed under the influence of Indian classical music and Southeast Asian traditional music. Musical instruments include drums, flutes and violins. Among them, the wooden boat piano has its own characteristics.
Khmer folk stories have various themes, such as Zhao Zhao Qingtong, The Origin of Heipo Mountain, Fupo Soup, Sister Well, Brother Well and so on. There are also some jokes and fables, the most famous of which is Meng Ze's poems. In addition, it is particularly worth mentioning Baye's literary works, that is, literary works written on leaves, including folk stories, holiday documentaries, folk games, training songs, religious stories and so on.