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: Moul Jetl, Illustration by : Sao Pagnarith. |
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Sampeah,
the Khmer traditional way of greeting one another,
plays an important role in Cambodian society today.
Consisting of five common postures--five styles
of Sampeah, this tradition is one that has been
practiced in high esteem by all Cambodians around
the globe.
Every country has it's own culture, traditions and
characteristic flavors. For a foreigner in any country,
some common sense and respect can help to bridge
differences and bring about better mutual understanding.
The Western way of greeting by shaking hands has
now been adopted by many people throughout the world.
As a tradition, when one person meets another, especially
on formal occasions, without the shaking of hands
just isn't proper. By the same token, any Cambodian
would feel impolite and uncomfortable not to do
the Sampeah when he or she meets people. It also
helps to break the ice when people meet for the
first time and actually creates an atmosphere of
friendship and peace. Tradition dictates that the
Sompeah, which dictates placing both palms of one's
hands together in prayer and different styles of
bowing, In general, the junior respect senior and
the higher the hands and the lower the bow the more
respect is shown. Mr. Hang Soth, General Director
of the General Department of Cultural Techniques,
at the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts, who is
an expert in Khmer culture and traditions, made
the following remark: "The salutation is very
interesting. It is a sign of respect and politeness.
A person who another person pays respect shall extend
his charity and mercy toward a person who pays respect
to the former. Mutual respects from inner heart
are great and can achieve unexpected things."One
of our popular adages says 'Chaul Steung Tam Baott,
Chaul Srok Tam Prateh', (in Khmer, when we ride
a boat along a river we must follow the zigzag course
of the stream and when we visit a country we need
to follow its local customs and tradition), can
explain that the Khmer is flexible and also respect
the culture of the others. However, many of us also
agree with a principle as defining that Boran menn-men
yeut, samai menn-men boroteh, boroteh menn-men sott
ter la'ar taing oh ter, which means that ancient
but now slow, modern but not fully copying from
foreign countries, all imported products are not
perfect, thus reflecting that they are not rigid
but adapt what they can. "Carvings on galleries
of many Prasat (temples) built for example around
the Angkor epoch (9th and 13th century) are enable
visitors to have some reflection about Sampeah and
Cambodian people of the present time still conserve
their traditional way of liking to wholeheartedly
receiving their guests. "Many guests also like
Khmer house's traditional styles but also question
why the typical Khmer house possesses short door
that oblige guests to |
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| bow before entering
the sitting room. The reason is that the hosts also want
his or her guests return greetings." Soon after the
guests enter into their house, the hosts in the olden
time must come out to greet guests and serve them well
what are necessary ranging from inviting latter to smoke
a cigarette, chewing betel with a solution of lime, areca
and tobacco, and having drinks and food. The practice
still prevails until today but the exception of chewing
betel in the modern time." In recent decades this
customs has been combined with the western practice of
shaking hands by people in towns and State employees who
had more opportunity to contact with the international
community. Although men tend to shake hands with each
other, women usually use Sampeah or the traditional greetings
with both men and women. It is considered acceptable (or
perhaps excusable) for foreigners to shake hands with
Cambodians of both sexes. As social conventions, public
display of physical greetings in Cambodia are much more
acceptable between friends of same sex than between lovers
of opposite sexes. Holding hands and hugging is as common
among male members of State delegations but seldom among
Khmer female. "Finally, the Khmer has her own concepts
about Sampeah. There are five specific attitudes and five
specific styles of Sampeah. "According to Khmer concepts,
the five common postures of Sampeah are: 1) Angkuoy baott
cheung Sampeah cham pee muk, literally translate as "sitting
on the legs which are folded and the feet are one side
to salute by placing both hands together palm to palm
in front of a person; 2) Angkuoy boatt cheung Sampeah
pee cham-hieng, literally translate as "sitting on
the legs which are folded and the feet are one side to
salute by placing both hands together palm to palm by
side of a person;3) Lut chung-kung Sampeah, literally
translate as kneeling by placing both hands together palm
to palm in front of or by side of a person;4) Angkuoy
choang-hoang Sampeah, literally translate as "sitting
on one's heels in a hunch-down manner to salute by placing
both hands together palm to palm in front of a person. |
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B8, Regency Square, InterContinental Hotel, 294 Mao Tse Toung
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