Cambodian Literature

Cambodian Literature

Cambodian or Khmer literature has a very ancient origin. Like most Southeast Asian national literatures its traditional corpus has two distinct aspects or levels:

  • The written literature, mostly restricted to the royal courts or the Buddhist monasteries.
  • The oral literature, which is based on local folklore. It is heavily influenced by Buddhism, the predominant religion, as well as by the Hindu epics Ramayana and Mahabharata.

Read more about Cambodian Literature:  Ancient Stone Inscriptions, Buddhist Texts, Reamker, Court Literature, Popular Legends, Modern Literature

Famous quotes containing the word literature:

    Everything is becoming science fiction. From the margins of an almost invisible literature has sprung the intact reality of the 20th century.
    —J.G. (James Graham)