Dear all,
I do agree with the idea of 'Khmerization'. I have discussed about this word so far with Mr. Touch Bora. As far as I observed from inscription studies, the word Yuon was appeared in Khmer writing during 9th century as an ethnonym. But at that time, Khmer ancestors wrote as 'Yvan' by using subscript 'va' instead of vowel 'u' or 'ou'. Then in Preah Khan inscription of Virakumara, a son of Jayavarman 7, wrote about Vietnamese King who attended a sacred water ablution for the Khmer King's offering and the Vietnamese labor forces who were taken part in digging stones and cutting woods for the temple buildings. The prince referred to the Vietnamese in Sanskrit word as 'Yavana'. This word was clearly identified as 'Vietnamese' by Mr. George Coedès, the glorious French scholar during 1908-1968. Since that time, the Vietnamese people have never considered this xenonym 'Yuon' was 'a racist or discriminated word' against them.
Mr. Touch Bora discovered that this word was manipulated its meaning 'to be offended or racist word of Khmer people' by Vietnamese Communist government from 1975 when they integrated the entire Vietnam. For their propaganda, the communist party required Khmer people to call them as "Vietnam" instead of using the so-called bad word 'YUON' when they penetrated Cambodia from 1979. Those Vietnamese soldiers and civilians have tried to call Khmer people as "Kampuchea" in stead of their traditional speaking as "MIEN" and required Khmer people to call them back as Vietnam, like Bang Chea Korng Toap Vietnam (I am a Vietnamese soldier), Bang P-aon Vietnam (Vietnamese brothers and sisters) etc.
In conclusion, this word was not used by Khmer in term of a racism or discrimination word toward Vietnamese people as ordinary Khmer people said.
Recently, I listened to a lecture of Dr. Benedic Anderson about Nationalism. He said the word "Viet-Nam" was not accepted by Nguyên King's family for a few centuries when Ching Emperor of China gave them this name because they considered the looked-down (insulting) word of Chinese emperor. But around 19th century, the descendant Kings of Nguyên became to desire this "NAME". They forgot about the dissatisfaction of their ancestors. He said this is the real funny history of Nationalism. If every body want to verify about this, please buy the latest publication of the Center for Khmer Studies.
Sincerely,
Vong Sotheara
Lecturer of Khmer History and Epigraphy
History Department
Royal University of Phnom Penh
4 comments:
Isn't the word "Youn" referring to the Youan Dynasty of Mongols who conquered and controlled China and Annam( modern day Vietnam). Khmer always called the Viet, "Youn" because of the similar barbaric mindset and attitudes from Mongols.
Not only Khmers used the word "yuon" to call the Vietnamese. The whole region of South East Asia called Vietnamese "yuon". The Lao, the Thais, the Burmese also called the Vietnamese "yuon". So, if ignorant foreigners condemn Khmers for using the term "yuon" to describe the Vietnamese people, then they should condemn the Lao, the Thais and Burmese and others as well.
To be honest with you all, you must listen to Sin Sisamuth song "Pol To Ahpop" about going to Srok YUON rien Kboun Yuthasas.
11:44PM, it's one of my favorite songs by Sin Sisamuth. May I add, during that time, SongKum Reas Niyum government seemed to love sending Khmer to Srok Youn to rien(learn)Kboun Yuthasas(Youn's military fighting tactics?). And I'm adding my own words, " Pel Murk Darl P-tah, Somlab ous Pe-lean."
Yep..that would be Youn's Kboun Yuthasas all right. It's quite helpful for Youn, but not for Khmer. And here we are scratching our heads and pointing fingers blaming each other for killing 2 millions of ourselves. Youn will never lose anything, it only gains. It will use the sleeziest trick in the book to achieve that gain. So Khmer has every right and justifiable reason to call Viet "Youn" for their decietful ways.
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