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Manage No, Sortation, Country, Writer ,Date, Copyright Manage No SS00000179 Stakeholder Category Community Country Cambodia
Description | Lkhon khol of Wat Svay Andet continues today because of its significance in the community’s beliefs and identity, but over the last decade it has been experiencing difficulty. Despite of having some support from the state, NGOs, and the community itself, the troop has faced some challenges, such as the lack of dance costumes, ornaments, masks, stages, and musical instruments. Furthermore, the number of performers has been gradually decreasing due to aging and a lack of natural talent, and the younger generations show little interest since the performances generate no income and they are busy with their studies or working. Traditionally, the lkhon khol is transmitted orally within a family and through informal, master-apprentice relationships. Community leaders, masters, and the temple patriarch also encourage younger generations to learn lkhon khol skills to ensure that the art form remains part of the community’s living cultural practice. Apprentices have historically learned their preferential skills at their masters’ house at night, a time they were free from their agriculture work. While the same practice continues, recently amateurs are learning their art skills in groups during the day on Sundays or occasionally Thursday at the temple compound. | ||
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Cambodia
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DI00000235
A COMMUNITY SAFEGUARDING ITS LIVING HERITAGE, LKHON KHOL
On the east bank of the Mekong River about fifteen kilometers from Phnom Penh is Wat Svay Andet, a Buddhist monastic community mainly supported by two villages, Ta Skor and Peam Ek of Lvea-em District, Kandal Province. Wat Svay Andet is home to lkhon khol, a kind of theatre with recitation in which actors are all males, wear lacquer masks, and perform only scenes from Reamker, a Cambodian version of the Sanskrit Ramayana epic. This dance drama is accompanied by pinpeat, a traditional orchestra of percussion instruments. Although the dance is performed by villagers, the costumes and ornaments are as magnificent as those of classical court dance.
San Phalla Deputy Director, Books and Reading Department, Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts Chhay Davin Researcher, General Department of Cultural Technique, Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts 2016 -
DI00000380
MASKED DANCE FOR RAMAYANA: INTANGIBLE HERITAGE WITHOUT BORDERS
The 2018 inscriptions of intangible cultural heritage (ICH) on the UNESCO lists has raised again global attention to variations of Hindi-influenced masked dance in Southeast Asia, which retell the story of Rama, the god-reincarnated king who defeats the demon king Ravana.
Montakarn Suvanatap Kittipaisalsilp UNESCO Bangkok 2019
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EE00002447
Khsae Mouy
" Khsae Mouy or one string" is a kind of musical instrument that can be played solo or as part of other traditional music ensemble such as Arak and Pleng Kar orchestra like chapei Dang Veng. This string instrument is a sound box made of ripe gourd fruit (round gourd type) made of wood, about 0.80 m long, and has a string made of copper wire. A string has a beautiful sound. When playing, they meet the gourd shell to the chest and fasten the rope with copper nails worn on her left finger. A string is an old fire instrument, as can be seen in the carvings of ancient temples such as the Bayon Temple. In addition to accompanying a stringed song, you can also accompany chanting and story narration, as well as interact with a partner who is also a stringed player or with a Chapei Dang Veng player. Like the Chapei singer, the one who plays and sings Khsae Mouy used to be a venerated, learned to understand the Dharma and literature deeply and very wise. During the 1940s, one of the most famous and prominent stringed performers and singers was Phirum Pheasa Ouk Ou, also known as Ngoy, who used to perform dharma instruction to instruct the villagers with a stringed instrument and long chapei. His name became famous until the King gave him the title of "Phirumpeasa". Mr. Phirum Phasa has another well-known correspondent, Grandpa Chumtob sun. Nowadays, this string instrument has been incorporated into the curriculum of the Secondary School of Fine Arts.
Cambodia -
EE00000056
Lkhon Khol Wat Svay Andet
Having originated in bhani, a type of drama, mentioned in at least 10th century inscriptions of Cambodia, Lkhon Khol today is performed by males, wearing masks with the accompaniment of pin peat, a traditional orchestra, and melodious recitation. It performs only episodes from Reamker, a Cambodian version of the Indian Ramayana. Lkhon Khol Wat Svay Andet is distinct from the generic form because its specific aim is to propitiate Neak Ta (guardian spirits of a place and its people; in this case the community of Wat Svay Andet), and in so doing, protect and make prosperous the community, its lands and harvest. When Lkhon Khol is performed especially during a fixed date after the New Year, spirit mediums are presented to facilitate interaction between the Neak Ta, performers and villagers. Spirit mediums, who predict the situation for the upcoming year, attend the performance and become possessed by the Neak Ta and then might get on the stage. When the spirits are satisfied by the performance, villagers are blessed by them, and if not, dancers will stop; the music continues; and the audience will fall silent and carefully listen to the spirits. Then the episode must be performed again. nIn Wat Svay Andet, Lkhon Khol has such spiritual significance in the community that some Reamker characters have become local deities in themselves. For example, on the campus of the monastery, a shrine for Hanuman (Monkey General) locally called Lok Ta Kamheng is built and venerated. The mask for Tos Mok (Ravana, King of the Demons) also lives and is venerated in a spirit house at the home of the family that has danced that role for several generations. In addition to the intrinsic specificity of the Wat Svay Andet form, some external differences are noted, such as the fact that three of the key roles are not masked. In fact their faces are painted white, indicating that they are neither mortals nor gods. The costumes, which are very refined with magnificent embroidery, are also different especially from those of the Battambang Troupe. Melodies for recitations are also different and richer. nLkhon Khol Wat Svay Andet is not performed by professional artists, but by the villagers themselves, and they do not perform for money but for merits and their community’s well-being. Everyone in the community is obliged to contribute, either by direct participation in the performance or by sharing support, e.g. financial or labor. Even villagers, who have migrated for work, tend to come back for the ritual and believe that if they don’t come, they could be struck by illness or bad luck.
Cambodia 2018