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Religions of Cambodia
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The state religion in Cambodia is
Theravada Buddhism
, though historically,
Hinduism
was also a major influence. There is also a significant number of Cambodian
Muslims
, often referred to as Chams. The Chams were the medieval inhabitants of the Hindu Champa kingdom, on the coast of what is now Vietnam. In the fifteenth century, as the Vietnamese began to extend their territory, the Chams were forced to flee south seeking refuge amongst the Hindu Khmers and settling in fertile areas north of Phnom Penh, primarily in the area known today as Kompong Cham. Soon after, the Chams converted to Sunni Islam as the religion swept through the region. Khmer Muslims tend to live in their own villages or in small neighbourhoods within the larger cities. Marriage outside the Muslim community is prohibited, so the community has retained a strong identity over the years. There are thought to be more than 300,000 Khmer Muslims in Cambodia.
All religions suffered
persecution
from 1975 to 1979; monks and priests were murdered, temples, wats and mosques destroyed. Buddhism has still not fully recovered, and you'll notice less emphasis on religion in Cambodia than in other Southeast Asian nations. Other useful information
for tourists (each section contains more specific sub-sections): |
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Cambodia |