Chang Kben

''Sompot Chong Kben'' (, ) is a Cambodian unisex, lower body, wraparound cloth. It was adopted in the neighbouring countries of Laos, and Thailand, where it is known as ''pha hang'' ( ) and ''chong kraben'' ( ). It was the preferred choice of clothing for women of the upper and middle classes for daily wear. Unlike the typical '' sompot'', it is more of a pant than a skirt. The ''chong kraben'' is described by art historian Eksuda Singhalampong as "a garment that resembles loose breeches". The wearer wraps a rectangular piece of cloth around his or her waist, the edge of the cloth is then passed between the legs and tucked in at the wearer's lower back. Many 19th-century European accounts often called them " knee breeches", riding breeches or " knickerbockers".

Etymology

''Sompot Chong Kben'' () is a combination of three Khmer words; សំពត់ (/sɑmpʊət/,'' sampot),'' a long, rectangular cloth worn around the lower body; ចង (/cɑɑŋ/, ''chang)'' ,to wrap around; and ក្បិន (/kbən/, ''kben),'' referring to the lower body cloth wrapped around the waist and then pulled back between the legs and tucked in at the back. The name of this cloth, ''kben'' or ''chong kben'', literally means ''"''to wrap or to wear the kben" in Khmer. C''hong kraben'' () is used among Thai people and derived from the Khmer words.

History

The history of Sompot Chong Kben dates back to ancient Cambodia, where deities were often portrayed wearing such clothing. References to most Khmer elders tell a legend related to this garment. It said that a long time ago, the Khmer people wore sompot chong kben, following the Indian traditional wear of the dhoti which was imported to Funan by King Kaundinya I. Due to Indian influence, Suryavarman II built temples such as Angkor Wat which were dedicated to Hinduism. During the Khmer empire, most of the people were likely to read and see the Reamker at the Angkor Wat carving on the first floor as well. Prayers and blessings were also given to a deva known as Hanuman, the guard of Prince Rama in ''Ramayana'' as well as in the Khmer adaptation, ''Reamker''. To show Hanuman's power, Indians wore the dhoti, and it is still worn for special occasions in mainland Southeast Asia. In ''Ramayana'' mythology, Hanuman is a symbol of bravery, cleverness, and power, so people wearing the sompot chong kben drop a tail at the back like Hanuman's monkey tail. This practice led many people to believe that all Indians were guards of Hanuman. The influence of the dhoti was strongly incorporated into Khmer culture from ancient times to today.

In the middle of the 13th and 14th centuries, people from the Thai Sukhothai Kingdom and Lao Lan Xang kingdom had adopted the wearing of sompot chong kben from Khmer. They considered it superior for enjoying special occasions, and useful for royalty or monarchy in their local royal palace, leading to the Thai people and Lao people using sompot chong kben in a similar way.

Images

File:Younger Prince Chulalongkorn and 2 younger brother.jpg, Photograph of Prince Chulalongkorn (Rama V) and his two younger brothers wearing ''chong kraben'' in 1851
File:Siamese boatman, Siam (Thailand). Wellcome L0055805.jpg, Photograph of a 19th century Siamese boatman, photographed by John Thomson
File:Saovabha Phongsri.jpg, Photograph of Queen Saovabha Phongsri, principal consort to King Chulalongkorn
File:Diety wearing Chang Kben, Phnom Da, Angkor Borei, Cambodia.jpg, 6th century Khmer depiction of Balarama wearing ''Sompot Chong Kben'' from Phnom Da temple, Angkor Borei, Takeo, Cambodia. Now exhibits in National Museum of Cambodia.
File:Kmer Dance..JPG, Khmer woman wearing ''Sompot Chong Kben''
File:Khmer Traditional Dancing.jpg, A Khmer traditional dancer in ''Sompot Chong Kben''
File:Femmes du Prince Phra-Kéo-Pha MET DP151667.jpg, Khmer royal ladies wearing ''Sompot Chong Kben'' and '' Sbai'' in the mid-1800s.
File:Phnom Penh.- Costumes royaux du Royal Palace .jpg, Mannequins wearing ''Sompot Chong Kben'' at the Royal Palace of Cambodia

See also

* Dhoti
* Sampot
* Sampot chang samluy
* Khmer traditional clothing

References

{{Portal bar, Society, Fashion

Cambodian clothing
Skirts
Trousers and shorts
Folk costumes
Thai clothing