(Subject: Introducing Cultural Anthropology)

Group Members: 1. Sum Leakhena

2. Touch Piseth

3. Ty Piseth

4. Un Phearun

5. Yann Lihorng

6. Yim Sereykakada

Lecturer: Dr. Vong Meng

Class: Mon – Wed

Date submitted: Friday March 23, 2012

Contents

I. Introduction..........................................................................................................................1

II. History of BonPchum Ben....................................................................................................2

- Floating food to ancestor.................................................................................................3

III. Celebrating Pchum Ben’s Day.............................................................................................4

IV. Causes of Pchum Ben ceremony..........................................................................................8

VI. Conclusion............................................................................................................................8

References....................................................................................................................................9

I. Introduction

The kingdom of Cambodia is country live in Southeast Asia, which has an exclusively culture and a great civilization. At the pagodas have a lot of people as while there have some festive celebration. They are very happy when they enjoy the festive celebration. Cambodia has much great festival, and each of them has an individual’s celebration among these great festivals, Pchum Ben is also the best festival. Pchum Ben was recognized by Khmer People because it demonstrated about a respecting to the relationship both alive and dead.

PchumBen is a time when many Cambodians pay their respects to deceased relatives. Monks chant the Mantras in Pali language overnight continuously without sleeping in prelude to the gates of hell opening, an event that is presumed to occur once a year, and is linked to the cosmology of king Yama originating in the Pali Canon. During the period of the gates of hell being opened, ghosts of the dead are presumed to be especially active, and thus food offerings are made to benefit them, some of these ghosts having the opportunity to end their period of purgation, whereas other imagined to leave hell temporarily then return to endure more suffering without much explanation, relatives who are not in hell are also generally imagined to benefit from the ceremonies. In temple adhering to canonical protocol, the offing of food itself is made from the laypeople to the Buddhist monks, these generating merit that indirectly benefits the dead. However, in many temples, this is either accompanied by superseded offering that are imagine directly transfer from the living to the dead, such as rice-balls thrown through the air, or rice thrown into an empty field.

Anthropology observe that these two models of merit offering to the dead are in the competition in rural Cambodia, with some temple preferring the greater canonicity of the former model, and others embracing the popular assumption that mortals can feed ghosts with physical food. Local and abroad Cambodians always celebrate this festival every year Pchum Ben is only the festival Cambodia and no country has and a celebration like this. Pchum Ben demonstrated about Khmer ancestor’s cooperation between humanities with religious. Nowadays Khmer people are advertising to television, radio and internet that write and describe about Pchum Ben. It helps all Cambodians to understand clearly about history of Pchum Ben. Cambodians try to make more advertising about Pchum Ben to show the last human. Pchum Ben is the important festival which demonstrate about respecting to parents, grandparents and the relationship who alive and dead. In order to understand clearly about Pchum Ben festival, we would like to raise the three points of Pchum Ben festival include: history of Pchum Ben, celebrate Pchum Ben’s day, and causes of Bun Pchum Ben.

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II. History of BonPchum Ben

The precept treatise stipulated that the Buddhist followers believe that there are evil

spirits, for there is a legend which is told as follow:

In the era of the Buddha named Phossa (Bossa), Pimpisa, who reincarnated as a chief

clerk of a King, and many relatives managed the food offerings for the disciples, when in holy

faith the Buddha named “Phossa” was the head of his monastery for three months.

When they died, they became a group of evil creatures that were always hungry. They

were all crying with hunger, with tears covering their skinny bodies. Some evil creatures could

not stand the hunger. They wanted to end their lives, but they could not have it ended. They

tore their own flesh and suffered while getting blood for food. And some other evil creatures

ate carrion, and held pus in their mouths, and scabs. The Buddha said, “Folk, in our religion,

you will not have any food.” Hearing this, they burst into tears and asked,

“My Buddha, when can we eat some delicious food?” The Buddha responded, “From

now till the earth grows for one Yoach (approximately 16km), there will be another

reincarnation of Buddha who will be enlightened in the world. You will have to wait and ask

that Buddha.”

Then the second Buddha told them wait to ask the third Buddha. Moreover, the third Buddha

told that “Folk, you cannot have food in the religion of this reincarnation of the Buddha.

However, you will have food in the religion of the following Buddha reincarnation who will

be enlightened. At that time, your relative, King Pimpisa, will dedicate the food to you folk.”

Having heard that, the evil creatures were so happy, for they expected that they would

have food soon.” The evil creatures responded, “We have been waiting for many

reincarnations of Buddha and we have never seen any food for us. Where’s the food? Where is

the scent of the white rice we want to smell?” The Buddha replied, “You cannot have food

unless your relative, King Pimpisa, managed the food offerings for the monks in this

religion.”

In the rainy season, there was a lot of rain. The tree leaves were weighed down by the

rain. The evil creatures went to the residence of King Pimpisa at midnight and made cried

dreadfully in suffering. Hearing that, the King was very frightened.

The following morning, the King rushed to meet the Buddha and tell him about the

strange event. The Buddha responded, “That was the voice of your relatives who were

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reincarnated as evil creatures, and they have been living in hunger for many reincarnations of

Buddha. “The King continued, “What am I supposed to do to stop their dreadful crying? “The

Buddha told him to arrange food offerings to the monks and to dedicate the food for them so

that they would get it.

Later, the King, in good faith, had the food arranged for 500monks with Buddha as the

leader, When the Buddha and monks had the food, they expressed their joy over the offerings

made by the King dedicating to them by performing Deroakoddasot (praying for the funeral).

Then the King Pimpisa dedicated the offerings to his relatives as told by the Buddha. Those

evil creatures expressed joy at receiving food dedicated by the King. It became magic food,

and they ate it happily.

The following night, the evil creatures were all happy, they had food. They showed up

through windows, pillars, doors and roof beams, to thank the King Pimpisa, but they were

naked and smelled unpleasant.

The following morning, the told the Buddha about the matter, The Buddha responded,

“They have received food, but you have not offered clothing to the monks; that’s why they

showed up naked like that”.

The third night came. They showed up again with nice clothes and a golden ray of light

reflected from their bodies.

Because of this, Buddhists in Cambodia go to pagodas to make offerings made up of

food and clothing to monks, dedicated to their deceased relatives when the rainy season

comes. From the 1st until the 15th day of the waning moon in the 10th lunar month

(http://km.wikipedia.org/ បុណ្យភ្ជុំបិណ្ឌ ). This is called Kan Ben (offering days) and Pchum Ben

Festival.

- Floating food to ancestor

According to the “Tam Tam children magazines” there were 500 merchants on the

sailing leave from the village because of business at the village didn’t have enough profit.

After travelled along day, they arrive at the isolated island. Moreover, it is night time relaxed

at that island. There were no people on the island, it was Evil’s accommodate. They always go

out to find some foods for eat at midnight. Suddenly, Evil met 500 merchants that fall asleep

on the sailing; they are very excited because they never had before. When they woke up, they

heard the Evil sound. They saw all the Evil are eating people, seem very frightened, and

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begging for keep their life. At the moment, one of the merchant who is very clever, he thought

that he will die soon. Therefore, he has to complain to Evil. He begged king of Evil to keep

their life. They said, “If you eat me now! You full only one day! But if you keep my life! I

promise that, I will send you some food for once a year! Till I die” evil thinks in the short

time, and then agree with them. While they were leaving from the island, merchants go to

village each other. Merchant’s family run to them by missing and happily. At that time, people

celebrate Pchum Ben. The flood was happen in the village. All the people that promise with

Evil’s king prepare Num Ansom, Banana, sugar cane, that have in that reason and sand to the

Evil’s king. They always do like that every year and never miss. Nowadays, it becomes a

traditional. Young generation realize that it is a floating food ceremony to the ancestor.

From that time, they always celebrate Pchum Ben every year. Pchum Ben ceremony

happened by old generation that always said the true word, respect the promise till now. We

didn’t know sure when that culture of celebration was being celebrated by Cambodians

Buddhism, and following the habits it come arrived to Cambodia in the same time of arrival

Buddhism. Then it became the root of Khmer culture and unique identify. This celebration

coincidently combined with the genuine religious cult of Cambodia that dominantly respects

and worships the ancestors.

They are floating food to the The evil are eating people ancestor.

(Banteay Srey Publishing houese and bookshop)

III. Celebrating Pchum Ben’s Day

In Cambodia there are many festivals that are celebrated every year. Among all of them

we have a festival that can say is the most important around other festival in Cambodia. It is

Bon Pchum Ben. Bon Pchum Ben is a kind of festival that always celebrates from the 1 st

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Rouch of Pheaktrobotr (Chankati month) to the 15th Rouch of Pheaktrobotr (in khmer

calendar). It took 15 days to celebrate, from the first day to the fourteenth day we call Pchum

Touch (Small Festival) and the last fifteenth day we called Pchum Thom (Big Festival). And

about the history of Bon Pchum Ben we didn’t know sure when it happened. We just seen it

came up at the same time when Buddha arrived in Cambodia. What does Pchum Ben mean in

Buddhism?

The words Pchum Ben come from “Pchum” include “Ben”. Pchum or Brochum mean “a

meeting or gathering”, Ben means “a ball of something”, and we mixed a ball of rice that calls

“Bay Ben” (from Sang Skrit Language). Abstract history of Cambodia showed that Pchum

Ben ceremony celebrates from the ancient time. The history of Bun Pchum Ben has shown

that it has been celebrated by people for a long time ago. According from the note of

Cambodia History said, “Bon Pchum Ben have happened for a long time but in the past they

didn’t call Pchum Ben like us today, they separated in two parts. First they started celebrate

from the 1st day Rouch to the 14th day Rouch in Pheaktrobutr, they call Vereakport (Phort

celebrate day by day) to continue on. And another part they celebrate on the 15 th day Rouch of

Pheaktrobotr they call “Bon Pchum”. Nowadays, these are two ceremonies have been

combined together and called “Bon Pchum Ben”. So we saw already that people from old

generation they celebrated the Bon Pchum Ben like us but they called in different way.

In addition, talking about the discipline of Bhikhu monks who have to stay indoor for

rainy season hibernate (Chol Vorsa) for three months. It is starting from the first waning moon

of Srab to the fifteenth waxing moon of Assoch. During staying indoor for three months

Bhikkhu monks assembly presided by Bhudda to develop the rule in order to benefits for the

Bhikkhu monks community. Monks have to spend three full months to learn and practice

Dhamma, teacher, students and laypeople can make acquaintance. It is a rainy reason which is

hard for the monks to go travel around. By the way make the monk in comfortable way

because it wet and muddy in rainy season. The monks could not go out the pagoda during

hibernate except have reasonable excuses, like to go to preach the Dhamma, visit ill relative,

or getting away from disaster etc… However, if the monks didn’t have respect the rules, they

would be punish by a weak condemn of the assembly. As a result in three importance months

to practice of Dhamma make laypeople increase their faith and generosity to feed and take

care all the monks. All people in the village take turn to bring food and other four necessities

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to the monks daily. So we have two specific days that are Pchum Ben Touch and Pchum Ben

Thom which laypeople join together to celebrate the ceremony. Pchum Thom is recognize as

the most important day for all citizens regardless of ethnic background, color, race, or faith

have to pay attention and join the ceremony. Furthermore, in this ceremony is celebrated in

order to devote to the Evil and all relative through the monk. Every morning people cook rice

call Bay Ben (sesame, beans) before dawn.

They are paying before the Bayben (http://www.chanbokeo.com/index.php?

gcm=1411&grid=137792&gtop=5299)

They bring these Bay Bens to the

pagoda.The participant walks around the

Vihira three times and throw the Bay Ben

into the ground for feeding the dead

ancestor. They can celebrate it only before

dawn because the soul can’t come out

when the sun rises. After this, they return

inside and join the monk’s chanting.

On the fifteenth day there are Evil and all that ancestor who are very hungry for a long

time walk to the earth because this season the Evil have much time to find food than other

seasons. More over in this season Evil’s food such as mud, phlegm, dead body, and dirty food

have much in that season. If the Evil and dead ancestor can’t find their relatives, they will be

upset and angry. Especially, they will insult their relative because they can eat only on Pchum

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Bay Ben (http://km.wikipedia.org/wiki/បុណយភជំុ

Ben Day. Pchum Ben festival is the time when all Cambodian people go back their homeland

with gift to respect deceased relative to the pagoda the last four day of Pchum Ben are public

holiday in Cambodia. Ben Thom is the special day when all family brings much flower, and

children offer food to the monks. It is a wonderful day. Everybody dresses very neat. Women

wear colored silk and scarves, blouses and dress. Khmer man dress pants and white dress shirt.

Khmer traditional cloth for join Pchum Ben ceremony

(http://km.wikipedia.org/wiki/បុណយភជំុបិណ្ឌ )In this season, although, Khmer people are busy with their works, but they never forgot

to go to pagoda. They go to any pagoda near or far from their house at less 7 pagoda as they

can do to give food to the monk. When they give anything to the monk they have to invite or

call the name of their ancestral spirit to get anything that they have offered to the monk. It is

importance if they don’t invite them they will get nothing from their relative. For the local

Buddhist temple they divide as groups to prepare food for monk and they choose a house to

make a Bai Ben and collect NumAnsom. Around 4:00 am at pagoda they always beat drum to

show that it is in the rainy season and it is the sign to tell people to get up and prepare food to

go to pagoda. For people that are cooking at house ready, they bring food to pagoda when

dawn broke.

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At pagoda Achar is person who prepares the ceremony. Then Achar have to direct local

Buddhist temple to give food to the monk. After the ceremony is finished group direct have to

share food to guest who joins in this ceremony. For the Pchum Ben day they also see some

pagoda play the game like buffalo racing and house racing etc. It interesting that they decorate

it with the flavors and smooth skin color. At Pchum Ben they are the day that all Khmer

people have a holiday to enjoy with their family. It is the chance that each son and daughter to

go visit and give the gift to their parents to return a good deed.

IV. Causes of Pchum Ben ceremony

Khmer people always celebrate Bun Pchum Ben every year. Pchum Ben is a ceremony for devothing to the dead ancestor and all relative who passed away. However, according to Mr. Song Seav’s document has more meaning. He explains that there are three factors. First, in order to devote good deed to the evil. Second, in order to be happiness that happens to ourselves. Third, in order to create the unity as nation, set time to make Num ansom all around Cambodia. We can note that “Bon Sen Daunta”, it is the simple word for people because these words have the same meaning.

VI. Conclusion

In conclusion, Cambodia celebrate Bon Pchum Ben very year. It is also a festival tradition

among another ceremony. Cambodia never missed Pchum Ben. It is really necessary for them

to pray to ancestors and relatives. It is also make you know about the action that we do like we

say “done good got good and done bad got bad”. In this ceremony make them to have purified

our faith, generosity, and gratitude to their dead ancestor, living genitor’s and as well as to the

monk that staying in door for hibernates. Khmer people who live in Cambodia always join and

celebrate Pchum Ben. If they do something bad, they will bear a Brett or cannot reborn again.

So, they believe that Pchum Ben is very important to show good way to them the following of

this action to show that Cambodia is a really country that has own unique his unique history,

value culture prosperity and especially genuine religious for a long time. Moreover, we are

Cambodian people in this generation must have to keep well of our senior property to continue

to our next junior take care it from one advent by advent forever.

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References

“Pchum Ben.” 6 February 2012, 20 March 2012. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pchum_Ben>

“A history of Pchum Ben.” Sokmean. Internet Resources. 2009, 20 March 2012.

<http://sokmean.blogspot.com/2009/09/history-of-pchum-ben.html >

“A history of Pchum Ben.” Preah Bhikkhu Vodano Sophan S. Intecrnet Resources. 22 August

2006, 20 March 2012.<http://hawaii.cambodiaworldwide.com/historypben.html >

Moa Samnang. “Pchum Ben ceremony and floating ancestor.” 2012.

Chea Phearun. “History of Kan Ben and Pchum Ben.” 200

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