The Cambodias Best-Known Literatureculture Hero

The Cambodias Best-Known LiteratureCulture Hero

By Lay Vicheka March 11, 2005

Ў§Choun NatЎЁ is known as the most impressive literature and cultural promoter that Cambodia every produced. Many claim Choun Nat revitalized Cambodian cultural identity. Sadly he is not world-widely recognized as those in the developed countries, due to CambodiaЎ¦s immense isolation and misery over the past decades. The purpose of this scope of paper is to awaken the Cambodians and foreigners alike, not to ignore our remarkable role model.

I. Life

Choun Nat was born in the eleventh of March 1883 in Kampong Speu province (Kampong Speu is located in North of Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia, about 48 kilometres). He was from agrarian family. His motherЎ¦s name was Youk and fatherЎ¦s name was Prom Choun. Choun Nat had only one brother who was Sir. Choun Nut.

Reaching the age of twelve, his parents took him to one Buddhist monastery named Pothiprek, located in Kandal Provice (Kandal Provinnce is located in the south of Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia, about 10 kilometres) so that he could be instructed Khmer literature by Keo Morm. When he turned 14 (1897), he became Buddhist monk and took studies in Pothiprek monastery for two years. Then he left for Hounaloum monastery, located in Phnom Penh, close to Royal Palace. Over there, he stayed with master Tep Sao. But he returned to Pothiprek monastery when he was 21.

Choun Nat tirelessly struggled in studying Pali and other languages, especially French. Students in his generation stated that Choun Nat was always the front-runner of all other students and always progressed. Seriousness in every subject he mastered, Choun Nat insightfully understand the grammar of every language -- Sanskrit, Khmer literature (Khmer and Cambodia is used correspondently). Not only grammar, Choun Nat impressively remembered the deep words related to ancient culture. Choun Nat is able to communicate in Thai, Lao, French, Vietnam, and English. He was excellent and unrivalled among the students of his generation in Pali language. In 1913, he contested on Ў§chasing sentenceЎЁ in front of king Sisowat, and Choun Nat could chase for four sentences, which was the highest in that era. 1915, Choun Nat ranked number two in the national contest, and was appointed Advanced-Pali language-Professor in Soramrith High School (Soramrith is the father of King Norodom Sihanouk).

Choun Nat had deep understanding of Pali language, he could read or pronounce in accordance to Siri LankaЎ¦s, BurnaЎ¦s, Mon KhmerЎ¦s, SiamЎ¦s, and LaosЎ¦s accent. 1922 and 1923, he went to studied Sanskrit and archaeology in Hanoi, North Vietnam.

II. Personality

Choun Nat treated everything seriously, from he was young to the age of 86. He sometimes worked the whole night without sleeping. Choun Nat slept only about four to five hours only a day. It was his faculty to tirelessly and continuously work.

Choun Nat was considered highly intellectual, especially in term of quick/focus response and decision. His praying contained the advisory connotations in both holy and unholy knowledge. Most of his praying aimed to instruct everyone the value of industriousness, unity, religion, peace, and the routes to the prosperous future for the laymen. In every praying he did, Choun Nat aimed to insert patriotism into peopleЎ¦s hearts.

Choun Nat had entrepreneurial and leadership spirit, as he could vigorously go everywhere to and understand every situation he attended.

Choun Nat had the personality of Ў§helperЎЁ. In every activity he did, Choun Nat aimed to bring prosperity in the present time as well as to the future. These humanitarian activities were called Ў§the intellectual deedsЎЁ. Choun Nat had contributed to helping the country since 1920. He bought three hectares of land surrounding the monastery to enlarge the monastery, donate to construct roads, establish concrete vice-Pali shrine, constructed one small and one big bridge, financially support from the low-grade schools to the universities, bought a hectare of land and made it the ownership of the religionЎKetc.

III. Daily Activities

Choun Nat only regularized one kind of meal, which was lunch, and breakfast was in regular, sometimes he didnЎ¦t have it.

When there was guest, he immediately came to hospitalize though he was being hectic with writing. Choun Nat was absolutely careful in using the time everyday, because he had too much to execute. But if he was really free from work, he warmly hospitalized the guest