Vong Sotheara
(History Department, Royal University of Phnom Penh;
JSPS Grantee for Ph.D Research)
"Analogous Toponyms between Ancient India and Cambodia"
Abstract:
In ancient Cambodia, Indian Sanskrit toponyms were one among many aspects of Indian culture, that were adapted by Khmer people from the time of Indian culture was introduced into the country from around 3rd century. There are some well-known place names such as Kuruksetra, Janapada, Aryadeça, Madhyadeça, Vijayapura, and Pasan recorded in several inscriptions and Chinese records in 14th century. The first two and the last two names were identified by scholar George Coedès's as also referring to toponyms in Cambodia; but there was no evidence to suggest the existence of "Madhyadeça" as referring to a place name in Cambodia during his life. Therefore, whenever there was as suggestion of a person as coming from Madhyadeça, the assumption was that he had come from India. This assumption, however, has not proved to be correct as, in fact, Madhyadeça was situated in ancient Cambodia.
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