Cambodia, from Brahma to Buddha (Folkways of Indochina)

These two episodes from CNTV’s Folkways of Indochina series look at the early history of the Khmer Empire, and the Hindu religion which was practised there.

It then goes on to show how during the time of Jayavarman VII he converted to Buddhism, and gradually everyone, both in court and in the populace at large, followed him.

Hinduism, however, still left its traces in various matters like the design of the Buddhist temples, the medicine which is practised in the country and so forth.

The documentaries, while not always completely accurate, do give a fair overview of the development of religion in Khmer society, and is helped by various experts at museums and on the ground at the sites themselves.