Khmer stone inscriptions are the precious lanterns that light the path for scholars of Khmer history. They are the primary source of information for the study of the centuries-old history of Cambodia, said professor Hun Chhunteng.

A research specialist and lecturer of ancient inscriptions, he has over 10 years experience in the field. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Khmer literature and a master’s in linguistics, and is currently pursuing a PhD in Khmer Studies at the Royal University of Phnom Penh (RUPP).

What are some of the most important things to consider for those interested in studying ancient Khmer inscriptions?

This subject takes a lot of time, effort, perseverance and extra research outside the classroom. A two-semester period of study will not make anyone an expert, but does provide an important base which should not be overlooked. Learners who lack passion for the subject will struggle, as so much extra work is required to gain a deep understanding.

In addition, extensive knowledge of the basics of the linguistics of other languages such as Pali, Sanskrit, ethic and local dialects is required.

French and English skills are also important in this field, as most historical research was carried out in these languages. A broad knowledge of anthropology, history, culture, religion, and the ancient economy also contribute to our understanding of the inscriptions.

The subject has many public and private university students each year, as anyone studying Khmer literature, history, linguistics or archeology must learn about it. There are many fields of research which seek to extrapolate data from the ancient writings.

I was a student of Khmer literature and linguistics, and majoring in these inscriptions has led me to learn more about the Khmer language. Examining the modern Khmer language alone does not give an in-depth understanding of its characteristics.

Thanks to what I have learned from the inscriptions, I have a deeper understanding of the words, places, names, customs and traditions that date back to ancient times and continue to exist today.

How were the inscriptions discovered and when were the latest ones found?

They have been discovered in various contexts and situations. Some were discovered by the local people and protected, without the knowledge of researchers, only to be encountered by chance. Others have been discovered more recently and have come to our attention via social media.

In other cases, inscriptions have been discovered by archaeologists carrying out excavations. These are the works that have been most widely disseminated, so naturally more research on them has been published.

For me personally, the most recent inscriptions I have come across were discovered on September 30. They are fragments that were discovered in Dauntei commune’s Reul Krom village of Tbong Khmum province’s Ponhea Kraek district, near Banteay Prey Nokor. The inscriptions are the remaining fragments of a large inscription that was destroyed during the Democratic Kampuchea era (Khmer Rouge), when it was used to sharpen knives.

The fragments provided very little information because there are only a few letters left. We only recognise the name Jayavarman, but that also means Lord.

Meanwhile, a research project in Siem Reap province recently unearthed a new inscription on a 12th century throne. It has been catalogued as K.1581 in the inventory of inscriptions. Of course, there are many unregistered pieces both here and around the world.

What value do the inscriptions have for us, in modern Cambodia, and why should we continue to research them?

Inscriptions are invaluable as a source of understanding of every aspect of ancient society, from the words and deeds of kings and emperors, to the daily lives of his subjects.

Through our research, we have learned about the reigns of kings and wars with neighbouring countries. They have also taught us about linguistics and social issues such as the structures of social governance, economics and health. Thanks to them, we know far more about temple structures and ancient religious beliefs than we would otherwise.

Experts in many fields have utilised information from ancient inscriptions to support their work.

What advice do you have for members of the next generation who want to participate in preserving this rich source of heritage?

Well, the first thing is that anyone who discovers any inscribed relics – even if they appear to be inconsequential fragments – should handle them very carefully and report their find to the nearest Department of Culture and Fine Arts.

Those who have the opportunity to pursue this profession should count themselves lucky, because of its fundamental importance to understanding our culture. They should bear in mind that what they learn in the classroom is only a fraction of the knowledge they will need to acquire. Further study and constant research and consultation with those already working in the field are essential if a person wants to grow their abilities.

Nowadays, there are many other countries which offer masters or doctorate studies in the field of Khmer inscriptions – there are many non-Khmer who are doing excellent work in the field.

In Thailand, for example, several universities offer it as a major, and many people are graduating from these programmes. Despite being the owners of the inscriptions, we Khmer do not yet have many formal programmes on the subject.

In short, becoming an expert in this field requires a lot of study. There is a narrow job market for those with bachelor’s degrees, but anyone completing a master’s degree or doctorate will certainly find work, perhaps as a lecturer at a university.

It is important to realise that we cannot get this work done alone, as no single person will ever be an authority in every aspect of the work. For example, those who specialise in ancient Sanskrit may need to work closely with anthropologists to understand the deeper meaning or context of the words they are deciphering.

What was the academic path that led you to this field, and could you share some highlights of your published work?

I was awarded a scholarship to the Royal University of Phnom Penh from 2007 to 2011, and chose Khmer Literature as my major.

At the end of the foundation year, I heard from some of the senior students that in the second year, I would be studying Pali, Sanskrit and inscriptions. My friends and I tried to prepare for this by carrying out our own research, although it was hard to track down many published works on these subjects. When it was time to learn these brand new scripts and languages in class, it was still very difficult – and my teacher was very strict.

After two semesters, I had learned most of the ancient characters, although I did not yet understand their meaning. Even after completing these courses, I continued to review what I had learned, and even printed copies of ancient inscriptions to try and understand them.

In early 2010, I met Chao Veasna, a student of Dr Pou Saveros, one of the great Khmer epigraphers who was the Khmer linguistic scholar of the century. She helped my friends and I to study ancient inscriptions every Sunday afternoon. After more than a year under the tutelage of the professor, I had a better understanding of the ancient words and phrases, and that took me deeper into the meaning of the inscriptions.

After graduating with my bachelor degree, I pursued a master’s degree in linguistics, which included additional study of inscriptions.

I have now been studying and working in this field for more than 14 years. As of now, I have spent 10 years in my teaching career, although I began as an intern teacher before becoming a university lecturer.

Although I published a small work in my second year of study – about a small inscription that my friend Mao Dim and I discovered near his house and researched – it was several years before my work was widely published.

In 2018 I published 12 articles in a special issue of Kampu Sorya Magazine which focused on inscriptions. In 2019, I was fortunate enough to be featured in the magazine. My work also appeared in the research journal of the Royal University of Fine Arts and a book, How to write Tevneakri letters, was published by the Buddhist Institute.

Most recently, I co-authored an article with well-known Sanskritist Dominic Goodall, which was published in the 13th edition of Medieval Worlds.