The Legend of Naga and Dragon

We cannot overstate on the possible engagement and marriage between Naga and Dragon. Naga in Khmer belief is female and Dragon in Chinese belief is male. If Yin and Yang was important for Chinese philosophy, Yin is not someone else but princes Naga and Yang is not someone else but Chinese prince. Whenever, Yin and Yang are two inseparable elements on earth, Cambodia and China are undividable.

According to the archeological records, Khmer and Chinese has bonded relationship since the birth of Kingdom of Cambodia. This historical claim is not merely speaking if we looked at the accounts of archeological sites, historical manuscripts and folklore narrations. Thus the word "Funan" which was misspelled by Chinese traders of "Pchnom" has been a key account for historians to study about the birth of Cambodia. The caving pictures depicting on the walls of all Khmer ancient temples have attractively illustrated the commercial trading between Khmer and Chinese, for instance, the depicting stories on the wall of Bayon temple. Not only that reflecting economic and social relationship, many historical accounts indicated political involvements between Khmer and Chinese. For instance, the exchange of ambassadors between Khmer and China in the reign of Bhavavarman in the pre-Angkorian period, the Chinese troops depicting on the wall of Angkor Watt during the ascending to throne of Suriyavarman II, and the arrival of Ghou Daghoun who was the ambassador of China to visit Cambodia during the post-Angkorian period.

But what is impressed me to writing this article this moment is the legend of Naga and Dragon. If we asked Chinese people on what is their national animal, they will simultaneously respond us that "Dragon". And if we looked at Cambodian culture, architectures, arts and belief, Naga serpent is omnipresently everywhere and this mythical serpent is historically reflecting the birth of Cambodia and the wedding ceremony of all Khmer couples. It has started with Khmer princes whose name was Soma (or Naga princes or Lie Yi in Chinese) was the first Khmer princes who governed Cambodia. We can see that Chinese politicians and traders primarily contacted with princes Naga before the coming of Preah Thong from India according to some sources. Princes Naga is considered as a connector between China and India in that time. It has also reflected the strategic zone of ASEAN in ancient time. In that time, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia were not yet born. Princes Naga was more important than ancient states of Java, Champa and Mon in partnering with China and India.

We cannot overstate on the possible engagement and marriage between Naga and Dragon. Naga in Khmer belief is female and Dragon in Chinese belief is male. If Yin and Yang was important for Chinese philosophy, Yin is not someone else but princes Naga and Yang is not someone else but Chinese prince. Whenever, Yin and Yang are two inseparable elements on earth, Cambodia and China are undividable.

With this marriage tie, Naga has sometime been abused by powerful Dragon but she has evidently received sympathy from Dragon. It is in contrast that this powerful Dragon will never allow other dragons to compete with him. Other Dragon rival or smaller dragon will be inevitably smashed.

I would like to suggest all artists to draw Naga and Dragon being married, and giant dragon kick out those smaller dragons.

Thank you very much,

Sophan S.