HIST 2B Lecture Notes - Lecture 3: Zhou Daguan, Chenla, Taoism
20 Jan 2017
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Document Summary
Zhou daguan- official from near shanghai sent to angkor in 1295 by chinese emperor for official delegation. Describes city, societal customs, and trade goods. Bridges have a snake with nine heads: gateways have five stone buddha heads. City walls form an exact square with a stone tower on each side. Center of the capital has a gold tower. Royal palace, officials" residences and great houses all face east. King sleeps in a gold tower at palace: nine-headed snake spirit lives in tower. Appears in form of a woman and king shares his bed with her every night. Common people live in thatched roofed homes. King, men, and women all wear hair in a knot. King wears elegant clothing with flower patterns and crown of flowers or gold. Senior officials and relatives of king can wear cloth with scattered floral design. Officials rank of chief minister, commander-in-chief of army, astronomer etc: below are various kinds of junior officials.
