Siem Reap Conference on Special Topics in Khmer Studies
09 JUNE 12
We are pleased to announce that after Epigraphy (2009) and Archaeometallurgy (2011), the Siem Reap Conference on Special Topics in Khmer Studies (sr costiks) organised jointly by the APSARA, Ecole française d’Extrême-Orient, Center for Khmer Studies and University of Sydney with the help of the Friends of Khmer Culture, will be dedicated this year to History of Religions. It will take place at the Apsara Authority buildings from 9th to 11th June 2012.
website : siemreapconference.org
The epigraphical, architectural and iconographical material available to understand premodern Cambodia’s society and history all concur in giving religion a central place. However, despite this importance, very few studies dedicated themselves directly exclusively to the topic of religion.
Indeed, the complexity held by this topic has many sources: the process once referred to as indianization involved the already composite system of Indian religions (Shaivism, Vaishnavism and Buddhism) into a barely known local system of beliefs. Recent discoveries from Buddhist studies, be it on discrepancies among texts and religious practices or on unveiled tantric texts and the wider recognition of tantric Buddhist aesthetic forms coming from them add up to this complexity.
The aim of this conference is to take an interdisciplinary approach to study and render the richness of Southeast Asian premodern religions, and more precisely, Khmer religion. By confronting premodern Southeast Asian cultures, what can be understood of the common or characteristic choices of Indian religious features they each made? Consequently, what can be concluded about local systems of beliefs followed at the time? How contemporary religions suggest the strata of the Indian borrowings and reveal its own essence throughout its own evolutions?
The conference will bring together international specialists, colleagues and students from all the disciplines, who share a common interest in Cambodian and Southeast Asian religions, from prehistory to modern period on all aspects of religions, including History, Archaeology, Art History, Religious Studies, Anthropology, etc. By the collation of recent scholarship in these very fields and the presentation of the last theoretical works of Religious Studies, this conference will improve our understanding of Southeast Asian religions.
Organising committee
Julia Estève
école française d’Extrême-Orient; Phum Beng Don Pa, Khum Sla Kram, Siem Reap; PO Box 93300, Siem Reap;
Cambodia Phone: (+855) 89 709 810;
Email: esteve.julia@yahoo.fr
Damian Evans
The University of Sydney; Robert Christie Research Centre, 195 Phum Treng, Khum Sla Kram, Siem Reap;
Cambodia Phone: (+855) 63 760 416; Fax: (+855) 63 760 416;
Email: damian.evans@sydney.edu.au
IM Sokrithy
APSARA Authority, Siem Reap & Faculty of Archaeology, Royal University of Fine Arts, Phnom Penh.
Email: imsokrithy@hotmail.com
Dominique SOUTIF
école française d’Extrême-Orient; Phum Beng Don Pa, Khum Slakram, Siem Reap; PO Box 93300, Siem Reap;
Cambodia Phone: (+855) 92 993 502; Fax: (+855) 63 964 226;
Email: dominique.soutif@gmail.com
Michael Sullivan
Center for Khmer Studies; Wat Damnak, Siem Reap; PO Box 9380, Siem Reap;
Cambodia Phone: (+855) 063 964 385; Fax: (+855) 063 963 035;
Email: msullivan@khmerstudies.org
sr costiks
website : siemreapconference.org
The epigraphical, architectural and iconographical material available to understand premodern Cambodia’s society and history all concur in giving religion a central place. However, despite this importance, very few studies dedicated themselves directly exclusively to the topic of religion.
Indeed, the complexity held by this topic has many sources: the process once referred to as indianization involved the already composite system of Indian religions (Shaivism, Vaishnavism and Buddhism) into a barely known local system of beliefs. Recent discoveries from Buddhist studies, be it on discrepancies among texts and religious practices or on unveiled tantric texts and the wider recognition of tantric Buddhist aesthetic forms coming from them add up to this complexity.
The aim of this conference is to take an interdisciplinary approach to study and render the richness of Southeast Asian premodern religions, and more precisely, Khmer religion. By confronting premodern Southeast Asian cultures, what can be understood of the common or characteristic choices of Indian religious features they each made? Consequently, what can be concluded about local systems of beliefs followed at the time? How contemporary religions suggest the strata of the Indian borrowings and reveal its own essence throughout its own evolutions?
The conference will bring together international specialists, colleagues and students from all the disciplines, who share a common interest in Cambodian and Southeast Asian religions, from prehistory to modern period on all aspects of religions, including History, Archaeology, Art History, Religious Studies, Anthropology, etc. By the collation of recent scholarship in these very fields and the presentation of the last theoretical works of Religious Studies, this conference will improve our understanding of Southeast Asian religions.
Organising committee
Julia Estève
école française d’Extrême-Orient; Phum Beng Don Pa, Khum Sla Kram, Siem Reap; PO Box 93300, Siem Reap;
Cambodia Phone: (+855) 89 709 810;
Email: esteve.julia@yahoo.fr
Damian Evans
The University of Sydney; Robert Christie Research Centre, 195 Phum Treng, Khum Sla Kram, Siem Reap;
Cambodia Phone: (+855) 63 760 416; Fax: (+855) 63 760 416;
Email: damian.evans@sydney.edu.au
IM Sokrithy
APSARA Authority, Siem Reap & Faculty of Archaeology, Royal University of Fine Arts, Phnom Penh.
Email: imsokrithy@hotmail.com
Dominique SOUTIF
école française d’Extrême-Orient; Phum Beng Don Pa, Khum Slakram, Siem Reap; PO Box 93300, Siem Reap;
Cambodia Phone: (+855) 92 993 502; Fax: (+855) 63 964 226;
Email: dominique.soutif@gmail.com
Michael Sullivan
Center for Khmer Studies; Wat Damnak, Siem Reap; PO Box 9380, Siem Reap;
Cambodia Phone: (+855) 063 964 385; Fax: (+855) 063 963 035;
Email: msullivan@khmerstudies.org
sr costiks