Editing History of Cambodia (section)

==Chenla Kingdom (6th century – 802)==
{{Main article|Chenla Kingdom}}
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| image1            = Buddha of Binh Hoa.jpg
| caption1          = Chenla-era statue of Buddha found at Binh Hoa, [[Long An]]
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| caption2          = Ancient [[Khmer script]]
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The History of the Chinese [[Sui dynasty]] contains records that a state called [[Chenla]] sent an embassy to China in 616 or 617 CE It says, that Chenla was a vassal of [[Kingdom of Funan|Funan]], but under its ruler Citrasena-Mahendravarman conquered Funan and gained independence.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.e-reading.club/bookreader.php/142071/Encyclopedia_of_ancient_Asian_civilizations.pdf |title=Encyclopedia of Ancient Asian Civilizations by Charles F. W. Higham - Chenla - Chinese histories record that a state called Chenla... |publisher=Library of Congress |access-date=13 July 2015 |archive-date=4 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200804224753/http://www.e-reading.club/bookreader.php/142071/Encyclopedia_of_ancient_Asian_civilizations.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Most of the Chinese recordings on Chenla, including that of Chenla conquering Funan, have been contested since the 1970s as they are generally based on single remarks in the Chinese annals, as author Claude Jacques emphasised the very vague character of the Chinese terms 'Funan' and 'Chenla', while more domestic epigraphic sources become available. Claude Jacques summarises: "Very basic historical mistakes have been made" because "the history of pre-Angkorean Cambodia was reconstructed much more on the basis of Chinese records than on that of [Cambodian] inscriptions" and as new inscriptions were discovered, researchers "preferred to adjust the newly discovered facts to the initial outline rather than to call the Chinese reports into question".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://michaelvickery.org/vickery1994what.pdf |title= "What and Where was Chenla?" - In the 1970s Claude Jacques began cautiously to move away from the established historiographical framework | publisher= Michael Vickery |access-date=15 July 2015}}</ref>

The notion of Chenla's centre being in modern Laos has also been contested. "All that is required is that it be inland from Funan."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://michaelvickery.org/vickery1994what.pdf |title= "What and Where was Chenla?" - there is really no need to look for Khmer Empire beyond the borders of what is present-day Cambodia. All that is required is that it be inland from Funan. | publisher= Michael Vickery publications |access-date=14 July 2015}}</ref> The most important political record of pre-Angkor Cambodia, the inscription K53 from Ba Phnom, dated 667 CE does not indicate any political discontinuity, either in royal succession of kings Rudravarman, Bhavavarman I, Mahendravarman [Citrasena], Īśānavarman, and Jayavarman I or in the status of the family of officials who produced the inscription. Another inscription of a few years later, K44, 674 CE, commemorating a foundation in Kampot province under the patronage of Jayavarman I, refers to an earlier foundation in the time of King Raudravarma, presumably Rudravarman of Funan, and again there is no suggestion of political discontinuity.

The [[New Book of Tang|History of the T'ang]] asserts that shortly after 706 the country was split into {{ill|Land Chenla|km|ចេនឡាដីគោក}} and {{ill|Water Chenla|km|ចេនឡាទឹកលិច}}. The names signify a northern and a southern half, which may conveniently be referred to as Upper and Lower Chenla.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.khamkoo.com/uploads/9/0/0/4/9004485/the_journal_of_the_siam_society_vol._lii_part_1-2_1964.pdf |title=THE JOURNAL OF THE SIAM SOCIETY - AN HISTORICAL ATLAS OF THAILAND Vol. LII Part 1-2 1964 - The Australian National University Canberra |publisher=The Australian National University |access-date=15 July 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150714093413/http://www.khamkoo.com/uploads/9/0/0/4/9004485/the_journal_of_the_siam_society_vol._lii_part_1-2_1964.pdf |archive-date=14 July 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

By the late 8th century Water Chenla had become a vassal of the Sailendra dynasty of Java – the last of its kings were killed and the polity incorporated into the Javanese monarchy around 790 CE. Land Chenla acquired independence under [[Jayavarman II]] in 802 CE<ref name="Chenla - 550-800">{{cite web |url=http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/cambodia/history-chenla.htm |title= Chenla – 550–800 | publisher= Global Security |access-date=13 July 2015}}</ref>

Ancient Chinese records mention two kings, Shrutavarman and Shreshthavarman who ruled at the capital Shreshthapura located in modern-day southern Laos. The immense influence on the identity of Cambodia to come was wrought by the Khmer Kingdom of [[Sambor Prei Kuk|Bhavapura]], in the modern day Cambodian city of [[Kampong Thom (city)|Kampong Thom]]. Its legacy was its most important sovereign, [[Isanavarman I|Ishanavarman]] who completely conquered the kingdom of Funan during 612–628. He chose his new capital at the [[Sambor Prei Kuk]], naming it Ishanapura.<ref name=Coedes>{{cite book|last= Coedès|first= George|author-link= George Coedès|editor= Walter F. Vella|others= trans.Susan Brown Cowing|title= The Indianized States of Southeast Asia|year= 1968|publisher= University of Hawaii Press|isbn= 978-0-8248-0368-1}}</ref>