A Record of Cambodia: The Land and Its People [Paperback]

Zhou Daguan (Author), Peter Harris (Translator)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 2007 | ISBN-10: 9749511247 | ISBN-13: 978-9749511244

Only one person has given us a first-hand account of the civilization of Angkor. This is the Chinese envoy, Zhou Daguan, who visited Angkor in 1296-97 and wrote A Record of Cambodia: The Land and Its People after his return to China. To this day Zhou's description of the royal palace, sacred buildings, women, traders, slaves, hill people, animals, landscapes, and everyday life remains a unique portrait of thirteenth-century Angkor at a time when its splendors were still intact. Very little is known about Zhou Daguan. He was born on or near the southeastern coast of China, and was probably a young man when he traveled to Cambodia by boat. After returning home he faded into obscurity, though he seems to have lived on for several decades. Much of the text of Zhou's book has been lost over the centuries, but what remains gives us a lively sense of Zhou the man as well as of Angkor. In this edition, Peter Harris translates Zhou Daguan's work directly from Chinese to English to be published for the first time. Earlier English versions depended on a French translation done over a century ago, and lost much of the feeling of the original as a result. This entirely new rendering, which draws on a range of available versions of the Zhou text, brings Zhou's many observations vividly and accurately back to life. An introduction and extensive notes help explain the text and put it in the context of the times. Peter Harris is senior fellow of the Centre for Strategic Studies: New Zealand in Victoria University of Wellington.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Peter Harris has given a new generation of readers a masterly version of Zhou's timeless and fascinating account that scholars of Cambodia are sure to relish and visitors to Angkor are sure to enjoy." David Chandler

About the Author

Peter Harris is senior fellow of the Centre for Strategic Studies: New Zealand in Victoria University of Wellington.

Product Details

• Paperback: 184 pages
• Publisher: Silkworm Books (January 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 9749511247
• ISBN-13: 978-9749511244
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #479,622 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #61 in Books > History > Asia > Cambodia

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Rare, readable, relevant...and entertaining!, January 27, 2008

By 

Kent Davis "Devata Org - Khmer Studies" (Anna Maria Island, FL USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Record of Cambodia: The Land and Its People (Paperback)

If you're heading to Cambodia as a tourist on your first visit...or if you're a scholar immersed in Southeast Asian studies...this book is for you. It's unusual to find a work of this depth that holds such broad appeal.

Zhou Daguan's 700 year old report of his diplomatic journey to the fabulously wealthy ancient Khmer capital of Angkor is rare. In fact, it is one of the only written records about this mysterious kingdom that has survived to the present day.

Two things make this edition unique:

Author Peter Harris provides the first direct Chinese to English translation of this historic record of Asian travel with many new insights and interpretations.

Second, Harris accomplishes this in a readable style, also including fascinating comparisons to Marco Polo's China journey, which was contemporary with Zhou's account.

The result is a book that will enhance any recreational visit to Cambodia, but at the same time offers concrete facts and references for academic readers.

This edition includes 28 full color photos and two maps giving readers modern references to temples and concepts in Zhou's original account. Academics will be pleased to find 44 pages of detailed endnotes, more than 100 bibliographic references, two appendices and a detailed index. All the reference tools include Chinese characters for Sino-linguists.

"A Record of Cambodia" delivers cultural relevance, readability and rigorous scholarship in a compact and inexpensive volume.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Not just for tourists, April 17, 2008

By 

Patricia Welch "Patricia Bjaaland Welch" (Singapore) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Record of Cambodia: The Land and Its People (Paperback)

For visitors to Angkor Wat, this book is a "must". However, it's more than just a late afternoon read after touring Angkor Thom and environs. It's an excellent translation of a valuable work with very helpful footnotes for academics and independent scholars. The excellent footnotes and explanations and inclusion of Chinese characters makes it a valuable reference work for those of us studying Cambodian, Vietnamese (Champa) and Chinese history. Don't let its slim size and popularity with armchair and real visitors distract you from its value.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Angkor Essential, December 28, 2007

By 

Rhandhali (Lexington, KY USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: A Record of Cambodia: The Land and Its People (Paperback)

This is the only substantial record of the Angkorian civilization that we have. It was written in the 13th century by a Chinese traveller, Zhou Daguan and has been translated directly into English for the first time. This book is an invaluable accessory for any trip to Angkor Wat, the descriptions provided give a life to the dead temples and ruins that they themselves can no longer project.

Unfortunately even this record is fragmentary and much of this book is filled with extremely helpful translator's notes and footnotes. Also included are maps and photographs of some of the landmarks described in some of the books. I would heartily recommend this book to anyone interested in Angkor Wat and would consider it essential for anyone actually going there.