The Indigenous Spirit of Cambodia’s Tampuan People, Part 1 of 2

The long-established religious system of the Tampuan is animism, which involves the belief that humans, animal-people, rocks, bodies of water, forests and other aspects of nature are imbued with spirits. Their faith in the sacredness of the natural world encourages them to respect their environment and to inspire others to do the same. Music plays a prominent role in the lives of the Tampuan people, and children are taught to play instruments at a young age. The most important instrument is the gong, which is often played in large ensembles, sometimes accompanied by drums, fiddles, flutes, banjos, and even a unique instrument called the bamboo tube zither. Unlike most modern societies, the Tampuan are matrilineal, meaning family names and heritages extend through the mother’s side of the family. It is customary for newlywed couples to serve the bride’s family for the first three years of marriage, then the groom’s family for an additional three years, before starting life on their own. The lives of the Tampuan are dependent on the forest. Their food, building supplies, medicine, and materials for crafts and musical instrument making all come from the local vegetation. Even their spiritual beliefs are deeply intertwined with the environment.