Sompot Chong Kben
Introduction ''Sompot Chong Kben'', early 20th century, Bunka Gakuen Costume Museumalt='''''Sompot Chong Kben''''' (,  ; known in Thai as '''''chong kraben''''' ( ) and in Lao '''''pha hang''''' (), is a unisex, lower body, wraparound cloth worn in the countries of Cambodia, Laos, and Thailand. It was the preferred choice of clothing for women of upper and middle classes for daily wear. Unlike the typical ''sompot'', it is more of a pant than a skirt. The ''chong kraben'' is described by art historian Eksuda Singhalampong as "...a garment that resembles loose breeches. The wearer wraps a rectangular piece of cloth around his or her waist, the edge of cloth is then passed between the legs and tucked in at the wearer's lower back. Many 19th-century European accounts often called them knee breeches, riding breeches or knickerbockers."
Etymology ''Sompot Chong Kben'' () is a combination of three Khmer words; សំពត់ /sɑmpʊət/''sampot'' (a long, rectangular cloth worn around the lower body),     ចង /cɑɑŋ/''chang'' (to wrap around), and ក្បិន /kbən/''kben'' (refers to the lower body cloth wrapped around the waist and then pulled back between the legs and tucked in at the back). In short, this type of cloth is known as ''kben'' or ''chong kben'', literally means ''"to'' ''wrap'' or ''to'' ''wear the kben'' in Khmer language. Whereas ''chong kraben'' () is used among Thai people and derived from these Khmer words.
History The history of sompot chong kben dates back to ancient Cambodia, where deities were often portrayed wearing such styles. References to most Khmer elders told a legend related to this garment. It said that a long time ago, the Khmer people worn sompot chong kben, following the Indian tradition. In those times, India provided many religions, but the most important one was Hinduism, as the Khmer king at that time built the temples such as Angkor Wat, also dedicated to Hinduism. In the era of the Khmer empire, most of the people were likely to read and see the Reamker at the Angkor Wat carving on the first floor as well. The origin of sompot chong kben is known as Indian. Also prayed and blessed to was a deva known as Hanuman, the guard of Prince Rama in India's famous mythology, ''Ramayana'', as well as the Khmer adaptation, ''Reamker''. To show its power, Indians preferred to wear the sompot chong kben as their costume but today, countries under the Greater India, such as Cambodia, also wear it for special occasions.In Ramayana mythology, Hanuman is a symbol of bravery, cleverness, and power, so the people, when wearing the sompot chong kben, always drop a tail at the back like Hanuman's monkey tail. This practice lead a lot of people to believe that all Indians were guards of Hanuman. The influence of sompot chong kben, known as Dhoti in India, were strongly incorporated into Khmer culture from the ancient times to today. Apparently, this fabric is also known to be worn by Tamil people in south India, as well as Khmer people, till today. In fact, sompot chong kben is the tradition of southern India, and was imported to early Cambodian Kingdom, Funan by ''King Kaundinya I''.In the middle of the 13th and 14th centuries, Thai people (from Sukhothai Kingdom, known as Thailand today) and Lao people (from Lan Xang, known as Lao today) had adopted the wearing of sompot chong kben from Khmer. They considered it superior for enjoying the special occasions, and useful for royalty or monarchy in their local royal palace, the Thai people and Lao people had used sompot chong kben in a similar way.
Images File:Younger Prince Chulalongkorn and 2 younger brother.jpg|Photograph of Prince Chulalongkorn (Rama V) and his two younger brother wearing Pha chung hang in 1851File:Siamese boatman, Siam (Thailand). Wellcome L0055805.jpg|Photograph of a 19th century Siamese boatman, photographed by John ThomsonFile:Saovabha Phongsri.jpg|Photograph of Queen Saovabha Phongsri, principal consort to King ChulalongkornFile:Diety wearing Chang Kben, Phnom Da, Angkor Borei, Cambodia.jpg|6th century Khmer depiction of Balarama wearing ''Sompot Chong Kben'' from Phnom Da temple, Angkor Borei, Takeo, Cambodia. Now exhibits in National Museum of Cambodia.File:Kmer Dance..JPG|Khmer woman wearing ''Sompot Chong Kben''File:Khmer Traditional Dancing.jpg|A Khmer traditional dancer in ''Sompot Chong Kben''File:Femmes du Prince Phra-Kéo-Pha MET DP151667.jpg|Khmer royal ladies wearing ''Sompot Chong Kben'' and ''Sbai'' in the mid-1800s.File:Phnom Penh.- Costumes royaux du Royal Palace .jpg|Mannequins wearing ''Sompot Chong Kben'' at the Royal Palace of Cambodia
See also *Khmer Traditional Dress*Culture of Cambodia*Culture of Thailand*Dhoti*Sompot*Sarong
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