The Transformation of Neak Tà Belief of Khmer People in the Southern Vietnam (From Sacred Stones to Statues Worshiped, the Interaction between Brahmanism and Theravada Buddhism in the Khmer's Contemporary Culture)

By : Phan Anh Tú

Page No: 169-184

Abstract
Neak Ta is a Khmer folk religion intimately linked to the natural environment, agricultural land, and habitation regions in Southern Vietnam. The Khmer have traditionally venerated Neak Ta using sacred stones discovered in the natural environment, according to long-established customs. However, the Neak Ta religion has seen significant modifications during the 1990s. The Khmer have constructed humanoid forms called Neak Ta out of these amorphous stones in an attempt to resurrect the ancient images of Brahminism. The article is based on the author’s fieldwork in the provinces of Tra Vinh and Binh Phuoc during 10th to 30th March, 2021. In this article, the author examined the transformation process of Neak Ta belief and analysed the origins and implications of the symbolic Neak Ta in contemporary Khmer social interactions.
 

Author :
Phan Anh Tú : Faculty of Cultural Studies, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University Hochiminh City

DOI: https://doi.org/10.32381/SEAR.2023.48.12