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Chinese ancient documents dating from the start of the 1st C describe
the Kingdom of Funan. The then recorded King was called Fan Man a
former war lord who assumed the mantle of the Hindus '' maharaja ‘’ and
who adopted Indian forms of administration and religion. Funan
maintained relations with India and China and ruled the region for 500
years.
Some of Kingdom of Funan former capital and major cities can now be seen
as ruins at Samrong Sen, Angkor Borei, Ba Phnom, and Sophas in Cambodia
and Oc Eo in what is now Vietnam. As there are no written records
remaining today as to the extent of the Kingdom of Funan we look at the
locations of archealogical sites, the art work and architecture, carbon
dating and the earth works remaining of roads and canals that linked
the Funan communities to better understand more.
Oc Eo was a port of international significance in the ancient trade
routes from Rome in Italy, through Arabia, the Indian Sub Continent,
South East Asia and China. Through Oc Eo Indian traders arrived with
new ideas, introducing the Indian alphabet, the Saka Calendar and the
Hindu and later Buddhist religions. In about 480 King Jayavarman 1 but
a new capital at Ba Phnom. This was abandoned after war with the new Kingdom of Chenla from the
North and another Capital was built in 514 at Angkor Borei. How far the
Kingdom of Funan expanded we cannot be certain. Other important
centres were Sophas and Samrong Sen.
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