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16 kwi 2022 · Prime Minister Hun Sen on April 16 inaugurated the statues of Preah Thong and Neang Neak – Cambodia’s biggest copper monument depicting the legendary co-founders of the Funan Kingdom – in Preah Sihanouk province, while also calling on the authorities to halt the enforcement of Covid-19 law during this traditional Khmer New Year holiday.
According to the myth, Preah Thong journeyed to what is now Cambodia, met Neang Neak, and was blessed by her father, the Naga king. This blessing included expanding the land for their rule, leading to the formation of the Funan kingdom and establishing the Khmer lineage through their descendants.
The Preah Thong[2] and Neang Neakii[3] statue symbolises the birth of Khmer land, culture, traditions and civilisation of Cambodia. The statue is 21 metres tall, on a pedestal 6.34 metres high (27.34 metres in total), and weighs 60 tonnes, being the largest copper statue in Cambodia, facing the sea.
Queen Soma and her husband, Kaundinya I, are known in Khmer legend as "Preah Thong (Kaundinya) and Neang Neak (Soma)". According to reports by two Chinese envoys, Kang Tai and Zhu Ying, the state of Funan was established by an Indian merchant from ancient Kalinga named Kaundinya.
The princess agreed to take Preah Thong to her under-water-kingdom to introduce him to her father. Neang Neak told the prince to hold onto the hem of her body garment. So off she went, with Preah Thong towing behind, passing through the land and water, descending onto her palace in the naga world.
10 lut 2024 · Their alliance transformed the Naga King into a realm’s protective barrier. Neang Neak’s dowry, land from her father, marks Cambodia’s sovereignty. This legend showcases the Naga as a guardian, blending Khmer and Indian legacies.
21 lis 2021 · During a 12-day visit to India in 1955, the Cambodian statesman spoke of both the influence of Sanskrit on the Khmer language as well as link the story of Preah Thong and Neang Neak created ...
