Sompot Chong Kben

Sompot Chong Kben (សំពត់ចងក្បិន, sâmpót châng kbĕn sɑmput cɑːŋ kɓən; ผ้าจูงหาง, ຜ້າຫາງ, pha hang) is a unisex, lower body, wraparound cloth worn in the countries of Cambodia, Laos, and Thailand. It is 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." Sompot Chong Kben (សំពត់ចងក្បិន) is a combination of three Khmer words; sampot (a long, rectangular cloth worn around the lower body), chang (to wrap around), and 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. The history of sompot chong kben dates back to ancient Cambodia, where deities were often portrayed wearing such styles. Referenced 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 be a deva known as Hanuman, the guard of Prince Rama in India's famous mythology, Ramayana, as well as the Khmer adaptation, Reamker.