Jump to content

Hem Chieu: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous edit
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
No edit summary
No edit summary
 
(33 intermediate revisions by 27 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{family name hatnote|lang=Cambodian|Hem|Chieu}}{{Infobox person
⚫
'''Hem Chieu''' ([[1898]] - [[1943]]) was a [[Buddhist monk]] and a prominent figure in the development of [[Cambodia]]n nationalism.
| name = Hem Chieu
| image =
| native_name = ហែម ចៀវ
| native_name_lang = km
| birth_date = 1898
| birth_place = [[Kandal Province]], [[French protectorate of Cambodia|Cambodia]], [[French Indochina]]
| death_date = 1943
| death_place = [[Côn Sơn Island]], [[Colony of Cochinchina|Cochinchina]], [[French Indochina]]
| occupation = Monk, professor
| known_for = Resistance to French colonization
}}
⚫
'''Hem Chieu''' ({{langx|km|ហែម ចៀវ}}; 1898 - 1943) was a Cambodian [[Buddhist monk]] and a prominent figure in the development of [[Khmer nationalism]].


Chieu was a professor at the Higher School of [[Pali]] in [[Phnom Penh]], and strongly objected to attempts by the French colonial authorities, beginning in the late 1930s, to romanize the Khmer writing system. Although the reforms were not intended to be applied to religious texts, he began to make vocal criticisms of the French administration. He became associated with two nationalist activists, [[Son Ngoc Thanh]] and [[Pach Chheoun]], editor and founder of a pro-independence Khmer-language newspaper, ''Nagaravatta''. The French authorities believed that Thanh, Chieu and Chheoun, with [[Japan|Japanese]] backing, were attempting to recruit followers for a bid for independence from the French.<ref name=kiernan42>Kiernan, B. ''How Pol Pot Came to Power'', Yale UP, 2004, p.42</ref>
Chieu was a professor at the Higher School of [[Pali]] in [[Phnom Penh]], and strongly objected to attempts by the French [[Colonial Cambodia|colonial authorities]], beginning in the late 1930s, to romanize the [[Khmer language#Writing system|Khmer writing system]]. Although the reforms were not intended to be applied to religious texts, he began to make vocal criticisms of the French administration. He became associated with two nationalist activists, [[Son Ngoc Thanh]] and [[Pach Chheoun]], editor and founder of a pro-independence [[Khmer language|Khmer-language]] newspaper, ''Nagaravatta''. The French authorities believed that Thanh, Chieu and Chheoun, with Japanese backing, were attempting to recruit followers for a bid for independence from the French.<ref name=kiernan42>Kiernan, B. ''How Pol Pot Came to Power'', Yale UP, 2004, p.42</ref>


==Arrest==
On [[July 18]], [[1942]], the French authorities moved to arrest Chieu and an associate, Nuon Dong. Chieu was alleged to have preached anti-French sermons to Khmer troops in the colonial militia in preparation of the revolt; the manner of his arrest deeply offended many other members of the ''[[sangha]]''.
On July 18, 1942, the French authorities moved to arrest Chieu and an associate, Nuon Dong. Chieu was alleged to have preached anti-French sermons to Khmer troops in the colonial militia in preparation of the revolt; the manner of his arrest deeply offended many other members of the ''[[Sangha (Buddhism)|sangha]]''.


==Reaction to Arrest==
A large demonstration against the arrests, in which many monks took part, was organised two days later in [[Phnom Penh]] by Thanh and Chheoun. Pach Chheoun marched at the head of the demonstrators, and several monks who would later take an active role in Cambodian politics, such as later Communist activists Achar Mean ([[Son Ngoc Minh]]) and Achar Sok ([[Tou Samouth]]) were present. The demonstration was broken up violently by the French, and Chheoun was arrested and sentenced to death (later commuted to life imprisonment).<ref name=harris60>Harris, I. ''Buddhism and politics in twentieth-century Asia'', CIPG, 2001, p.60</ref>
A large demonstration against the arrests, in which many monks took part, was organised two days later in [[Phnom Penh]] by Thanh and Chhoeun. Chhoeun marched at the head of the demonstrators, and several monks who would later take an active role in Cambodian politics, such as later Communist activists Achar Mean ([[Son Ngoc Minh]]) and Achar Sok ([[Tou Samouth]]) were present. The demonstration was broken up violently by the French, and Chhoeun was arrested and sentenced to death (later commuted to life imprisonment).<ref name=harris60>Harris, I. ''Buddhism and politics in twentieth-century Asia'', CIPG, 2001, p.60</ref>


==Death==
Hem Chieu, "still preaching" according to an observer, was also sentenced to death by a military tribunal, later commuted to life imprisonment with hard labour.<ref name=kiernan45>Kiernan, B. ''How Pol Pot Came to Power'', Yale UP, 2004, p.45</ref> He died in the notorious [[Côn Sơn Island]] prison in [[1943]]. Chieu soon came to be regarded as a national hero by Cambodian nationalists and leftist insurgents of the [[United Issarak Front]]. In 1950, a political school named after Hem Chieu was established in the south-west of the county and an armed [[guerrilla]] unit named itself after him.<ref name=harris158>Harris, I. ''Cambodian Buddhism: History and Practice'', University of Hawaii, 2008, p.158</ref>
Hem Chieu, "still preaching" according to an observer, was also sentenced to death by a military tribunal, later commuted to life imprisonment with hard labour.<ref name=kiernan45>Kiernan, B. ''How Pol Pot Came to Power'', Yale UP, 2004, p.45</ref> He died in the notorious [[Côn Sơn Island]] prison in October 1943. While there he met several leaders of the [[Viet Minh]], such as [[Phạm Văn Đồng]] and [[Tôn Đức Thắng]], who afterwards related that Hem Chieu's heroic conduct in the prison led to sanctions which directly contributed to his illness and death.<ref name=kiernan47>Kiernan, p.47</ref>

Chieu soon came to be regarded as a martyr by leftist Cambodian nationalists and insurgents of the [[United Issarak Front]]. In 1950, a political school named after Hem Chieu was established in the southwest of the county and an armed [[guerrilla]] unit named itself after him.<ref name=harris158>Harris, I. ''Cambodian Buddhism: History and Practice'', University of Hawaii, 2008, p.158</ref> He was also, however, honoured as a national hero by the anticommunist [[Khmer Republic]].


==References==
==References==


{{reflist}}
{{Reflist}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Hem, Chieu}}
[[Category:Cambodian Buddhist monks]]
[[Category:Cambodian Buddhist monks]]
[[Category:1898 births]]
[[Category:1943 deaths]]
[[Category:20th-century Buddhist monks]]
[[Category:Cambodian prisoners sentenced to death]]
[[Category:Cambodian people who died in prison custody]]
[[Category:Prisoners sentenced to death by the French military]]


{{Cambodia-reli-bio-stub}}
[[Category:Prisoners who died in French military detention]]

Latest revision as of 02:23, 1 December 2024

In this Cambodian name, the surname is Hem. In accordance with Cambodian custom, this person should be referred to by the given name, Chieu.
Hem Chieu
ហែម ចៀវ
Born1898
Kandal Province, Cambodia, French Indochina
Died1943
Côn Sơn Island, Cochinchina, French Indochina
Occupation(s)Monk, professor
Known forResistance to French colonization

Hem Chieu (Khmer: ហែម ចៀវ; 1898 - 1943) was a Cambodian Buddhist monk and a prominent figure in the development of Khmer nationalism.

Chieu was a professor at the Higher School of Pali in Phnom Penh, and strongly objected to attempts by the French colonial authorities, beginning in the late 1930s, to romanize the Khmer writing system. Although the reforms were not intended to be applied to religious texts, he began to make vocal criticisms of the French administration. He became associated with two nationalist activists, Son Ngoc Thanh and Pach Chheoun, editor and founder of a pro-independence Khmer-language newspaper, Nagaravatta. The French authorities believed that Thanh, Chieu and Chheoun, with Japanese backing, were attempting to recruit followers for a bid for independence from the French.[1]

Arrest

[edit]

On July 18, 1942, the French authorities moved to arrest Chieu and an associate, Nuon Dong. Chieu was alleged to have preached anti-French sermons to Khmer troops in the colonial militia in preparation of the revolt; the manner of his arrest deeply offended many other members of the sangha.

Reaction to Arrest

[edit]

A large demonstration against the arrests, in which many monks took part, was organised two days later in Phnom Penh by Thanh and Chhoeun. Chhoeun marched at the head of the demonstrators, and several monks who would later take an active role in Cambodian politics, such as later Communist activists Achar Mean (Son Ngoc Minh) and Achar Sok (Tou Samouth) were present. The demonstration was broken up violently by the French, and Chhoeun was arrested and sentenced to death (later commuted to life imprisonment).[2]

Death

[edit]

Hem Chieu, "still preaching" according to an observer, was also sentenced to death by a military tribunal, later commuted to life imprisonment with hard labour.[3] He died in the notorious Côn Sơn Island prison in October 1943. While there he met several leaders of the Viet Minh, such as Phạm Văn Đồng and Tôn Đức Thắng, who afterwards related that Hem Chieu's heroic conduct in the prison led to sanctions which directly contributed to his illness and death.[4]

Chieu soon came to be regarded as a martyr by leftist Cambodian nationalists and insurgents of the United Issarak Front. In 1950, a political school named after Hem Chieu was established in the southwest of the county and an armed guerrilla unit named itself after him.[5] He was also, however, honoured as a national hero by the anticommunist Khmer Republic.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Kiernan, B. How Pol Pot Came to Power, Yale UP, 2004, p.42
  2. ^ Harris, I. Buddhism and politics in twentieth-century Asia, CIPG, 2001, p.60
  3. ^ Kiernan, B. How Pol Pot Came to Power, Yale UP, 2004, p.45
  4. ^ Kiernan, p.47
  5. ^ Harris, I. Cambodian Buddhism: History and Practice, University of Hawaii, 2008, p.158


Stub icon

This Cambodian religion-related biographical article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=Hem_Chieu&oldid=1260495442"