Recherches sur les Cambodgiens

Based on ​“travels and missions in Cambodia from 1909 to 1914 and from 1917 to 1920”, this ambitious work was attempted as ​“an ethnographic portrait of the Khmer people”, past and present, but the author downsized the scope of his research and focussed on the Ancient Khmer civilization. Later on, he published an additional volume, Nouvelles recherches sur les Cambodgiens.

Among the sources used by the author, we shall note the prevalence of Chinese chroniclers, in particular Tchou-Ta-Kouan (Zhou Daguan). When the book was published, many Khmer inscriptions had yet to be discovered and deciphered. It must also be stressed that with this essay G. Groslier was a real pioneer in material culture research.

• Chap. I, L’écriture (Khmer Writing). Of note: ​“The oldest specimen of Khmer writing known to us dates back from 629 CE.”
• Chap. II, Les habitants (Cambodia’s Inhabitants). Of note: Interesting notations on interbreeding.
• Chap. III, Le commerce (Commerce, Imports & Exports)
• Chap. IV, Le système métrique (Metric System, Weights & Scales, Lengths, Money).
• Chap. V, Le vêtement (Clothing, Fabrics, Men’s & Women’s Garments, Accessories).
• Chap. VI, La coiffure (Hairstyle, Natural Adornments, Make-Up & Perfumes, Diadems & Helmets).
• Chap VII, Les bijoux (Jewelry, Goldsmiths, Precious Stones, Various Adornments).
• Chap. VIII, Les marques d’honneur (Honorific Signs, Umbrellas, Fans, Emblems).
• Chap. IX, Les armes (Armament, Warfare, Slingshots & Catapults, Bladed Weapons, Shields and Armors).
• Chap. X, Les véhicules et les harnachements (Vehicles & Harnessing, Transportation Means, Carts, Chariots, Litters, Palanquins, Elephant Harnessing, Boats).
• Chap. XI, L’ameublement et l’outillage (Furnishing & Tools, Furniture, Crockery & Containers, Tools).
• Chap. XII, Les instruments de musique (Musical Instruments, Percussions, Strings).
• Chap. XIII, La céramique (Ceramics, Local & Foreign Potteries)
• Chap. XIV, L’alimentation (Diet, Hunting, Harvesting, Fishing, Foods & Drinks).

Part II

• Chap. XV, Les monuments (Monuments, Geographical Local of Ancient monuments, Orientation, Classification of Blueprints).
• Chap. XVI, Les matériaux et les procédés (Materials & Techniques, Sandstone & Quarries, Handling of Stones, Various Building Materials).
• Chap. XVII, Les éléments d’architecture (Architectural Elements, Walls & Pillars, Roofing, Towers, Doors & Windows, Foundations & Stairways).
• Chap. XVIII, La sculpture (Sculpture, Spatial Distribution & Technique).
• Chap. XIX, La sculpture architecturale (Architectural Sculpture, Statuary).
• Chap. XX, La sculpture architecturale (suite) (Architectural Sculpture II, Architectural Ornementation, Classification & Study of Elements).
• Chap XXI, La sculpture architecturale (fin) (Architectural Sculpture III, Ornementative Sculpture Combined with Architectural Elements).
• Chap. XXII, Les édifices d’après les bas-reliefs (Monuments According to Bas-Reliefs, Technique of Monumental Representation, Literal & Interpretative Reading, Study of Plans according to Elevations).
• Chap. XXIII, La vie dans les édifices à l’époque classique (Daily Life in Buildings during the Classical Era, Life in temples, palaces and villager houses).
• Chap. XXIV, L’évolution de l’art monumental (Monumental Art Evolution, Origins & Foreign Influences, Borrowed & National Elements).

with 200 photographs, 43 plates and 179 drawings by the author.

There are countless important notations drawn from the author’s field work at Angkor, in various Khmer temples, and around modern pagodas and palaces. From the fact that he collected ​“small residues of black or red resin plated with gold” from small gaps between stones at Angkor Wat, to the hypothesis on the hauling system used for large stone blocks at Prasat Beng Maelea or Takeo of Angkor, to the elaborate floorplans of Udong (around 1860) and Phnom Penh (in 1913) Royal Palaces, reproduced here below: