Laos - Flowers bloom all over the Kapok tree

Author: Tan Yantong
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-10-01
Features: For our national history, let's take the approach of following the vine to see the general historical context of the Lao people—The earliest primitive humans in Laos appeared in the late Middle Pleistocene, approximately 100,000 years ago. This can be clearly seen from the hominid bones and ape teeth unearthed at the Thakhang site in the northern part of the Xayaburi Plain in Laos. The historical museum of sedimentation can explain everything. The typical early Neolithic culture—Peace Culture, discovered and named by French archaeologist Jean Clot in the 1930s—was also found in the Upper Laos region. Square stone axes, shouldered stone axes, hand-made pottery, and polished digging tools all indicate that the early Lao people had already engaged in primitive agriculture. This was about 10,000 years ago. Later, the discovery of bronze and bronze drums further showed that the Lao people had taken a significant leap forward. At this time, during China's Han Dynasty, Central Chinese culture had quietly infiltrated Laos. Chinese people, Indonesian people, and Negro people began to integrate with the Lao people. A brand-new door was thus opened, bringing in foreign life and culture, as well as diverse desires and blessings. The earliest state to appear on the Lao land was called "Yosan"—a very poetic name. Yosan emerged around the 1st century AD. After the 2nd century AD, a new state called "Chenla," also a very poetic name, was established by the Khmer people in the Lower Laos region. By the early 8th century AD, Chenla had split into two states: Wat Phra Keo (Water Chenla) and Khu Bua (Land Chenla). Khu Bua, also known as Vientiane, is what it is today. In the mid-9th century, Wat Phra Keo and Khu Bua were reunified. The reconciled Wat Phra Keo and Khu Bua were still collectively referred to as the Chenla Kingdom. This aligns with the old saying from Romance of the Three Kingdoms: "The great trend of the world is that unity lasts long enough to split, and division lasts long enough to unite." Before the 12th century, the Lao land was largely under the influence of the Khmer people. By the late 12th century, as the Khmer people's power declined, the Thai people rose to prominence, establishing many states such as Mengsao, Lao Kieo, Lao Ya, Nong Huo, Pen Man, and Ai Lou. Mengsao was the precursor to the later Luang Prabang Kingdom. Luang Prabang translates to "the land of a million elephants." Founded in 1353, it was the golden age of Lao history. Unfortunately, by 1698, the Luang Prabang Kingdom had declined like autumn grass, ultimately forming a tripartite division into the Vientiane Kingdom, the Luang Prabang Kingdom, and the Champasak Kingdom. Less than 200 years later, by 1893, these three kingdoms had all become French colonies. During this time, the Vientiane Kingdom was lost to history, annexed by Siam, and became part of Siam. Many of Laos's precious cultural heritage was severely damaged, with vast amounts of artifacts, manuscripts, and artworks being transported to France. Local Lao books, newspapers, and publications nearly vanished, and the religion