Nắc-Nia is the transliteration of the Khmer word “Neak Nghia,” which means commoner (in French, Esclave; in English, Slave). This idiom originates from the reign of King Ream Meam Chon Pray, in Cambodia, with the following legend:
During the reign of King Ream Meam Chon Pray, there was a young man named Tum, who was talented in literature and arts and sang very well. He was summoned to the palace by the king and appointed to the position of Mon Ek. Before entering the palace, he had fallen in love with a girl named Tear, who was exceptionally beautiful and the daughter of a wealthy widow. Tear reciprocated his sincere love, so both were very sad after being separated.
Two months later, Tear was forced by her mother to marry a man named Nguon, the son of O Chuon, who was the provincial governor of To Bon Kho Mum. Tear refused completely, after which she was chosen by the king as a palace maid. She was very sad and worried. In the palace, she met Tum again. Seeing Tear, Tum was desperate and risked his life in front of the king, singing about his love for Tear. The king became angry and asked both of them for the reason. Both presented the truth, and the king was very moved, so he allowed Tum to marry Tear, and the two enjoyed happiness together.
i appearance in the palace. Tear’s mother believed she was Tum’s wife, a person of lower rank than Nguon, and was very angry, so she sent Tear a letter, falsely claiming that she was gravely ill and that Tear needed to return quickly to see her. When Tear arrived home, she realized she had fallen into her mother’s trap, so she secretly wrote a letter to Tum to inform him of everything. Tum reported to the king, and the king immediately sent Tum a royal order forbidding Nguon from holding the wedding ceremony. When Tum arrived at Nguon’s house and saw the wedding beginning, he had not yet delivered the royal order and met Tear, so they embraced and cried. Nguon then sent people to arrest Tum and execute him at Pchonkhas. Tear secretly followed to her husband’s body and committed suicide. When the king heard the news, he became furious and sent soldiers to arrest Tear’s mother, O Chuon, and Nguon for execution, while all those who colluded to conduct the wedding ceremony were made lifelong ‘Neak Nghia’ (servants). In Tô Bon Khomum in the present-day province of Com-Pong-Cham, people still commonly use the term Neak Nghia to refer to servants. Here, the Master uses this term to allude to officials under French colonial rule who served foreign powers. He always warns …
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