Kammu

Kammu is a romanization that can refer to multiple topics, most notably the Khmu (also spelled Khamu or Khmu) ethnic group and language of Laos and neighboring regions, and Emperor Kanmu (also known as Kammu), a Japanese emperor who reigned from 781 to 806.

The Khmu are one of the largest indigenous groups in Laos, with populations also found in northern Thailand and Vietnam. They speak the Khmu language, part of the Khmuic branch of the Austroasiatic language family, with several dialects. Traditionally, Khmu communities practice swidden farming, hunting, and gathering, often complemented by weaving and crafts that contribute to cultural expression. Religious life has historically blended animist beliefs and ancestor worship, with Theravada Buddhism common in many communities today. Social organization tends to be village- or clan-based, with customary authority playing a role alongside formal leadership.

Emperor Kanmu, the posthumous name for Kammu, was the 52nd emperor of Japan. He reigned from 781 to 806 and moved the capital to Heian-kyō (present-day Kyoto) in 794, inaugurating the Heian period. His reign is associated with efforts to centralize imperial authority and to adopt Chinese-style bureaucratic and administrative institutions, laying foundations for later statecraft and court culture in Japan.

In summary, Kammu can refer to either the Khmu ethnolinguistic group of Southeast Asia or the early Japanese emperor Kanmu, whose historical impact includes the relocation of the Japanese capital and the centralization of government.