The Ramakien, the soul of culture and arts of Thailand
The Ramakien, the most famous national epic of Thailand, deived from the Hindu epic Ramayana, has had a profound influence on culture and arts.
The plot of the story is Rama’s life of 14 years in exile after being expelled by his stepmother. While he lives with his consort Sita and his brother Lakshmana there, Sita is kidnapped by the demon king Ravana(Tosatkan) and taken to Lanka. Then Rama and Lakshmana rescue her with help of monkey warrior.
While the main narrative is similar to that of the Ramayana, there are many fundamental differences within the Ramakien. Particularly, making the peculiar Thai Buddhist version, Rama turned into Phra Ram, a reincarnation of Buddha instead of being incarnated from the Hindu god Vishnu. In Ramakien, name, customs, clothes and topography all related to the Thai context. For instance, Phra Ram is the ruler of Ayutthaya, the ancient capital of Thai and no longer prince of Ayodhya as in the Ramayana.
The Ramakien characterize how an honorable person should behave himself, as the same in the Ramayana. It seems no coincidence that 10 kings of Thailand taken the name Rama since 1973.
A painted representation of the Ramakien is displayed at Bangkok’s Wat PhraKaew, and many of the statues there depict characters from it.
Khon played with the inspiration of Ramakien
Khon, a dance drama of Thailand, has been peformed since the Ayutthaya Kingdom(1350–1767). It is traditionally performed solely in the royal court by men in masks accompanied by narrators and a traditional Piphat, a kind of ensemble in the classical music of Thailand, which features wind and percussion instruments.
Kon is based on the tales of the Ramakien, as Thai literature and drama draws great inspiration from Ramayana.
The Royal Ploughing Ceremony, prayer for abundant harvest
The Royal Ploughing Ceremony is an ancient royal rite held at the beginning of the rainy season, usually the month of May to mark the traditional, auspicious beginning of the rice-growing season. It is an annual ceremony presided over by their Majesties the King and the Queen, and takes place at SanamLuang (or the Royal Grounds) near the Grand Palace in Bangkok.
The date is varies as the auspicious date and time are determined by the royal Brahmin astrologers, the ceremony being rooted in Brahmin belief and performed since the Sukhothaikingdom(1238~1438).
During the ceremony, the amount of rainfall in the coming rainy season is forecast by the royal astrologers, and done through a traditional method. Then the two oxen are offered plates of food, including rice, corn, green beans, sesame, fresh-cut grass, water and rice whisky. Depending on what the oxen eat and drink, a prediction can be made as to whether the coming season’s harvest will be bountiful or not.
In 1966, the Ploughing Ceremony Day has been declared a national holiday and observed as Farmer’s Day as well. Farmers are encouraged to take part in this Ploughing Ceremony.
Garuda, the national emblem of Thailand
The national emblem of Thailand is called the PhraKhrutPha, Garuda as the vehicle of Vishnu. The Garuda was officially adopted as the national emblem by King Vajiravudh(RamaVI) in 1911. However, the mythical creature had been used as a symbol of royalty in Thailand for centuries. The Garuda is depicted on seals, which are used by the King and the Government of Thailand to authenticate official documents and as its primary emblem.
The Garuda is a mythological beast of the Hindu and Buddhist tradition. The ancient kings of Thailand believed in divine kingship, and considered themselves the incarnation of the god Narayana (Vishnu). Thus, the Garuda came to symbolise the divine power and authority of the king.
The Garuda was also adopted by the Royal Thai Government as its official emblem. The Garuda emblem appears on the letterhead of Thai government documents. The figure of the Garuda is also used as symbol of state property, and as such is displayed on government buildings, title deeds, boundary markers and in the uniforms of the Royal Thai Police and Royal Thai Armed Forces.
Private entities such as businesses may be granted permission to use and display the Garuda emblem. Deserving firms, such those of good standing, could apply for a Royal warrant of appointment from the king through the Bureau of the Royal Household or the Prime Minister. Receiving a Royal warrant is considered a great honour and a mark of distinction for any Thai company.
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