Sunthorn Phu
Encyclopedia
Phra Sunthorn Vohara, known as Sunthorn Phu, (26 June 1786–1855) is Thailand
’s best-known royal poet. He was active in the Rattanakosin era.
Phu's career as a royal poet began in the reign of King Rama II
, and when the king died, he resigned from the role and became a monk. Twenty years later, in the reign of King Rama III
, he returned to court as a royal scribe, where he remained for the rest of his life.
Phu was especially renowned for composing verse, and his conventions in epic poetry
are popular in Thailand to the present day. His canonical works include Nirat Phukaothong (a collection of poems depicting his journey to the Golden Mountain), Nirat Suphan (depicting his journey to Suphanburi Province), and the Phra Aphai Mani saga.
Sunthorn Phu was born in the reign of King Rama I
, on June 26 1786. His family's house was located behind the royal palace, near the location of present day Bangkok Noi
train station. His father was from Klaeng District in Rayong province
.
At the time the poet was born, Bangkok had been established as the Thai capital just four years earlier, founding the Rattanakosin era which continues to the present day.
His father and mother divorced, with his father becoming a monk at Bangrum temple; and his mother becoming a wet nurse for the Royal family. Phu had an opportunity to work in the palace with his mother, where he eventually fell in love with a lady in the palace named Jun, who was related to the Royal family. The couple were arrested and punished because their relationship violated the traditional social order, but they were pardoned on the king's death.
Phu later returned to Rayong to visit his father, and wrote a poem about the journey called “Nirat Muang Grang" which became one of his most famous poems. He wrote the poem for his fiancé, Jun. After he returned to the palace in Bangkok he married Jun, and they had a son named Pat. It was at this time that King Rama II appointed him court poet. However, the couple were not married long, divorcing after Phu had an affair with another woman. This was the first of many marriages ending in divorce, although he later professed that the wife he had loved the most was Jun. Phu became an alcoholic
, and, around 1821, was jailed after a fight.
He began the epic poem, Phra Aphai Mani
in prison, and published it in installments over the next twenty years. The epic tale follows the title character, Prince Aphai Mani, a Byronic hero
, in his romantic
adventures throughout ancient Thailand.
King Rama II was so pleased with Phu's poetry that he awarded him the title of "Khun". During the reign of King Rama III, however, Phu made made the grave mistake of publicly correcting one of the king's poems, and was stripped of his title as punishment. After this disgrace, he initially entered the Buddhist priesthood, but later became a merchant.
King Rama IV's daughter read his unfinished work Phra Aphai Mani, and asked the poet to complete it. King Rama IV appointed Phu as Director of Royal Scribes, and awarded him the title of "Phra". He spent the rest of life at peace until he died in 1855.
as a great world poet. His Phra Aphai Mani poems describe a fantastical world, where people of all races and religions live and interact together in harmony.
Recently, his literary works have been adapted in various media such as comics, films and songs. Thai cinema's
first and only cel-animated cartoon feature film, The Adventure of Sudsakorn
(1979), was based on a character from Phra Aphai Mani. It was directed by Payut Ngaokrachang
. A live-action version of the tale was made in 2006, titled Legend of Sudsakorn
.
A statue of Phu was erected in Klaeng District, Rayong Province
, the birthplace of his father. His birthday, June 26, is celebrated in Thailand as Sunthorn Phu day.
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
’s best-known royal poet. He was active in the Rattanakosin era.
Phu's career as a royal poet began in the reign of King Rama II
Buddha Loetla Nabhalai
Phra Bat Somdet Phra Poramenthramaha Isarasundhorn Phra Buddha Loetla Nabhalai , or Rama II , was the second monarch of Siam under the House of Chakri, ruling from 1809-1824. In 1809, Isarasundhorn succeeded his father Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke, the founder of Chakri dynasty, as Buddha Loetla Nabhalai...
, and when the king died, he resigned from the role and became a monk. Twenty years later, in the reign of King Rama III
Jessadabodindra
Phra Bat Somdet Phra Poramintharamaha Jessadabodindra Phra Nangklao Chao Yu Hua , or Rama III , was the third monarch of Siam under the House of Chakri, ruling from 21 July 1824 to 2 April 1851. He succeeded his father, Buddha Loetla Nabhalai, as the King of Siam...
, he returned to court as a royal scribe, where he remained for the rest of his life.
Phu was especially renowned for composing verse, and his conventions in epic poetry
Epic poetry
An epic is a lengthy narrative poem, ordinarily concerning a serious subject containing details of heroic deeds and events significant to a culture or nation. Oral poetry may qualify as an epic, and Albert Lord and Milman Parry have argued that classical epics were fundamentally an oral poetic form...
are popular in Thailand to the present day. His canonical works include Nirat Phukaothong (a collection of poems depicting his journey to the Golden Mountain), Nirat Suphan (depicting his journey to Suphanburi Province), and the Phra Aphai Mani saga.
Biography
Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke
Phra Bat Somdet Phra Poramintharamaha Chakri Borommanat Phra Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke , posthumously titled "the Great", or Rama I , was the founder and the first monarch of the reigning House of Chakri of Siam . He ascended the throne in 1782, after defeating a rebellion which had deposed King...
, on June 26 1786. His family's house was located behind the royal palace, near the location of present day Bangkok Noi
Bangkok Noi
Bangkok Noi is one of the 50 districts of Bangkok, Thailand. Neighboring districts are Bang Phlat, Phra Nakhon , Bangkok Yai, Phasi Charoen, and Taling Chan.-History:...
train station. His father was from Klaeng District in Rayong province
Rayong Province
Rayong province is a province of Thailand. Neighboring provinces are Chon Buri and Chanthaburi. To the south is the Gulf of Thailand.-History:...
.
At the time the poet was born, Bangkok had been established as the Thai capital just four years earlier, founding the Rattanakosin era which continues to the present day.
His father and mother divorced, with his father becoming a monk at Bangrum temple; and his mother becoming a wet nurse for the Royal family. Phu had an opportunity to work in the palace with his mother, where he eventually fell in love with a lady in the palace named Jun, who was related to the Royal family. The couple were arrested and punished because their relationship violated the traditional social order, but they were pardoned on the king's death.
Phu later returned to Rayong to visit his father, and wrote a poem about the journey called “Nirat Muang Grang" which became one of his most famous poems. He wrote the poem for his fiancé, Jun. After he returned to the palace in Bangkok he married Jun, and they had a son named Pat. It was at this time that King Rama II appointed him court poet. However, the couple were not married long, divorcing after Phu had an affair with another woman. This was the first of many marriages ending in divorce, although he later professed that the wife he had loved the most was Jun. Phu became an alcoholic
Alcoholism
Alcoholism is a broad term for problems with alcohol, and is generally used to mean compulsive and uncontrolled consumption of alcoholic beverages, usually to the detriment of the drinker's health, personal relationships, and social standing...
, and, around 1821, was jailed after a fight.
He began the epic poem, Phra Aphai Mani
Phra Aphai Mani
Phra Aphai Mani is a 30,000-line epic written by Thailand's best-known poet, Sunthorn Phu. It has been adapted into the films The Adventure of Sudsakorn and Legend of Sudsakorn, and the comics Apaimanee Saga....
in prison, and published it in installments over the next twenty years. The epic tale follows the title character, Prince Aphai Mani, a Byronic hero
Byronic hero
The Byronic hero is an idealised but flawed character exemplified in the life and writings of English Romantic poet Lord Byron. It was characterised by Lady Caroline Lamb, later a lover of Byron's, as being "mad, bad, and dangerous to know"...
, in his romantic
Romanticism
Romanticism was an artistic, literary and intellectual movement that originated in the second half of the 18th century in Europe, and gained strength in reaction to the Industrial Revolution...
adventures throughout ancient Thailand.
King Rama II was so pleased with Phu's poetry that he awarded him the title of "Khun". During the reign of King Rama III, however, Phu made made the grave mistake of publicly correcting one of the king's poems, and was stripped of his title as punishment. After this disgrace, he initially entered the Buddhist priesthood, but later became a merchant.
King Rama IV's daughter read his unfinished work Phra Aphai Mani, and asked the poet to complete it. King Rama IV appointed Phu as Director of Royal Scribes, and awarded him the title of "Phra". He spent the rest of life at peace until he died in 1855.
Legacy
Phu left behind a legacy of poems that have become famous over time because of their description of Thai history. In 1986, the 200th anniversary of his birth, Phu was honored by UNESCOUNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
as a great world poet. His Phra Aphai Mani poems describe a fantastical world, where people of all races and religions live and interact together in harmony.
Recently, his literary works have been adapted in various media such as comics, films and songs. Thai cinema's
Cinema of Thailand
The cinema of Thailand dates back to the early days of filmmaking, when King Chulalongkorn's 1897 visit to Bern, Switzerland was recorded by Francois-Henri Lavancy-Clarke. The film was then brought to Bangkok, where it was exhibited...
first and only cel-animated cartoon feature film, The Adventure of Sudsakorn
The Adventure of Sudsakorn
The Adventure of Sudsakorn is a 1979 Thai animated fantasy film. The only cel-animated feature film ever made in Thailand, it was directed by Payut Ngaokrachang. It was released in Thailand on Songkran Day, April 13, 1979...
(1979), was based on a character from Phra Aphai Mani. It was directed by Payut Ngaokrachang
Payut Ngaokrachang
Payut Ngaokrachang was a Thai cartoonist and animator. He created Thai cinema's first cel-animated feature film, The Adventure of Sudsakorn.-Early life:...
. A live-action version of the tale was made in 2006, titled Legend of Sudsakorn
Legend of Sudsakorn
Legend of Sudsakorn is a 2006 Thai fantasy film. It is based on a story from Phra Aphai Mani, an epic poem by Sunthorn Phu. Charlie Trairat, the young male lead from Fan Chan, portrays the title character, a boy who is the son of a mermaid who is sent on a magical quest to find his father, a prince...
.
A statue of Phu was erected in Klaeng District, Rayong Province
Rayong Province
Rayong province is a province of Thailand. Neighboring provinces are Chon Buri and Chanthaburi. To the south is the Gulf of Thailand.-History:...
, the birthplace of his father. His birthday, June 26, is celebrated in Thailand as Sunthorn Phu day.