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Thai religious and royal ceremony From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Thailand's Royal Barge Procession (Thai: กระบวนพยุหยาตราชลมารค; RTGS: krabuan phayuhayattra chonlamak) is a ceremony of both religious and royal significance which has taken place for nearly 700 years. The royal barges are a blend of craftsmanship and traditional Thai art. The Royal Barge Procession takes place rarely, marking only the most significant cultural and religious events. During the long reign of King Bhumibol Adulyadej, spanning over 70 years, the procession only occurred 16 times.
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The Royal Barge Procession, in the present, consists of 52 barges: 51 historical barges, and the Royal Barge, the Narai Song Suban, which King Rama IX built in 1994. It is the only barge built during King Bhumibol's reign. These barges are manned by 2,082 oarsmen. The procession proceeds down the Chao Phraya River, from the Wasukri Royal Landing Place in Dusit district, Bangkok, passes the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, the Grand Palace, Wat Pho, and finally arrives at Wat Arun.
Thailand's Royal Barge Procession can be dated back to the Sukhothai Kingdom from the 13–14th centuries (1238–1438 AD).[1] However, further examination of the Thai chronicle, Phraratchaphongsawadan Nuea, found that it could be traced back to the 11th century.
In the 11th century, the Thai chronicle, Phraratchaphongsawadan Nuea (Royal Chronicle of the North), recorded the royal barge procession of Prince Sai Nam Peung,[2] a pre-Ayudhya king of Siam[3] who had set the barge and landed at the cape of Wat Pak Klong temple. Later he ascended to the governor seat with the regnal name, Phra Chao Sai Nam Pung[4] (Thai: พระเจ้าสายน้ำผึ้ง, romanized: King Sai Nam Pheung, lit. 'King Honey-flow'), and ruled the Ayodhya region from 1165–1205.[5]
In the reign of King Ram Khamhaeng the royal barge procession was performed at Loy Krathong ceremony.[6]
The Ram Khamhaeng Inscription (RK) 1292 AD reads:–
after which he watched and listened to people, men and women, sing and play... Whenever the royal barge alighted in front of a monastery, officials lighted fireworks.[7] (NN:67).
In the reign of King Maha Thammaracha I, the King of Sukhothai performed a royal barge ceremony using a boat on the lake in the middle of his grand palace.
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Since Ayutthaya Kingdom in the 14th century, strategic waterways and water transportation became more important to the Siamese people, according to the Safine-ye Solaymani mentioned variant of Shahr-i Nāv[8]: 47 or Shahr-i Nau[8]: 47 (Persian: شهر نو),[9] literally "City of Boats, Canals"[8]: 47 with reference to Ayutthaya Kingdom. The traditional plays and competitions, i.e. the Siamese long boat racing festival described in the Royal Ceremonies of the Twelve Months, were celebrated at peace, and the grand parade of the royal fleet rushed out to confront the enemies at war.[10]
In 1582, according to Marcelo de Ribadeneira’s archive, History of the Islands of the Philippine Archipelago and the Kingdoms of Great China, Tartary, Cochinchina, Malacca, Siam, Cambodia, and Japan (1601), the Franciscan missionary friar recorded the testimony of a Franciscan friar who came to reside in Siam in 1582. The Ribadeneira’s archive described the royal barge procession of King Maha Thammarachathirat in Spanish:–
Y para repreſentar la mageſtad de la venida del rey, venieron delante del quatro barcos grandes, en que venían muchos hombres, tañendo unas trompetas de plata pequeñas. Los barcos eran pintados y labrados de muchas y diuerſas labores, y figuras. De manera, que confiderada la popa, y la proa, qeſtaua muy doradas, en ſu modo y hehcura parecía un Elphante. Eſtos barcos pararon junto a un templo que eſtaua a la orilla del río, de la otra parte de la ciudad, adonde ſe dezía que hauia de parar el Rey, y hazer oración y limofna. Deſpués de los barcos de las trompetas, vinieron otros largos y differentes de los primeros, con mucha gente, veſtida de varias libreas. Y en cada vno venía un grande del Reyno, por ſu orden, ſegún ſus oficios y dignidades, repreſentando con ſus trajes y acompañamiento, la majeſtad y grandeza de ſu rey. Los aderezos de los barcos, que eran muchos, y de la gente innumerable era de mucha coſta y gala, y todos pararon junto al templo.[11]
(Translation): In honor of the arrival of the King of Siam, four large royal barges were moored in front of His Majesty. Many people blew small silver trumpets. The royal barges of the King of Siam were painted and carved with many works and statues. When the stern and bow were opened, they became a beautiful golden color. Both the shape and the craftsmanship looked like elephants. These royal barges moored beside a temple on the other side of the river. It is said that the King of Siam would moor his royal barges to pray and ask for worship. The next royal barges of trumpet barges had other long barges different from the first one. Many people wore clothes decorated with various patterns. Each of the great members of the royal family of Siam walked in order according to their positions and ranks. They dressed and walked in the procession with their barges, showing the majesty and greatness of their king. There were countless Siamese nobles. On the royal barges were many things, all very expensive and luxurious. And everyone stopped beside the temple.
— Marcelo de Ribadeneira, From the Kingdom of Siam (Del Reino de Sian), 1601.
In 1594–98, King Naresuan performed the royal barge procession before leading his 120,000 battalions to attack the Burmese Hanthawaddy Kingdom. When the moment was auspicious, the royal astrologer then ordered vassals to beat the drum for the oarsmen and sailed the royal barge Sri Suphannahong ahead, on which the barge installed a golden Gautama Buddha containing the holy relics of the Lord Buddha, Phra Phichai, to lead the procession for good fortune. King Naresuan then ordered vassals to sail his royal barge Kanokratanawiman Mahanawa, following the royal barge Sri Suphannahong to celebrate the auspiciousness of His Majesty.[12]
In 1684, during the reign of King Narai, the spectacle of the procession was in the memoirs of a number of foreign dignitaries who witnessed the event. The Royal Barge Procession was assigned to hail the arrival of Chevalier de Chaumont Mon. Alexandre, the envoy of King Louis XIV to Siam.[13] Nicolas Gervaise, a French missionary and member of the French diplomatic corps, described the procession:–
Unmatched in beauty by any naval spectacle, the procession consisting of over two hundred boats, is led by the Royal Barge manned by oarsmen themselves seated in a double row and distinguished by the red bands on their tunic sleeves. Each oarsman wears a headgear, tunic, and trousers marked by gilded bands. The strokes are synchronized and orchestrated by the rhythmic songs sung in praise of the King. The oars are also gilded. The drapes lining the Royal Barge are embellished with precious stones.[14]
— Nicolas Gervaise (1662–1729), Histoire naturelle et politique du Royaume de Siam (1688). (Translated by Office of the National Culture Commission, Ministry of Education Thailand).
In 1687, Simon de la Loubère, a French diplomat to Siam, handwrote the royal barge procession of King Narai in his famous book, Du Royaume de Siam:–
« Mais, parce qu’en ce païs-là on va plus par eau que par terre, le Roy de Siam a de fort beaux Balons. J’ay déjà dit que le corps d’un Balon n’eſt que d’un ſeul arbre long quelquefois de 16. à 20. toiles. Deux hommes affis les jambes croiſées côte à côte l’un de l’autre fur une planche miſe en travers, ſuffiſent pour en occuper toute la larguer. L'un pagaye à droite, & l'autre à gauche. Pagayer c’est ramer avec la pagaye, & la pagaye eſt une rame courte, qu’on tient à deux mains, par le milieu, & par le bout. Il ſemble qu’on n’en faffe que balayer l’eau quoy qu’avec force. Elle n’eſt point attachée au bord du balon, & celuy, qui la manie, regarde où il va ; au lieu que celuy qui ramel a le dos tourné à la route. Il y a quelquefois dans un feul balon juſqu’à cent ou fix vingt pagayeurs rangez ainſi deux à deux les jambes croiſees ſur des planchettes: mais les moindres Officiers ont des baIons beaucoup plus courts, ou peu de pagayes, comme 16. ou 20. ſuffiſent. Les pagayeurs, afin de plonger la pagaye de concert, chantent, ou font des cris meſurez; & ils plongent la pagaye en cadence avec un mouvement de bras & d'épaules qui eſt vigoureux , mais facile & de bonne grace. »[15]
(Translation): Because in Siam we only travel by water rather than by land, the King of Siam has many beautiful barges. I have said a barge made from only a single tree sometimes takes 16 to 20 wa (32–40 meters) in length. Two men sit cross-legged, parallel to each other. One paddles to the right, and the other to the left. Boating is to row with the paddle, and the paddle is a short oar, which is held in both hands, by the middle, and by the end. All we do is sweep the water with force. It is not attached to the edge of the barge, and the person rowing the boat faces the bow and paddles down with his back to the stern. For a single barge, there are sometimes a hundred or up to twenty paddlers arranged two by two with their legs crossed on planks; however, the lesser officers have shorter boats or fewer paddlers, like 16 or 20 paddlers. In order to plunge the paddle together, the paddlers sing or roar; they plunge in rhythm with a movement of arms and shoulders that is vigorous, simple, and graceful.
— Simon de la Loubère, DU ROYAUME DE SIAM : Envoyé extraordinaire du ROY auprès du Roy de Siam en 1687 & 1688.
European visitors witnessed and wrote about "an immense procession with 200 boats" upon their arrival in Thailand in the 17th century; one witness was Pierre Brigot, bishop of Tabraca Vicar Apostolic in Siam; later, it was collected in the book History of the Kingdom of Siam (1770) compiled by François Henri Turpin:–
It is impossible to compare the beauty of the immense procession with 200 boats. The Royal barges travelled in two in the front. All oarsmen have been trained to an admirable proficiency, dressed uniformly in gold- trimmed hats, tunic, knee and arm bands. All rowing in synchronized movement and rhythm. The oars also of gold, touch the water with a sound that harmonizes with the boat song sung in praise of the King[16]
— François Henri Turpin (Compiler), History of the Kingdom of Siam: And of the Revolutions that Have Caused the Overthrow of the Empire, Up to A.D. 1770.
During the processions, the oarsmen were kept in rhythm by the beating of drums, with accompanying music. This traditional boat song was written by Prince Dhamma Dibes of the late-Ayutthaya period.
Most of the vessels in the procession doubled as warships, and when war erupted, the barges and boats were used as weapons.
In 1767, the Burmese invaded Ayutthaya Kingdom, and, for the second and last time, were able to capture the capital, Ayutthaya. The entire fleet was burned and destroyed after the Burmese found them at their hideaway. General Taksin rallied the Thais and established a new capital at Thonburi. During his short 15-year reign, Taksin ordered the reconstruction of the barge fleet, and used a fleet of 115 barges to carry a revered likeness of Buddha to his new capital.
Chao Phaya Chakri succeeded King Taksin and moved the capital to the east side of the river to what is now known as Bangkok. Chao Phaya Chakri, founder of the Chakri dynasty, ruled as King Buddha Yodfah (Rama I) and began the Royal Kathin Ceremony Procession. The Kathin Ceremony is a presentation of Kathin robes to monks and earns merit by honoring and supporting Buddhism.
Soon after his coronation in 1782, King Rama I ordered construction of the royal barge Si Suphannahong. The Si Suphannahong was the principal royal barge for more than a century. In 1911, King Rama VI launched its successor, also named Suphannahong.
The Prince of Nakhon Sawan, during the reign of Rama V, devised fleet formations, which became the standard "major" and "minor" formations used today.
In 1870, Anna H. Leonowens, the teacher to the children of the Siamese, wrote of the Royal Barge Procession of Ananta Nakkharat boat on her own distinct perspective and experience in the heart of an Asiatic court in the reign of King Rama V. Her work was published in the English Governess at the Siamese Court—the forbidden resale book in Siam.:–
The royal state barge, one hundred cubits long, beside being elaborately carved, and inlaid with bits of crystal, porcelain, mother-of-pearl, and jade, is richly enamelled and gilt. The stem, which rises ten or eleven feet from the bows, represents the nagha mustakha sapta, the sevenheaded serpent or alligator. A phrasat, or elevated throne (also termed p'hra-the-nang), occupies the centre, supported by four pillars. The extraordinary beauty of the inlaying of shells, mother-of-pearl, crystal, and precious stones of every color, the splendor of the gilding, and the elegance of the costly kinkob curtains with which it is hung, combine to render this one of the most striking and beautiful objects to be seen on the Meinam. The barge is usually manned by one hundred and fifty men, their paddles gilt and silver-tipped.[18]
— Anna Harriette Leonowens, The English Governess at the Siamese Court, 26 July 1870.
Processions took place occasionally until the absolute monarchy ended in 1932. Most of the royal barges were kept near Thonburi train station. It was bombed in WWII, destroying a large number of royal barges. They were not employed again until the celebration of the 25th century of the Buddhist Era in 1957. In 1959, Bhumibol Adulyadej revived the Royal Barge Procession as a means of presenting the Royal Kathin (robes for monks) in a royal ceremony.[19]
In the reign of King Rama IX, Bhumibol Adulyadej (r. 1946–2016), 16 royal barge processions were conducted:
In the reign of King Rama X, Vajiralongkorn (r. 2016–), the following royal barge processions were conducted:
The Royal Barge Procession is conducted in one of two formations, the major or the minor. The major formation, also known as the Major Battle Formation (Petch Phuang Major Battle Formation) dates from the time of King Narai. This formation is used for the more significant events, such as the Royal Kathin Ceremony, the movement of a sacred image of Buddha, or important occasions of state. The Petch Phuang Formation is arranged into five columns, with the royal barges in the center, and two rows of war barges on each side. In the minor formation, there are three columns, the royal barges in the middle, and a single row on each side.
Arranged in five rows.
The names of the four royal barges are composed in a consistent rhyme: "Suphannahong", "Narai Song Suban", "Anantanakkharat" and "Anekkachatphuchong". The royal barge's arrangement in the procession would have "Anantanakkharat" leading, with the "Suphannahong", "Narai Song Suban" and "Anekkachatphuchong" following respectively.
| Suphannahong สุพรรณหงส์ |
Anantanakkharat อนันตนาคราช |
Anekkachatphuchong อเนกชาติภุชงค์ |
Narai Song Suban HM Rama IX นารายณ์ทรงสุบรรณ รัชกาลที่ ๙ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
 |
 | |
 |
 |
 |
 | |
| Length: | 46.15 m | 44.85 m | 45.67 m | 44.30 m |
| Width at beam: | 3.17 m | 2.58 m | 2.91 m | 3.20 m |
| Hull depth: | 94 cm | 87 cm | 91 cm | 110 cm |
| Draught: | 41 cm | 31 cm | 1.46 m | |
| Displacement: | 15 tons | 15.26 tons | 7.7 tons | 20 tons |
| Crew: | 50 oarsmen 2 steersmen 1 chanter 2 officers fore 2 officers aft 1 signalman 1 standard bearer 7 bearers of the royal insignia |
54 oarsmen 2 steersmen 1 chanter 1 signalman 1 standard bearer 7 bearers of the royal insignia |
61 oarsmen 2 steersmen 1 chanter 1 signalman 1 standard bearer 2 officers (one fore, one aft) 7 bearers of the royal insignia |
50 oarsmen 2 steersmen |
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Escort barges consist of different classes of barges. Most of their bows are decorated with either a painting or a figurehead of a mythical creature. Other types have less elaborate design. The barges with figureheads have rowers dressed in decorated purple uniforms with pink trousers and red ancient-style helmets with a tall crown and wide brim. The oarsmen on the Ekachai class are dressed in white uniforms with pink trousers and small red headgear with havelocks.
Most of the barges of the fleet are lesser escorts and attendants such as Ruea Dang, Ruea Saeng, police barges, and drum barges. They have no figurehead or cannon. They are painted mostly black, and their type, number, and name (if they have one) is painted on their bows in white. They can be differentiated as follows:
The present fleet of barges was restored during the reign of King Bhumibol Adulyadej, as some had suffered damage in bombing raids on Bangkok during World War II. The dock that stored them, located in the Bangkok Noi District, became the National Museum of Royal Barges.[19] Only eight important barges, including all four royal barges, are displayed in the museum due to limits of space. Displayed with the boats are a number of smaller historical artifacts related to the barge processions, such as old procession layout plans and some partial remains of the older decommissioned and/or damaged boats, including the bow and figurehead of the old Narai Song Suban.[26] The remainder are kept at Wasukri Pier, next to the National Library of Thailand. All are stored out of the water to prevent deterioration. They return to the Chao Phraya River only for a Royal Barge Procession.
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