About a watchful dog and a sleeping princess
In many mythical places in Thailand one can find strange, often fabulous rock formations that stimulate the imagination. A large number of these bizarre, strange phenomena can be discovered in Sam Phan Bok, which is also - and in my opinion not entirely wrong - called the Grand Canyon of Thailand.
Aesop's fables and folktales in Thailand
Tino Kuis wonders how we should read folk tales? And shows two: one from ancient Greece and one from Thailand. Finally, a question for the readers: Why do Thai women worship Mae Nak ('Mother Nak' as she is usually respectfully called)? What's behind it? Why do many women feel related to Mae Nak? What is the underlying message of this very popular story?
If the Kingdom of Ayuthia prospered during the reign of Phra-Naret-Suen (1558-1593), suppliers could not meet the needs of the population. So they send out traveling salesmen. Growers who hear how they can sell their trade come from far and wide to the market with their wares.
Sculpture of a cat and a rat in Songkhla
If you walk along the beach of Samila Beach in Songkhla, you can just see a statue of an immensely large cat and a rat, which you would not like to see around your house in that size. A cat and a rat, what does that mean and why was it made into a sculpture?
The different views on the epic Khun Chang Khun Phaen
Any literary work can be read in many ways. This also applies to the most famous and admired epic in the Thai literary tradition: Khun Chang Khun Phaen (hereinafter KCKP).
Discover Thailand (16): The Thai culture
Before we discuss Thai culture, it is good to define the concept of culture. Culture refers to the entire society in which people live. This includes the way people think, feel and act, as well as the traditions, values, norms, symbols and rituals they share. Culture can also refer to specific aspects of society such as art, literature, music, religion, and language.
'Thotsakan and Sida', a short story by Sri Daoruang
The leading writer Sri Daoruang wrote six short stories under the title 'Tales of the Demon People'. In her collection of short stories about love and marriage, she places the characters and names from the classic Ramakien epic in today's Bangkok. Here is a translation of the first story in this short series.
The Ramakien: the Thai national epic with Indian roots
The Ramakien, the Thai version of the Indian Ramayana epic, written down from Sanskrit by the poet Valmiki more than 2.000 years ago, tells the timeless and universal story of the confrontation between good and evil.
Thai Folktale: Rage, Manslaughter and Penance
This is one of the folktales of which there are so many in Thailand, but which are unfortunately relatively unknown and unloved by the younger generation (perhaps not completely. In a cafe it turned out that three young employees did know it). The older generation knows almost all of them. This story has also been made into cartoons, songs, plays and movies. In Thai it is called ก่องข้าวน้อยฆ่าแม่ kòng khâaw nói khâa mâe 'basket of rice little dead mother'.
Sri Thanonchai, The Asiatic Thyl Ulenspiegel
Sri Thanonchai is a character in a series of stories, usually cast in ancient poetic form, that have been circulating orally for several hundred years in Thailand and also in the surrounding countries such as Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam and Burma.
The Prophecy – A short story by Phaithun Thanya
He had been standing there for a very long time…. so long that no one really knew how long. The very old villagers and those who had died long ago also said that it had been there for as long as they could remember. The tree now spread its branches and its roots over a large area. Over a quarter of the village land there were roots when digging. Its gnarled roots and tangled branches indicated that this banyan tree was the oldest living thing in the village.
'The last trick of the paljas'; a folk tale from Lao Folktales
You don't just drink a poison cup. But at that time the king had power over life and death, and his will was law. This is the last story in the book Lao Folktales.
'The King's Cat'; a folk tale from Lao Folktales
'The king who was no longer hungry'; a folk tale from Lao Folktales
The Pathet Lao has used folk tales in propaganda against the incumbent rulers. This story is an indictment. A king who can no longer eat because he has too much, and the people who suffer poverty and hunger, is fine propaganda.
'Prince Wichit and Princess Sno' from Folktales of Thailand
The battle between good and evil, astrologers and a secret medicine. Prince and princess who finally find each other. All's well that ends well.
'Sung Thong, the prince in a shell' from Folktales of Thailand
The myth of the queen who gave birth to a shell and was chased away. But that shell was not empty…
Kings are eager to conquer land; luckily that is different now. Here, after all, one Muang was fought too much and that ended disastrously.