Khun Chang Khun Phaen, Thailand's most famous legend – part 2

Thailand's most famous epic is about the tragic love triangle between Khun Chang, Khun Phaen and the beautiful Wanthong. The story probably dates back to the 17th century and was originally an oral story full of drama, tragedy, sex, adventure and the supernatural. Over time, it has been constantly modified and expanded, and has remained a popular and entertaining epic told by itinerant storytellers and troubadours. It was at the Siamese court, in the late nineteenth century, that the story was first recorded in writing. This is how a standardized, sanitized version of this famous story was created. Chris Baker and Pashuk Phongpaichit translated and adapted this story for an English speaking audience and published 'The Tale of Khung Chang, Khun Phaen'.

Part 2 today.

Phlai Kaeo marries Phim

From the moment he left Phim at home, he yearned for his love. When he got home he found his mother crying and threw himself at her feet. “Oh Kaeo, why did you depart? Why are you crying? How did you get that bag of money? Why don't you look at me my dear son?" Kaeo knelt and gave her a humble wai, “Mother, I am going through a very difficult time. Phim and I are in love with each other. I have the money from her so that I can ask her mother for Phim's hand. Be kind to your son mother. Phim is in tears, don't be without understanding” Mother said “Karma comes and goes. Kaeo my dear, why don't you become a full-fledged monk first? Let your mother look at you proudly in the orange robe. Your father has been dead for many years, make earnings. Then you can retire and get married. I will find a woman of good birth, someone like Phim is not suitable for you”. Phlai Kaeo pleads respect at his mother's feet, “There is no one who can match my Phim. Her face, her skin, her breasts, she's perfect. And she's smart and handy too. Let go of your objections mother. If I don't follow my heart I will surely die.” Mother was rather angry but also felt sorry for her son, “Don't grieve the apple of my eye. If you do not listen to me, I will comply with your wishes. When I ask for Phim's hand, her mother cannot refuse, we are old neighbors. Don't worry, Phim will become your wife”.

And so it was that Phim was given to Phlai Kaeo for fifteen gold pieces and a set of good clothes. All on the condition that the bridal house to be built would have five rooms and be made of sawn planks. The necessary preparations were made and on the day itself there was plenty of food and drink. Khun Chang was also welcomed and Kaeo told him, “My friend, excuse me for being in love with Phim. In the past, when we played father and mother as children, she may have been your wife, but now she really is mine”. Chang listened to this and looked a little puzzled. “It is very unfortunate. If you weren't my best friend, I wouldn't have given her to you. If you don't love her I will take her”. And then Chang downed a good load of booze. Later that afternoon, everyone gathered at the bridal house. The abbot blessed the couple and the monks murmured their prayers. Kaeo entered the bridal house and waited for his wife for the prescribed period.

After three days, Phim's mother brought her daughter to the bridal house. She first spoke to Phim about the woman's duties, “Phlai Kaeo is your partner from past lives. Not a hundred thousand other men could win your heart. I'm worried if you even know how to take care of him. You should not make mistakes that could anger your spouse. Keep your cool no matter what the situation, show him humility and listen to him. Don't get jealous and don't cause trouble. If someone makes a mistake, talk about it together first. Don't fight and shout. May you be blessed with constant happiness. Come go now, your husband is waiting for you”. And with those words Phim entered the bridal house. As befits a good woman, Phim prostrated herself at the feet of her lord, master and husband. Phlai Kaeo smiled passionately. Hugging, kissing and caressing, the couple retreated to the bedroom.

Phlai Kaeo is called up for military service

Now let's talk about the King of Chiang Mai. He had a palace full of women and gold. He lacked nothing. Smaller cities submitted to Chiang Mai and were indebted to the king of Chiang Mai. Until one day news reached the king that the tributary vassal city of Chiang Thong was undermining him. The city had betrayed its alliance by sending gold treasures to the king of Ayutthaya, the southern city. The king was furious and sent an army to Chiang Thong to set things right. At the sight of the Laotian force from Chiang Mai, the ruler of Chiang Thong trembled in fear, “You are too powerful for us, should the army of Chiang Mai advance to Ayutthaya, we will accompany you. Forgive us”. The Laotian soldiers were then able to move freely around Chiang Thong. Word soon spread that the city had once again pledged allegiance to Chiang Mai. The king of Ayutthaya was furious and demanded that action be taken quickly, “Shall we send a large army? Who can best lead the troops?" The councilors went to reconnoitre. When Khun Chang heard about this, he took his chance. A brave warrior who managed to find Khun Chang, “Your highness, I serve under the royal foot, in my village Suphan lives the son of a mighty warlord. Phlai Kaeo his name and he is extremely skilled, brave and highly skilled in sorcery and spirit summoning.” The king heard Khun Chang and commanded “Chang, go and bring him to me. I will send soldiers with you”.

And so it happens that the day after Kaeo and Phim got married, they were forced to say goodbye to each other. Phim was furious that their young happiness was so quickly disrupted by Khun Chang. Kaeo told her, “This is my duty to the king, to serve in the army as a warlord. I will teach those Laotians¹ a lesson and put my name on the map”.

Phlai Kaeo gets Laothong

Kaeo was made the captain of a large army and headed north. A large number of villages were reduced to ashes and soldiers assaulted the Laotian women. With his knowledge of magic spells, Phlai Kaeo easily defeated the forces of the King of Chiang Mai. It is Kaeo himself who managed to crush the enemy commander. On the way back to Ayutthaya, the troops passed through a small Laotian village; Chomthong. The village chief was very worried that his village would also fall prey to the Siamese troops. There was a good chance that the inhabitants would be taken as spoils of war and the village would be completely reduced to ashes. To spare themselves this fate, the village chief decided to donate his greatest treasure, his beautiful fifteen-year-old daughter.

Phlai Kaeo received them and his eye fell on the young lady: "How beautiful she is, just like my Phim". The father spoke, “We come to thank you for your protection. Many other villages have been reduced to rubble, but here no one has been killed and nothing looted. Unfortunately, we have few goods to give you, except our charming daughter, Laothong². We offer her to serve you until death. She will have to leave her parents and relatives behind, please don't abandon her.” Kaeo smiled and said, “Don't be sad, I understand what it's like to leave something you hold dear. I am incredibly pleased with your gift, more than a shipment of gold or silver would. I solemnly promise to take good care of her. In gratitude, he gave the parents gold and other spoils of war.

When evening came Laothong was in tears, her servants tried to calm her down. "Why do you think you won't like him? Your father and mother have given you to be his servant. You must learn to please him and win his goodness. Then everything will be alright. If you anger him, the inhabitants of our village will suffer the consequences. You are the savior of the family, dry your tears”. Phlai Kaeo entered the room and understood that Laothong was nervous to death. “Darling, what is there? Do not worry. Let's discuss things calmly.” But Laothong couldn't utter a word from her lips. Phlai Kaeo addressed Laothong's servants. “I did not expect to receive such a beautiful woman as a gift, she is exactly what my heart desires. But why doesn't she say a single word? If she doesn't want to give me love, that's okay, but she shouldn't cry. That is such a shame.” Laothong had never spoken to a lover, let alone in Siamese. She forced herself to respond and said in a timid and trembling voice, “I agree to be your servant. I'll go with you to the southern city. But I'm worried about what I'm leaving here.” Kaeo saw that Laothong was still very nervous and didn't dare look up. He uttered a mantra and it gave her a sense of excitement. Then she looked up and a smile appeared on her face, now she just wanted to be with him. The servants left the room and Phlai Kaeo closed the door. He approached Laothong and caressed her breasts and her satiny skin and carried her to the bed. A storm arose, clouds gathered, thunder roared. The monsoon broke. After the storm subsided, Laothong laid her head on Phlai Kaeo's chest, “I will follow you everywhere, but I wonder what will happen when we get to the southern city. It will be difficult for me when your wife is in charge.” Kaeo smiled and said soothingly, “To tell you the truth, I love you very much my beautiful Laothong. Even though I already have a wife, don't worry. I will take equal care of all my wives, great and small.” The couple enjoyed each other all night long.

Phim changes her name to Wanthong

Now let's talk about Phim Philalai. All the while poor Phim slept alone, hoping for news from the front. Message that never came. Phim never slept really well, so she had no energy during the day. Dazed and without strength, she contracted a severe fever. No physician could improve her situation. Phim's mother therefore sought refuge with the abbot of the temple to ask him for advice. The abbot consulted her horoscope and said, "Phim's luck is not favorable at the moment, but she can be cured if Phim changes her name to Wanthong³". So it was that, after performing a spirit ceremony, Phim would go through life as Wanthong from then on. The ceremony gave her courage again, she started to eat and sleep again. Little by little she recovered.

Hearing the news of her recovery, Chang said, “Phlai Kaeo has been gone for a long time without any news. The Laotians probably chopped him up. No wonder we don't hear from him. I must seize this moment to make Wanthong my wife”. He then ordered his servants to collect bones and ashes from the cemetery. He put it in a jar and bribed two village elders, “Wanthong's man has died, help me ask for her hand and I will reward you richly”. Out of greed, the two old grannies agreed. Dressed in his best clothes, Khun Chang went with his servants and the grannies to the house of Wanthong and her mother. With tears in his eyes he came to tell the bad news. “Sad news has just come from Ayutthaya, Phlai Kaeo has been defeated in the war against the Laotians, he has died. His soldiers took back this jar with his cremation remains.” Wanthong's mother was very shocked by the sad news and took it for granted after the two respectable oldies confirmed that Phlai Kaeo had indeed passed away. But not so Wanthong, who shouted angrily, “Who is making up this bad news? You snake, you dirty trickster! You just bought that pot somewhere. I curse you!". Enraged, she stomped back to her bedroom and burst into tears, “I don't believe a damn thing that bald head says. My husband has been sent to war because of his cunning tricks and now he also comes with a pot full of bones and ashes to fool us. Oh my dear Kaeo, if only you were here!”.

So she lay on the bed, while mother weeps loudly, “My daughter a widow, how shall we go on? Who will take care of us? Khun Chang, come by after all the ceremonies are completed and I promise you that you may make her your wife.” Wanthong jumped up and supposedly started berating a servant loudly and clearly, “You damned thing, you useless baldhead, you'd be watching the door because of the stray dogs on the loose. Now a whole pack has gathered around us and they piss and shit everything! They are still crying too, how can you do something like that? You don't do anything all day, you just have empty talk. Your head looks like a scraped coconut!" The guests outside slunk off and the two old ladies felt deeply ashamed.

Mother approached Wanthong, “As a widow you become the king's property. Just accept Khun Chang's hand. The only thing wrong with him is his head, but he is a rich man and can take good care of you”. Wanthong fires back, “You only see his money, even if it was a dog or a pig you would still give me away. I am only sixteen years old and then already two men?!”. “Don't put things off like that, you wretch of a daughter, if you keep bothering your mother I'll give you to Khun Chang today!”. “Then beat me to death mommy, I don't care anymore! When I am reborn again I do not wish to grow again in your belly! Never, not in a hundred thousand years! What kind of mother are you?!" Her mother, boiling with fury, jumped up and grabbed a stick, “What a dirty, ugly, mouth you have! I will beat you to smithereens!" She slapped Wanthong hard, “You difficult child, I will beat you until the skins hang! Khun Chang is as rich as a gold mine!”. Wanthong screamed, “I don't want to see his hateful bald head, if you do, why don't you take it yourself?!”. Mother could not tolerate Wanthong's sarcasm and hit her many times. Thus it was that Wanthong was married off to Khun Chang. Khun Chang took down the bridal house that Phlai Kaeo had built. With his wealth he built a grand and stately bridal house. Wanthong was forced into the new bridal house by her mother.

To be continued…

¹ From the point of view of Ayutthaya (Siam), all kingdoms north of themselves were Laotian. What is northern and northeastern Thailand today was then a blanket of small city-states and kingdoms with shifting alliances and no real borders.

² Laothong (ลาวทอง, Lao-thong), 'Golden Lao'

³ Wanthong (วันทอง, Wan-thong), 'Golden Day'