Thais in Lumphini Park pause to listen to the national anthem (Salvacampillo / Shutterstock.com)
When you stay in Thailand as a tourist, you will not have missed it: at the stroke of 08.00:18.00 and at XNUMX:XNUMX you will hear on the radio and TV the national anthem from Thailand that is Phleng Chat.
And if it wasn't enough that every TV channel and radio broadcasts the national anthem, it is also played at the skytrain and subway stations in Bangkok as well as the bus stations, parks and many public places.
Thai schools start every day with the song. All students must be present and sing the national anthem. Two students also hoist the flag of Thailand.
Show respect for the Thai national anthem
What tourists should know is that most Thai people take the rules of hearing the national anthem very seriously. From an early age, Thais have been taught to show respect for the song. They do this by stopping what they are doing and standing still. That is also expected of tourists. So if you're waiting somewhere and you hear the national anthem, get up. If you are walking down the street, stop for a moment. The song is short (about 30 seconds) so it won't take much effort. Thai people appreciate it very much when you, as a foreigner, show respect for the traditions in Thailand.
Schoolchildren stand at attention for the national anthem
The King's Song
There is another important 'song' in Thailand and that is the 'King's Song', better known as 'Phleng Sansoen Phra Barami'. This song is played on official occasions such as state visits or when a member of the royal family is present. When you go to the cinema, the song is played before the movie starts and you see images of the king. Even then you have to stand. Ignoring the King's Song is considered a serious insult. You then step on a Thai's soul. If you show disrespect for the Thai royal family, you can even end up in prison.
Serious insults to the royal family are punishable by a prison sentence of fifteen years per offense. In 2007, 57-year-old Swiss Oliver Rudolf Jufer was sentenced to ten years in prison for insulting the Thai king. In a drunken state, he had defaced five posters of the king with a black spray can. Because several images were involved, the penalties for each incident were added together. That meant five times fifteen years in prison for him.
The man in question was eligible for a total of 75 years in prison, but because he confessed, he received a substantial reduction in his sentence. After several weeks in prison, King Bhumibol pardoned him. The Swiss who had been living in Thailand for ten years was immediately deported from the country and may never enter Thailand again.
Phleng chat
The national anthem was officially established on December 10, 1939 and was composed at the time by Peter Feit (his Thai name is: Phra Chen-Duriyang) (1883-1968). He was the son of a German immigrant and the royal adviser on music. The words to the melody are by Luang Saranupraphan.
Thai text and Latin alphabet
Pra thet thai ruam luead nu'a chat chu'a thai
เป็นประชารัฐ ไผทของไทยทุกส่วน – Pen pra cha rat pha thai kho'ng thai thuk suan
Song: Yu dam rong khong wai dai thang muan
Song: Duay thai luan mai rak sa mak khi
Thai ni rak sa ngop tae thu'ng rop mai khlat ไทยนี้รักสงบ
Song: Ek ka raj ja mai hai khrai khom khi
สละเลือดทุกหยาดเป็นชาติพลี – Sal la luead thuk yat pen chat p'hli
Tha loeng pra thet chat thai tha wi mi chai ch'yo
Dutch translation
Thailand embraces in its bosom all people of Thai blood
Every inch of Thailand belongs to the Thais
It has long preserved its independence
Because the Thais have always been united
The Thai people are peace-loving
But they are not cowards in warfare
They will not allow anyone to rob them of their independence
Nor will they suffer from tyranny
All Thais are willing to give every drop of their blood
For the security, freedom and progress of the nation.
Watch the video of the Thai national anthem here:
I've always found the Thai national anthem rather odd. It doesn't sound Thai or even Asian in any way. It rather resembles some kind of old German marching music.
Nice to know is that the composer of the Thai 'National Hymn' is actually a German, more precisely formulated: son of a German father and a Thai mother. The text is also of a high 'Blut-und-Boden' content, but it was written by a Thai.
Nice piece!
Years ago when I still regularly went to the cinema in Bangkok – still today – the national anthem was/is shown before the start of the film. Then everyone stands up. This is what I always did and always do, but then for some reason I got stuck. That was immediately noticed and as long as the song was playing, a flashlight was shined on me. Fortunately this was all, but since then I've been standing up nicely.
Dear Sjaak S, Sorry,
As far as I know, the national anthem (Phleng Chat Thai) is not played in the cinema, but the royal anthem (Phleng Sansoen Phra Barami) which everyone also stands up for.
Gr. John.
There are several countries where the national anthem is played in the cinema. England eg.
I also know the national anthem only too well .
Hear it almost every day through the village loudspeakers, see it on the TV or in public places such as shopping centers, train stations, etc.
Thanks for the translation in Dutch.
But on the fourth line that says .
Because the Thais have always been united.
It is a pity that something seems to have changed since , a few months ago .
Because there is not much left to be seen of a truly united Thailand .
It would be good if all Thais would listen to their national anthem and the accompanying lyrics at 08.00:XNUMX tomorrow morning .
And may all come to their senses after the national anthem has ended .
Before starting the new day.
Maybe it will help then.
One unites Thailand.
I still dream of it.
Jan Beute.
Who of us knows Plaek Phibunsongkhram better known as Phibun.
Phibun, among other things, ensured that Thailand got a constitutional monarchy in 1932.
He also introduced the current Thai national anthem and changed Siam's name to Thailand in 1939.
Furthermore, as Prime Minister, he collaborated with the Japanese during World War II and oversaw how the Japanese built the Burma Railway. I was able to visit the graves of hundreds of Dutch boys (aged between 18 and 25) in Kachanaburi.
Unlike the Netherlands with Mussert, Thailand has never distanced itself from Phibun and his nationalistic ideas. He is still revered by many Thais.
There you are in the morning at 8 o'clock at the airport of Phitsanulok. The national anthem suddenly sounds from a TV, which was previously completely ignored by everyone, rightly so. Not really out of respect, but you are much more under duress than as a guest of this country. The same duties, but not the same rights. The national anthem plays and I think of Phibun.
Maybe it's a good thing that most Thai and Farang don't know anything about Thai history.
Showing respect for the national anthem is the least we can do.
The Thai learns the national anthem at school from an early age.
The fact that we should read the rules carefully and then conclude that something is not right is going too far for me.
Why always judge Thailand?
1) We should be ashamed that the majority does not know the Dutch national anthem
2) Many don't even know that every province also has a national anthem let alone that we know it.
3) That the war past is brought in here is not of this time.
I visited Auswitch, but also Kanchanaburi and in every country you had good and bad people.
Governments have also participated in this. However, in what capacity this has to do with showing respect for a national anthem eludes me.
A comparison is, for example, that in English schools you also show respect for the teacher by standing up,
In the church when the elders come in.
They are not imposed rules but standards of decency.
Criticism is good, but why criticize a national song? Are we so satisfied with the old-fashioned national anthem of the Netherlands and agree with it in terms of content?
I don't mind it either, it seems perfunctory and not spontaneous to me. It also reminds me of the former Eastern Bloc, where there were also pictures of the ruler everywhere. Do we hang pictures of WA on the street?
What annoys me so much is that constant comparison with “us”. As if we do know. That's not what this is about at all. This country and its people expect people to stop what they are doing the moment the national anthem is played. You are a guest in this country. Is it so hard to just stop what you're doing for the short time it takes? “country wise, country honour” > Come on people, don't try to impose political or moral underlying motives on the Thai from our European point of view. it is an unwritten rule that one does that at the time. And the fact remains that we are guests in this country. As a guest you respect the rules of the host.
Like so many before, a little respect for this culture. Adapt a little to the customs of this beautiful country. Anyone can criticize any country in the world. Especially when you are on holiday here, don't take their customs too seriously, respect them.
Respect for others is normal. The talk about dutiful makes no sense. It is Thailand and not the Netherlands. I would be very annoyed if someone (foreigner or not) in the Netherlands would ignore our national anthem. That's called decency.
Looks like Eastern Bloc conditions. As a tourist it is impossible to know what the national hymn or royal song is. This looks like North Korean states to me….
Moreover, I am usually still in bed at 8 o'clock in the morning during my holiday.
on formal occasions, yes. But every day? That's it for the rabbits!
You can also immerse yourself in a country where you go on holiday. One of the first rules you should know is respect for the royal family and national anthem.
Nice and easy to say that you don't know or that it's North Korea if you can't respect that, go to Ameland anyway
I personally don't mind it either, but I do respect it. Stand still for a moment (30 sec) or stand in the Bios. I'm just doing it out of respect. Small effort right? I also find the comparison with the Netherlands ridiculous, you are a guest in Thailand and then you have to behave. Standing alone during the national anthem at 8:00 is often difficult for me, I usually do that lying down. 🙂
The national anthem twice a day through all media is pure Asian brainwashing, it looks like North Korea.
Because of this brainwashing, 80% of Thais think that Thailand is the center of this earth.
Keep the population stupid, then it is easier to fill pockets for the "gentlemen" politicians.
Imagine if the Wilhelmus could be heard in the Netherlands every morning and evening before the 6 o'clock news… laughing, vultures roaring, it would soon be over.
I respect the song and respect the Thai. The song and love for the king seem to be ingrained in the culture. I live here among the Thai and also watch TV and see almost every day a report of the activities of the members of the Court. Me and the thai can follow what is happening through the royal family. People empathize with what they see on TV. As a Belgian, I rarely see our royal house doing things that are done here in Thailand. Personally, I find more in the Dutch type. the King and Maxima have more, even much more contact with the common people than in Belgium.
Our king acts like a stiff rake and there is little spontaneity. Would also be better to come among people and on TV. And less involved in politics.
The content of the lyrics of the anthem largely corresponds to the Belgian, defending the country to the last drop of blood and the unity of the country.
Here in Thailand, the children know their national anthem. In the Netherlands and Belgium, foreigners must be integrated. Apart from football players who are allowed to stand and spectate at international matches
shouldn't they have any respect.
I want to have some respect, but I find the national anthem 2x a day standard quite exaggerated and have North Korean traits. By the way, everyone here is talking about respect for the Thai and their culture, of course very important, we are not Russians or Chinese, but I do think that the farang can expect a little more respect from the Thai, especially today.
The author of the Dutch national anthem is Filips van Marnix van Sint-Aldegonde.
During my youth (50s and 60s) the radio was closed every day at 00.00:XNUMX with the Wilhelmus. No laughing, screeching, roaring! By the way, no one in Thailand has to stop in traffic or during work when hearing the king's song. You don't have to stand at home either.
In my opinion, one should show respect for everyone, with different cultural backgrounds or not. However, standing up straight in the cinema to show respect I think is exaggerated and no longer of this time.
I have the impression that many Thais agree with you, but don't dare to sit still.
In any case, my impression is that many more Thai people look around and only stand up when others do the same.
I remember walking through the park in Korat at night while the national anthem played through the speakers.
It was made clear to me that I was not allowed to continue, I had to stand until the national anthem had finished.
The opinions of the Thai on this subject are divided.
The Thai has been taught from childhood to stand during the Thai national anthem.
Raised, or indoctrinated, pick a word.
They mean the same thing anyway.
I have to conclude that in the village nobody stands up when the national anthem is played on TV.
I asked a Thai friend in Phuket a long time ago about getting up at the cinema.
He had to think about it for a while and then said.
Thailand is not your homeland and the king is not your king.
So there is no reason to stand.
But there are undoubtedly Thai people who think otherwise.
I once sat down in a park in Bangkok. This while everyone froze. The many joggers stopped abruptly in place. My wife also stood up. Only I remained pontifically. Why? Bad mood that moment. Otherwise I always stand. Otherwise, you run the risk of being seen as disapproval. So no neutral attitude, but active resistance. At least that's what it feels like when you behave your manifesto differently from the rest of the audience. And that's how I felt at the time, I remember. Had the plague again in Thailand. Probably, I don't remember, I should have paid for family somewhere again.
Incidentally, no one showed any disapproval. They themselves did not look at me. I paid attention to that! At least 50 people who could see that I had stayed put! Still, I was relieved that it was over and everyone went back to what they were doing. And I could continue to sit and sulk.
Respect and discipline are different things. Some people don't realise. I will have this text put on a T-shirt. Then I rise, without betraying myself, by betraying myself. If you don't understand this, think again.
It is not obligatory for a foreign tourist to stand at attention or to stop when the national anthem is played. Decided in 1976. I was on December 05, 1976, with my then Thai girlfriend, at the palace to see the king. I could just walk around while the folk song was playing, but my Thai wife couldn't. She did anyway and we were both arrested and taken to the police station. There I was told that I was not arrested but my “girlfriend” was. If I wanted her free I had to sign a document that she would behave in the future. So what I did. No fines or donations or anything.
I'm eating a soup on the street from Ayutthaya station to the ferry to the old city, not the hinterland I would say. The national anthem resounds. I see everyone get up, except for a kid sitting behind me and a school kid walking by. Suddenly a gruff voice sounds behind me: “Falang !”. I look back and see a man gesturing angrily with his hand for me to get up. Another lesson learned: that the customs differ per region, possibly also from what is legally determined.