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Showing posts with label History. Show all posts
Showing posts with label History. Show all posts

Thursday, June 19, 2014

"รัชกาลที่ 4 กล่าวถึงบรรพชนชาวหงสาของพระองค์ - ေအကရာဇ္ေသမ္ဆီမန္"

"รัชกาลที่ 4 กล่าวถึงบรรพชนชาวหงสาของพระองค์ - ေအကရာဇ္ေသမ္ဆီမန္"

ต่อคำถามของ เซอร์ จอห์น เบาวริ่งที่ว่า "I requested the King to favour me with an account of his own dynasty, and received the following reply"

พระบาทสมเด็จพระจอมเกล้าเจ้าอยู่หัว รัชกาลที่ 4 ทรงพระราชทานตอบเซอร์ จอห์น เบาวริ่ง ที่เข้ามาเจริญสัมพันธไมตรีในราชอาณาจักรสยามเมื่อปี พ.ศ. 2398 ในฐานะอัครราชทูตผู้แทนของสมเด็จพระราชินีวิคตอ เรีย ตีพิมพ์ในหนังสือ "The Kingdom and People of Siam with a Narrative of the History to that Community in 1855" เมื่อปี พ.ศ. 2400 ความว่า

"In regard to the particular narrative or ancient true occurrence of the present royal dynasty reigning upon Siam, I beg to say what I knew from statement of our parents and ancestors, and other tolerable and corresponding families whom I have been present of in considerable space of time when they have been living or alive. The first family of our paternal ancestors, it is said, have been inhabitants of the city of Hansawatty (proper Sanskrit name), the capital of Pegu..."

แปลโดยเจ้าพระยาภาสกรวงศ์ (พร บุนนาค) ดังนี้

"ด้วยเรื่องราวความสิ่งสำคัญ หรือเหตุการณ์ที่เกิดเป็นสิ่งที่จริงแต่โบราณแห่งพระบรมราชวงศ์ปัจจุบัน ซึ่งครอบครองกรุงสยามนี้ เราขอกล่าวว่า ตามที่เราได้ทราบเรื่องราวของพระชนกชนนีและบรรพบุรุษของเรา และวงศ์ตระกูลที่ตรงกันและถุกต้องกัน ซึ่งเราได้คุ้นเคยมาแต่ก่อนนาน เมื่อท่านทั้งหลายยังมีชนม์ชีพหรือชีวิตอยู่นั้นได้เล่าสืบมา ปฐมวงศ์ฝ่ายข้างปิตฤกะบรรพบุรุษของเรานั้น ท่านกล่าวไว้ว่าได้เป็นชาวกรุง Hansawatty 'หงษาวัตตี' (นามสันสกฤติแท้) เป็นเมืองหลวงมหานครของกรุง Pegu ..."

นักประวัติศาสตร์หลายท่านไม่ปักใจเชื่อนักว่าสิ่งที่รัชกาลที่ 4 กล่าวว่าบรรพชนของพระองค์เป็นชาวหงสาวดี สืบทอดมาแต่พระยาเกียรติ พระยาราม นายทหารมอญที่ติดตามพระมหาเถรคันฉ่องพร้อมสมเด็จพระนเรศวรเข้าสู่สยามเมื่อปี พ.ศ. 2127 จะเป็นจริง ด้วยไม่เคยปรากฏหลักฐานอื่นใดก่อนหน้า ระยะเวลาจากเหตุการณ์ครั้งนั้นจนวันที่รัชกาลที่ 4 กล่าวถึงนี้ก็ห่างกันถึง 271 ปี

แต่หากพิจารณาข้อคิดความเห็นของ ม.ร.ว.คึกฤทธิ์ ปราโมช ที่กล่าวไว้ใน "โครงกระดูกในตู้" ที่ว่า

"คนโบราณนั้นท่านรู้กันและนับกันถูกว่าใครสืบเชื้อสายมาจากไหน ที่พูดกันเช่นนี้ก็เพื่อลูกหลานจะได้ระลึกว่า อดีตกับปัจจุบันนั้นเชื่อมโยงกัน..." อีกตอนหนึ่งยังกล่าวว่า การประชุมออกขุนนางสมัยก่อน อาลักษณ์ผู้ทำหน้าที่จดบันทึก ไม่ได้นำสมุดดินสอเข้าไปยังท้องพระโรงด้วย แต่ใช้การจำและกลับออกมาจดภายหลังการประชุมเสร็จสิ้น จริงอยู่ว่าอาจมีการคลาดเคลื่อนตกหล่น แต่ก็เชื่อได้ว่าถูกต้องเป็นส่วนใหญ่ เพราะความจำเป็นที่จะต้อง "จำ" ดูตัวอย่างใกล้ๆ กรณีผู้เขียน (และอาจจะอีกหลายคน) ที่เคยจำเบอร์ของใครต่อใครได้เป็น 10-20 เบอร์ แต่ภายหลังการเข้ามาของมือถือที่สามารถบันทึกเบอร์ของผู้คนได้หลายร้อยเบอร์ ผู้เขียนจำได้เพียงไม่กี่เบอร์เท่านั้น ดังนั้นจึงน่าเชื่อได้ว่า รัชกาลที่ 4 ก็คงได้จดจำสิ่งที่ได้รับการบอกเล่าต่อกันมาในสายตระกูลไม่ผิดเพี้ยนนัก

อย่างไรก็ตาม หากแม้ว่าเรื่องที่รัชกาลที่ 4 กล่าวอ้างนั้นไม่เป็นจริง แต่ก็น่าสงสัยว่า เหตุใดพระองค์จึงอ้างเป็น "มอญ" (แสดงว่าชื่อเสียงความเป็นมอญขณะนั้นสามารถ "ขาย" ฝรั่งตะวันตกกินได้) จึงไม่อ้างว่าเป็นจีน และอินเดีย ชาติโบราณของอุษาคเนย์อย่างพยู จาม และเขมร หรือโกอินเตอร์อย่างโปรตุเกส และอังกฤษ จะได้เชื่อมโยงสายสัมพันธ์เข้ากับนักล่าอาณานิคมที่กำลังสยายปีกเข้ามายังอุษาคเนย์ในเวลานั้นเสียเลย    (Credit to:
รามัญคดี - MON Studies )


"The reign of the 4 mentioned book people of his native Hong-ေအကရာဇ္ေသမ္ဆီမန္"
The question of Sir John waring light that says "I requested the King to favour me with an account of his own dynasty, and received the following reply."
King Mongkut Rama King Rama IV Royal answered Sir John waring light that came prosperous partnership in the Kingdom of Siam when 2398 (1855) as Ambassador representatives of Queen Victoria published in the book "The Kingdom and People of Siam with a Narrative of the History to that Community in 1855 when the 2400 (1857)
"In regard to the particular narrative or ancient true occurrence of the present royal dynasty reigning upon Siam, I beg to say what I knew from statement of our parents and ancestors, and other tolerable and corresponding families whom I have been present of in considerable space of time when they have been living or alive. The first family of our paternal ancestors, it is said, have been inhabitants of the city of Hansawatty (proper Sanskrit name), the capital of Pegu..."
Translation by Chao Khun passakorn (porn Bunnag). As follows:
"With stories of important events or as the real thing, but historic Royal dynasty, which includes we ask for sayam khrongkrung said, as we know, the story of our ancestors, and ethnic chonni and matching family and thuk. Which we have been familiar, but before too long. When ye have life or live it tells the successor. Genesis house party alongside our ancestors shift pitri thee, that it was Hansawatty ' innovative courses Hong beat ' (real name riti Che Tong) is the capital city of Bangkok of Pegu ...
Many historians do not believe that more firmly convinced and confident that the reign of 4 of his book, said a young man hung people as well. But the Prince inherited the honour Phraya RAM Batman tracked Mon thon two-fold mirror with Siamese King naresuan in 2127 access to be true with any other evidence appeared no earlier than. Period from the date of the incident until the reign of the mentioned 4 apart to 271 years.
But if you consider the opinion of the comment M.R.W. pramot Khuekrit mentioned in "the skeleton in the cupboard" that.
"He knows that ancient peoples and is counted as one descended from whence that talk like this, so the offspring will have in mind that the current associated with the former ..." Another one also said a meeting of Britain and Ireland past ancient Thai notes agent. Do not bring God into the pencil, book, holiday, but used to remember and get back out to write after the Conference finished. The fact that there may be a fall off, but they believe that the most accurate because of the need to "remember." See, for example, just in case the author (and probably many others) ever remember who's who: Halle Berry is 10-20 Harbour, but after the coming of the mobile phone that can fit hundreds of people harbour. The author has a few Harbour. So it seems to believe that the reign of 4 would have to recognize what has been spoken in the family line of succession is not distorted investor.
However, even if the matter is not referred to the reign of the above 4 is true, but it was suspicious why he was referred to as the "Mon" (indicating that the reputation of the "sales" as it happens. The West Caucasian ...) do not claim that it is China and India. Southeast Asia's ancient Khmer and Cham phayu. offerings, to find English or Portugal, and will be linked with the RapPort that hunters are to spread out the wings into the Southeast at the time it was broken. (Translated by Bing)

Sunday, June 1, 2014

Queen Chamadevi

The Story Of Queen Chamadevi

SEE RELATED IMAGES @ PICTURES FROM HISTORY

Queen Chamadevi
According to the chronicles and legends of Lanna, Chamadevi was a strikingly beautiful woman who nevertheless enjoyed a fair measure of personal misfortune. To begin with, she was apparently pregnant but unmarried at the time she was appointed Queen of Lamphun - indeed, this unfortunate condition may have been one reason her father, the ruler of Lopburi, sent her away.
Legend recounts that Chamadevi had at least one other serious personal problem. In her childhood she had stepped across a burning lamp placed in front of a revered Buddha image in her father's city. In punishment for this sacrilege, fate cursed her with a serious - but really serious - body odour problem. To be specific, though gorgeous to look at, Chamadevi's distinctive odour could be detected over a distance 'measured by three elephant trumpets plus seven beatings of a gong'. The chronicles are very specific about this, calculating that an elephant can be heard over a distance of three miles, whilst the sound of a gong "of medium size" travels for about one mile. Hence, Chamadevi's offensive odour could be detected from a distance of sixteen miles!
Chamadevi's journey upstream from Lopburi via the Chaophraya and Ping Rivers took about three months. Unfortunately, most of the sites associated with her journey in legend have now been submerged by the waters of the Phra Bhumibol Dam above Sam Ngao. At one place on the Ping, later known as Ab Nang (Lady's Bathing Place) she stopped for a day to bathe in a waterfall. As the legend has it, the odour of the queen polluted the waters and attracted a number of vultures which mistakenly thought an elephant had died in the vicinity. These vultures perched on a high rock overlooking the fall, and were later turned into stone, becoming a permanent feature of the Ab Nang skyline.
Tradition notwithstanding, Chamadevi's personal odour cannot - surely - have been as bad as is recounted. After all, she had managed to become pregnant before she left Lopburi, and no sooner had she arrived in Lamphun than the local Lawa chieftain, King Luang Viranga, fell in love with her. We are told that Viranga was a widower who lived on the slopes of nearby Doi Kam, a small hill in the vicinity of the present-day Chiang Mai International Airport. Viranga, attracted by the queen's beauty, sent emissaries to Lamphun requesting her hand in marriage.
At this time, again according to legend, the Lawa were a fierce nation of head-hunters as well as being - by some accounts - cannibals. Moreover, they were dark-skinned non-Buddhists. Chamadevi, the beautiful, pale-skinned (if malodorous) representative of Mon civilisation and Buddhism, could not tolerate the thought of marriage to the Lawa chieftain. Fortunately, at this stage she was still pregnant, so she sent a message to Viranga that she would accept his suit only after the birth of her child, and when that child had been weaned.
In the event, Chamadevi gave birth to twin sons, both "healthy and handsome". She named them Anantayot and Mahantayot. In course of time they reached eight years of age, but still the wily queen declined to wean them. Eventually Viranga lost patience, and calling together his Lawa subjects he stormed Lamphun, determined to possess the object of his desire.
The Lawa forces, who were stronger than those of the Mon, managed to cross the defensive moats and climb the high walls of the city. Once within the inner fastness, they wasted no time opening the main gate for King Viranga to make his triumphant entry, mounted on a war elephant.
At this point Chamadevi's twin sons appeared, riding an extraordinary elephant with blackish-purple skin and green tusks which - not surprisingly - rejoiced in the name of "Blackish-Purple". At the command of the twins, this prodigious beast forced back Viranga's elephant, causing the terrified animal to bolt through the northern gate. During this debacle, Viranga was caught between his elephant and the city wall, as a result of which his leg was broken. From that time forth, Lamphun's northern gate was renamed Pratu Chang Si, or "Elephant Crush Gate".
Unfortunately for Chamadevi, "Blackish-Purple" soon died, and when news of this reached Viranga, he determined to renew his assault on Lamphun. In a further attempt to fend off the Lawa chieftain, the queen requested a truce at which she promised to marry Viranga if he could throw a javelin from the top of Mount Pui, near Chiang Mai, to any place within the walls of Lamphun - a distance of about 30 kilometres. Viranga, 'whose lust for the queen's beauty had grown stronger', readily agreed, and summoning all his supernatural powers climbed to the summit of Mount Pui to try his skills.
By the agreement worked out at the truce, Viranga was allowed three attempts to throw his javelin to Lamphun. On the first attempt the Lawa chieftain hurled his javelin at the heart of the city, but it fell just short of the walls, creating a huge crater known today as Nong Sanao, or "Javelin Swamp".
This amazing feat so terrified Chamadevi that she determined to sap Viranga's strength through trickery before he could make any more attempts. Accordingly, whilst the Lawa chieftain was resting on Doi Pui in preparation for his second throw, Chamadevi sent him a gift of a hat she had made with her own hands. Of course, this was no ordinary hat. It was made from the cloth of the queen's petticoat, embroidered with gold and silver, and dyed a delicate shade of red... Viranga should have sensed trouble - but, of course, he didn't!
In the words of the chronicler: 'as is well known throughout Southeast Asia, the dignity and spiritual power of a man is particularly concentrated in his head. A dishonour to his head will cause him to lose his spiritual strength. And the most potent threat to masculine power is the petticoat or other undergarments of a woman, particularly a menstruating woman'.
No sooner did Viranga see the hat than he rushed forward and proudly put it on his head. Immediately his supernatural powers began to melt away. His second javelin failed to get anywhere near Lamphun, landing a mere five kilometres away at the foot of Doi Suthep, where its impact created another "Javelin Swamp" near the settlement of Ban Tindoi. In despair, the ailing chieftain threw his third javelin high in the air, tore open his clothes to expose his chest, and allowed the falling weapon to pierce his chest.
Defeated by Chamadevi's wiles, Viranga was laid to rest on the summit of a nearby peak with his face towards Lamphun, so that even in death he would gaze towards his beloved. With him died the spirit of Lawa independence. Never again would his people attempt to subdue or expel the Mon - or, later, the Thai. Instead they came gradually to embrace Buddhism and to acknowledge the authority of Lamphun, becoming loyal subjects of Haripunchai. And this is what the legend of Queen Chamadevi is really about - the triumph of guile over strength, of city over the forest, of settled rice-growing peoples over the hunter-gatherers of the wild.
SEE MORE QUEEN CHAMADEVI IMAGES @ PICTURES FROM HISTORY
Text by Donald Wilson; Photos by David Henley & Pictures From History - © CPA Media

 Source: http://www.cpamedia.com/article.php?pg=archive&acid=120510162540&aiid=120606164020

Tuesday, May 20, 2014

ก(ล)างเมือง สนทนา : มอญมองมอญ








ก(ล)างเมือง สนทนา : มอญมองมอญ
18 พ.ค. 57 | 10.05 - 11.00

"องค์ บรรจุน" คือหนึ่งใน "คนมอญเมืองไทย" ที่เดินทางไปร่วมงานวันชาติมอญในปีนี้ จากเดิมที่สมัยเด็กเขาเคยรู้สึกแปลกแยกกับความเป็นมอญในตัวเอง จนค่อยๆ เรียนรู้และซึมซับประวัติศาสตร์ของชาติพันธุ์มอญจากการอ่าน ติดตามเรื่องราวของเขา ผู้บอกเล่าความเป็นมอญในเมืองไทย ในภาพยนตร์สารคดี ตอน "มอญสองเมือง"

และในช่วงสนทนา เราจะไปคุยกับคุณเศกสรรค์ สุมนตรี กรรมการสภาชาติพันธุ์และชนเผ่าพื้นเมืองแห่งประเทศไทย ในเรื่องของวัฒนธรรมและความเป็นชาติของคนมอญทั้งสองฝั่งพรมแดน รวมทั้งความคิด ความหวังต่ออนาคตชาวมอญ ท่ามกลางบรรยากาศการเมืองที่เปลี่ยนไปในประเทศพม่า

ติดตามชม รายการก(ล)างเมือง สนทนา ตอน มอญมองมอญ วันอาทิตย์ที่ 18 พฤษภาคม 2557 เวลา 10.05 น. ทางไทยพีบีเอส หรือรับชมทีวีออนไลน์ทาง  www.thaipbs.or.th/Live

Source: http://program.thaipbs.or.th/usefulprogram/article555664.ece

Friday, April 11, 2014

ထိုင္းခ်က္ကရီမင္းဆက္ မြန္မ်ိဳးႏြယ္

ဟံသာဝတီက်ဆံုးျပီးမြန္ေတာ္လွန္ေရး
တစ္ေလာက ထိုင္းဘုရင္ ဘူမိေဘာ က ဝင္းစိန္ေတာရမြန္ဆရာေတာ္ကို ကထိန္ေပးပါတယ္။ျမန္မာနိုင္ငံ နဲ ့ထိုင္းနိုင္ငံေတြမွာ သီလ သမာဓိ ပညာ နဲ ့ျပည့္စံုေက်ာ္ၾကားတဲ့ ဆရာေတာ္သံဃာေတာ္ေတြအမ်ားၾကီးပါ။ ထိုင္းဘုရင္ ေရာဂါသည္းျပီး လဲေနစဥ္မွာ မြန္ဆရာေတာ္ကိုအိမ္မက္မက္ျမင္ပါတယ္တဲ့။
ထိုင္းဘုရင္ ဘူမိေဘာရဲ ့ကိုယ္ထဲမွာ မြန္ေသြး လွည့္ပတ္စီးဆင္းေနဆဲပဲဆိုတာ ယံုမွားစရာမရွိပါဘူး။
တပင္ေရြွထီး ဘုရင့္ေနာင္ တို ့ေခတ္ကစျပီး အဂၤလိပ္ ျမန္မာ စစ္ပြဲေတြျဖစ္တဲ့ အခ်ိန္အထိ ျမန္မာအုပ္ခ်ဳပ္သူေတြ ရဲ ့ ဖိနွိပ္ ရက္ဆက္မွဳေတြ မခံရပ္နိုင္တဲ့ မြန္လူမ်ိဳးေတြ ကိုယ့္ေနရပ္ကို စြန္ ့ခြာျပီး ထိုင္းေတြနဲ ့သြားေရာက္ပူးေပါင္းၾကပါတယ္။ အမ်ားစုဟာ ထင္ရွားေက်ာ္ၾကားတဲ့ မြန္ေခါင္းေဆာင္ေတြ နဲ ့ေနာက္လိုက္ေနာက္ပါေတြ။ က်မ္းဂန္တတ္ မြန္ရဟန္းေတာ္ေတြနဲ ့ေနာက္လိုက္ေနာက္ပါေတြပါ။
ဒီလို ဂုဏ္သေရရွိ မြန္ေခါင္းေဆာင္ေတြကို ထိုင္းဘုရင္ေတြက ထိုက္တန္ရာ ရာထူးေတြေပျပီး အခ်ိဳ ့မြန္ေခါင္းေဆာင္ေတြ ထိုင္းမင္းသမီးေတြနဲ ့လက္ဆက္ခဲ ့ၾကသလို မြန္အမ်ိဳးေကာင္းသမီးေတြလဲ မင္း မိဘုရားေတြျဖစ္လာခဲ့ၾကပါတယ္။
မြန္ တို ့ရဲ ့ဟံသာဝတီျမိဳ ့ေတာ္ ပ်ာပံု ဘဝ ေရာက္ခဲ့ရသလို ထိုင္းတို ့ရဲ ့အယုဒၶယ ျမိဳ ့ေတာ္ အုတ္ပံုဘဝေရာက္ခဲ့ရပါတယ္။
အယုဒၶယ က်ဆံုးျပီး ခြ်န္ဘူရီျမိဳ ့ေတာ္ကိုျပန္တည္ေထာင္တဲ့ ထိုင္းဘုရင္ မဟာသက္ဆင္ရဲ ့မယ္ေတာ္က မြန္အမ်ိဳ းသမီးပါ။
မဟာသက္ဆင္ျပီးေတာ့ သူ ့ကို ဆက္ခံတဲ့ ပထမဆံုး ခ်က္ကရီမင္းဆက္ ဘုရင္ ပထမရာမ ဟာ ဟံသာဝတီ မင္းမ်ိဳးႏြယ္လို စတုတၳ ရာမ ဘုရင္က အတိအလင္းဆိုထားပါတယ္။
ပထမရာမ ဘုရင္ နဲ ့ မြန္သူၾကြယ္သမီး မိဘုရားကဖြားျမင္တဲ ့ မင္းသားက ဒုတိယရာမဘုရင္ျဖစ္လာပါတယ္။
ဒုတိယ ရာမဘုရင္ ရဲ ့မြန္မိဘုရား က ဖြားျမင္တဲ့ မင္းသားက တတိယရာမဘုရင္။
စသျဖင့္ မြန္မိဘုရားက ဖြားျမင္တဲ့ မင္းသားက ထိုင္းဘုရင္ ျဖစ္လာျမဲပါ။
ထိုင္းဘုရင္ ဘူမိေဘာမွာ မြန္ေသြး လွည့္ပတ္စီးဆင္းေနဆဲပါ။
အျပည့္ အစံုကို ေအာက္ကလင့္မွာ ဖတ္ၾကည့္ၾကပါ။
www.siamese-heritage.org/jsspdf/2001/JSS_098_0i_VanRoy_ProminentMonLineages.pdf

Tuesday, April 8, 2014

ဘာလက်ာ္မန္ ႏြံအပဲႜဍဳင္ေသံ (၃၀၇) ဘာ "วัดมอญในเมืองไทย 307 วัด"

"วัดมอญในเมืองไทย 307 วัด"

วัดมอญในเมืองไทย (ဘာမန္ပႜဲဍဳင္ေသမ္ ၃၀၇ ဘာ) เท่าที่สำรวจพบขณะนี้ ทั้งที่สร้างโดยมอญ และที่เคยเป็นวัดไทยหรือวัดร้างมาก่อน เมื่อชุมชนมอญเข้า มา ภายหลังได้กลายเป็นวัดมอญ รวมทั้งที่มีประวัติศาสตร์ระบุว่าเคยเป็นวัดมอญ ทว่าปัจจุบันกลายเป็นวัดไทยทั่วไป เท่าที่สำรวจพบในปัจจุบันทั้งสิ้น 307 วัด ได้แก่
(1.) กรุงเทพมหานคร
1. วัดคฤหบดี 2. วัดจันทาราม (วัดบางยี่เรือกลาง) 3. วัดชนะสงคราม (เพ่ฮ์ตองปุ) 4. วัดท่าข้าม 5. วัดทิพพาวาส 6. วัดเทพนารี (วัดท่านท้าวเงิน / วัดบางพลูล่าง) 7. วัดเทพากร (ท่านท้าวทอง / วัดบางพลูบน) 8. วัดนิมมานรดี 9. วัดบวรมงคล (วัดลิงขบ) 10. วัดบางกระดี่ 11. วัดบางไส้ไก่ 12. วัดปรกยานนาวา 13. วัดประดิษฐาราม (วัดมอญ) 14. วัดแป้นทองโสภาราม 15. วัดราชคฤห์ (วัดมอญ / วัดบางยี่เรือเหนือ) 16. วัดราษฎร์บำรุง (เพ่ฮ์เกริงบา) 17. วัดราษฎรบำรุง 18. วัดวิมุตยาราม (ยุบรวมกับวัดละมุดมอญ) 19. วัดสะแกงาม 20. วัดสามพระยา 21. วัดสุทธาโภชน์ 22. วัดสุธรรมวดี 23. วัดใหม่เจริญราษฎร์ 24. วัดอินทาราม (วัดบางยี่เรือใต้)
(2.) กาญจนบุรี
1. วัดเขาแทงหมูผาสุกิจวนาราม 2. วัดเจดีย์สามองค์ 3. วัดโชคผาสุขกิจ 4. วัดท่าขนุน 5. วัดท่าตาเสือ 6. วัดท่าเสด็จ 7. วัดน้ำเกริก 8. วัดป่าถ้ำสุโข 9. วัดยอดขาว 10. วัดลูกแก 11. วัดวังก์วิเวการาม (เพี่ยแว่งกะ) 12. วัดเวฬุวนาราม 13. วัดสมเด็จ 14. วัดเสาหงส์พัฒนาวราราม 15. วัดห้วยมาลัย 16. วัดองทิ
(3.) กำแพงเพชร
1. วัดบรมธาตุ (วัดนครชุมน์)
(4.) ฉะเชิงเทรา 1. วัดบางเกลือ 2. วัดพิมพาวาสใต้ 3. วัดพิมพาวาสเหนือ 4. วัดรามัญ (คลองสิบเจ็ด) 5. วัดราษฎร์บำรุง 6. วัดใหม่คูมอญ
(5.) ชลบุรี
1. วัดบ้านเก่า (วัดบ้านมอญ)
(6.) ชัยนาท 1. วัดปากคลองมะขามเฒ่า (วัดอู่ทอง) 2. วัดพัฒนาราม 3. วัดสุวรณโคตมาราม (วัดคลองมอญ)
(7.) ชัยภูมิ
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(8.) ชุมพร 1. วัดพ่อตาหินช้าง
(9.) เชียงใหม่
1. วัดกอโชค (เพี่ยกวานตา) 2. วัดเจดีย์เหลี่ยม (วัดกู่คำ) 3. วัดชัยมงคล 4. วัดบุพพาราม 5. วัดป่าเจดีย์เหลี่ยม 6. วัดหนองครอบ (เพี่ยเกาะปิ่น) 7. วัดอุปคุต
(10.) ตาก
1. วัดมณีบรรพตวรวิหาร (วัดเขาแก้ว) 2. วัดสีตลาราม 3. วัดเกษตรพัฒนาวราราม (วัดพบพระ/พบพระเหนือ)
(11.) นครนายก
1. วัดทองย้อย 2. วัดหนองคันจาม 3. วัดอัมพวัน
(12.) นครปฐม
1.วัดเกษตราราม (วัดญี่ปุ่น) 2. วัดบอนใหญ่ 3. วัดไทยาวาส (วัดท่ามอญ) 4. วัดบึงลาดสวาย 5. วัดรางกำหยาด
(13.) นครราชสีมา
1. วัดขิง 2. วัดพระนารายณ์มหาราชวรวิหาร (วัดกลาง) 3. วัดพระเพลิง (วัดหงษ์) 4. วัดพลับพลา
(14.) นครศรีธรรมราช
1. วัดพระเงิน (วัดเจดีย์ยักษ์ / วัดร้าง) 2. วัดอิมอญ
(15.) นครสวรรค์
1. วัดเกาะหงษ์ 2. วัดเขาทอง 3. วัดบางมะฝ่อ 4. วัดบ้านบน 5. วัดหางน้ำหนองแขม
(16.) นนทบุรี
1. วัดกู้ 2. วัดเกาะพญาเจ่ง 3. วัดแคนอก 4. วัดฉิมพลี 5. วัดเชิงท่า (วัดชลประทานรังสฤษดิ์) 6. วัดชมภูเวก 7. วัดตาล 8. วัดเตย
9. วัดตำหนักเหนือ 10. วัดท้องคุ้ง 11. วัดไทรน้อย 12. วัดนครอินทร์ 13. วัดบ่อ (เพี่ยบอ / วัดหวาย) 14. วัดบางจาก 15. วัดปรมัยยิกาวาส (เพี่ยมุฮ์เกียะเติ่ง / วัดปากอ่าว) 16. วัดปากคลองพระอุดม 17. วัดโปรดเกษ 18. วัดไผ่ล้อม 19. วัดโพธิ์ทองล่าง 20. วัดมอญรามัญ (สำนักสงฆ์มอญรามัญไทรน้อย) 21. วัดยอดพระพิมล 22. วัดราษฎร์นิยม 23. วัดสนามเหนือ 24. วัดสโมสร (วัดหม่อมแช่ม) 25. วัดสะพานสูง 26. วัดสิงห์ทอง 27. วัดเสาธงทอง 28. วัดหงษ์ทอง
(17.) ปทุมธานี
1. วัดกลางคลองสี่ 2. วัดกล้าชอุ่ม 3. วัดกุฎีทอง 4. วัดเกริน 5. วัดเกาะเกรียง 6. วัดเขียนเขต 7. วัดโคก 8. วัดจันทน์กะพ้อ 9. วัดเจดีย์ทอง 10. วัดเจดีย์หอย 11. วัดฉาง 12. วัดชินวรารามวรวิหาร 13. วัดดอกไม้ 14. วัดดาวดึงษ์ 15. วัดตำหนัก 16. วัดถั่วทอง 17. วัดท้ายเกาะ 18. วัดน้ำวน 19. วัดเนกขัมมาราม 20. วัดบ่อทอง 21. วัดบัวแก้วเกษร 22. วัดบัวขวัญ (วัดบางสะแก) 23. วัดบัวทอง 24. วัดบัวหลวง 25. วัดบางคูวัดกลาง 26. วัดบางคูวัดนอก 27. วัดบางเดื่อ 28. วัดบางตะไนย์ 29. วัดบางเตยกลาง 30. วัดบางเตยนอก 31. วัดบางเตยใน 32. วัดบางพูน 33. วัดบางโพธิ์ใน 34. วัดบางหลวง 35. วัดโบสถ์ 36. วัดปทุมทอง 37. วัดป่างิ้ว 38. วัดไผ่ล้อม 39. วัดพลับสุทธาวาส 40. วัดไพร่ฟ้า 41. วัดมะขาม 42. วัดมูลจินดาราม 43. วัดเมตตารางค์ 44. วัดราษฎร์ศรัทธาทำ 45. วัดศาลาแดงเหนือ 46. วัดศาลเจ้า 47. วัดสวนมะม่วง 48. วัดสองพี่น้อง 49. วัดสังลาน 50. วัดสะแก 51. วัดสามัคคิยาราม (วัดเมี่ยง) 52. วัดสามโคก 53. วัดสายไหม 54. วัดแสวงสามัคคีธรรม 55. วัดลำแล 56. วัดสิงห์ 57. วัดสุวรรณจินดาราม 58. วัดหงส์ปทุมมาวาส 59. วัดหน้าไม้ 60. วัดใหม่คลองเจ็ด 61.วัดอัมพุวราราม
(18.) ประจวบคีรีขันธ์
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(19.) ปราจีนบุรี
1. วัดแสงสว่าง
(20.) พระนครศรีอยุธยา
1. วัดกลางรามัญ 2. วัดเกาะเลิ่ง 3. วัดไก่เตี้ย 4. วัดขุนแสน (วัดร้าง) 5. วัดช้างใหญ่ 6. วัดตองปุ 7. วัดโตนด 8. วัดทองบ่อ 9. วัดไทรน้อย 10. วัดบางสงบ (วัดบางมอญ หรือ วัดคลองมอญ) 11. วัดบ้านพาด 12. วัดบ้านราม 13. วัดป้อมรามัญ 14. วัดป่าคา 15. วัดโพธิ์แตงเหนือ (เพี่ยมู้ปิอะตาว) 16. วัดโพธิ์แตงใต้ (เพี่ยมู้ปิฮะโม) 17. วัดรามพงศาวาส (เพี่ยกวานชะฮ์) 18. วัดหลักชัย
(21.) เพชรบุรี
1. วัดคุ้งตำหนัก 2. วัดบางลำภู
(22.) เพชรบูรณ์
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(23.) พิษณุโลก
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(24.) ระยอง
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(25.) ราชบุรี
1. วัดเกาะ 2. วัดเขาช่องพราน 3. วัดคงคาราม (เพี่ยโต่) 4. วัดไชยรัตน์ (เพี่ยชำแระ) 5. วัดดอนกระเบื้อง (เพี่ยเดิงเหริด) 6. วัดดอนสาลี 7. วัดดอนใหญ่ 8. วัดตาผา 9. วัดตาลเตี้ย 10. วัดตาลปากลัด 11. วัดไทรอารีรักษ์ 12. วัดเนินม่วง 13. วัดบัวงาม 14. วัดบ้านหม้อ 15. วัดป่าไผ่ 16. วัดโพธิ์โสภาราม (เพี่ยซั่ว) 17. วัดม่วง (เพี่ยเกริ่ก) 18. วัดม่วง 19. วัดมะขาม (เพี่ยแหม่งโกล่น) 20. วัดรับน้ำ 21. วัดลำน้ำ 22. วัดสร้อยฟ้า 23. วัดหนองกลางดง 24. วัดหัวหิน (เพี่ยเมาะ) 25. วัดหุบมะกล่ำ 26. วัดใหญ่นครชุมน์ (เพี่ยฮะโหนก) 27. วัดอมรญาติสมาคม (วัดมอญ / เพี่ยโหม่น)
(26.) ลพบุรี
1. วัดกลาง 2. วัดกวิศราราม 3. วัดตองปุ 4. วัดโพธิ์ระหัต 5. วัดราษฎร์ศรัทธาทำ 6. วัดอัมพวัน (เพี่ยโต่)
(27.) ลำปาง
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(28.) ลำพูน
1. วัดเกาะกลาง (เพี่ยกวานโต่ / เพี่ยกวานกู่) 2. วัดหนองดู่ (เพี่ยน็องดู)
(29.) สมุทรปราการ
1. วัดกลาง (เพ่ฮ์ฮะเหริ่ญย์) 2. วัดกลางสวน 3. วัดคลองปลัดเปรียง 4. วัดคันลัด 5. วัดแค (เพ่ฮ์เกริงเจิญย์) 6. วัดจวนดำรงค์ราชพลขันธ์ 7. วัดทรงธรรม (เพ่ฮ์เหมิกแซม) 8. วัดบางกอบัว 9. วัดบางน้ำผึ้งนอก 10. วัดบางพลี 11. วัดบางหญ้าแพรก 12. วัดโปรดเกศเชษฐาราม 13. วัดพญาปราบปัจจามิตร (เพ่ฮ์มะมอ) 14. วัดไพชยนต์พลเสพ 15. วัดโมกข์ (วัดโมกขาราม) 16. วัดสร่างโศก (วัดมอญ) 17. วัดแหลม 18. วัดอาษาสงคราม (เพ่ฮ์เกริงฮะละ)
(30.) สมุทรสงคราม
1. วัดบางจะเกร็ง 2. วัดประทุมคณาวาส 3. วัดภุมรินทร์กุฎีทอง 4. วัดศรัทธาธรรม (วัดมอญ) 5. วัดอัมพวันเจติยาราม
(31.) สมุทรสาคร
1. วัดเกาะ 2. วัดกระโจมทอง 3. วัดคลองครุ 4. วัดโคกขาม 5. วัดเจ็ดริ้ว (เพ่ฮ์จะเรีย) 6. วัดเจริญสุขาราม (วัดบางไผ่เตี้ย / เพ่ฮ์ตุ่นฮะแหละ) 7. วัดชัยมงคล (วัดหัวเข้) 8. วัดชีผ้าขาว (เพ่ฮ์แหม่งโกล่น) 9. วัดทองธรรมมิการาม 10. วัดธรรมเจดีย์ศรีพิพัฒน์ 11. วัดธัญญาราม 12. วัดน่วมกานนท์ 13. วัดบางกระเจ้า 14. วัดบางขุด 15. วัดบางตะคอย 16. วัดบางน้ำวน 17. วัดบางปลา 18. วัดบางพลี 19. วัดบางหญ้าแพรก (เพ่ฮ์ปาญย์บี) 20. วัดบ้านไร่เจริญผล (เพ่ฮ์กู่) 21. วัดป้อมวิเชียรโชติการาม 22. วัดปากบ่อ (วัดสามง่าม / เพ่ฮ์ปาญย์กะมา) 23. วัดพันธุวงศ์ 24. วัดยกกระบัตร 25. วัดราษฎร์ศรัทธากระยาราม (วัดมอญ) 26. วัดวิสุทธาราม (บางสีคต) 27. วัดศิริมงคล (เพ่ฮ์อะป่อด / วัดปากลัด) 28. วัดศรีบูรณาวาส (วัดโคก) 29. วัดศรีสุทธาราม (วัดกำพร้า) 30. วัดใหญ่บ้านบ่อ 31. วัดอุทยาราม
(32.) สระบุรี
1. วัดจันทบุรี 2. วัดโตนด 3. วัดนายาว 4. วัดม่วงงาม 5. วัดหงษ์ดาราวาส
(33.) สิงห์บุรี
1. วัดสว่างอารมณ์ (วัดบางมอญ) 2. วัดโพธิ์ข้าวผอก
(34.) สุโขทัย
1. วัดศรีสำราญ (วัดนามอญ)
(35.) สุพรรณบุรี
1.วัดทุ่งเข็น 2. วัดโบสถ์ดอนลำแพน 3. วัดไชยนาราษฎร์
4. วัดป่าเลไลยก์
(36.) สุราษฎร์ธานี
1. วัดนิคมธรรมาราม (วัดหัวเขา) 2. วัดพุทธบูชา (วัดมอญ) 3. วัดสามัคคีธรรม (วัดทุ่งอ่าว) 4. วัดสัมพันธวราราม
(37.) อ่างทอง
1. วัดข่อย 2. วัดพิจารณ์โสภณ (วัดมอญ) 3. วัดยางซ้าย 4. วัดศาลาดิน (วัดเถรมอญ หรือวัดมอญ)
(38.) อุตรดิตถ์
-
(39.) อุทัยธานี
1. วัดแจ้ง 2. วัดทุ่งทอง 3. วัดทุ่งหลวง 4. วัดป่าช้า (เพี่ยอะตาว) 5. วัดหัวเมือง 6. วัดใหญ่ (เพี่ยอะดัว หรือ เพี่ยฮะโม) 7. วัดอมฤตวารี (วัดหนองน้ำคัน)

Comment by: နာဲသုန္ဓန္ သိရိပါန္ငၛိန္  Sunthorn Sripanngern
ဘာလက်ာ္မန္ ပႜဲဍဳင္ေသမ္ ႏြံလဿိဟ္ ၃၀၇ ႏြံဍဳင္လုႝ ကြာန္လုႝဂွ္ ေကာန္မန္ဍဳင္ေသမ္တအ္ဂၜိဳက္ဂၜာဲေကၜာန္လဝ္သုေတသနတုဲဒွ္ရ။
ဘာလက်ာ္မန္ ပႜဲဍဳင္မန္ ႏြံလဿိဟ္မုစိဘာေရာဂွ္ ေကၜာန္လဝ္သုေတသနႏြံကုီဟာ ?


Source: รามัญคดี - MON Studies (Facebook): https://www.facebook.com/pages/%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%A1%E0%B8%B1%E0%B8%8D%E0%B8%84%E0%B8%94%E0%B8%B5-MON-Studies/612365295504993?fref=photo 

 

Monday, February 10, 2014

Funan: One of the Earliest Civilizations in Southeast Asia

The search for Funan leads us back to the very early times of civilization. Funan is considered as (one of, if not) the first civilization which took place in Southeast Asia from the 1st century CE on, and it was basically located in the fertile mouth of the Mekong River and the wider area around. It is also part of the first stage of Khmer/Cambodian history, for it were probably people of the Indian Khmer/Mon group (or from Austronesian origin, as other historians argue, or a more mixed-up multi-ethnic people) who settled down and founded a first settlement of at least local significance and who evolved technologies who were furtherly developed and led to the civilization of the classical empire of Angkor with the grand architecture of Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom and their sophisticated canal system for irrigation and transport.
The lower Mekong area is inhabited by humans since a long time already. Estimations vary between tens to hundred thousands of years. What kind of people the first inhabitants were remains unclear. Probably there was a first immigration of homo erectus, before homo sapiens followed. Stone-age remains are the silent witnesses of the presence of these humans.
It's also not clear if these very first people were the ancestors of the Khmer people, but historians suppose that people from the Khmer-Mon group lived here since the 3rd millenium BCE. However, these first people were nomads, hunter-gatherers who roamed the forests and along the swampy rivers on the search for game and edible vegetables. Probably some of these groups of early people practised a slash-and-burn agriculture as the hill tribes of Southeast Asia, for example the Khmer Loeu people of Cambodia, do still today.
It must have been a long transformation period from the hunter-gatherer's life to a settlement-based life with permanent agriculture and animal husbandry. The lower Mekong therefore was a good base because it's many sidearms provide an abundance of fish as a great source of proteins and basic food source. Besides, rivers were the first routes in history, used as waterways.
The usage of copper and bronze tools was invented at around 1500 BCE. A thousand years later iron tools and weapons were invented (or the knowledge was imported from India or China) and agriculture had evolved more efficiently. At this time there were probably a number of petty principalities in existence, lead by local chieftains. There was no overheading state existing, unifying these settlements.
As mentioned, the ethnicity of those people is still not clear. There is no hard evidence that they were Khmer. The first stone inscriptions done in Khmer language appear from the 7th century on. So, it could be that the inhabitants of these early settlements, including the first larger, state-organized civilization of Funan, were Chams, or even other people who became extinct later or were pushed out by a following wave of immigrants.

Map of Funan and other Ancient Civilizations

Map of Funan and other Ancient Civilizations of Southeast Asia by Asienreisender
A medley of Southeast Asia's ancient civilizations in the first millennium CE. The focus is set on Funan. In the time of it's largest extend it stretched until deep into the Malay Peninsula facing the shores of the Andaman Sea / Indian Ocean.

2.

Funan

Clear is therefore that the early inhabitants at the beginning of the 1st century CE were highly influenced by Indian culture. The oldest civilization which became of overregional influence and left a somewhat greater amount of traces was Funan. Funan is seen as the first civilization in Southeast Asia. It can barely be seen as an empire, for it was probably rather an alliance of towns along the lower Mekong River delta than a centralized state. It later spread out it's influence, stretching over greater parts of nowadays Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand until the borders of Burma/Myanmar and to the Isthmus of Kra. The parts of Funan far away from the Mekong delta were merely tributaries. Again, Funan was far away from being an integrated state, as the term 'state' in it's modern version implies.

Ethnicity

Wat Nokor Bachey by Asienreisender
Wat Nokor Bachey's inner temple district. Nokor, situated close to Kampong Cham, was a former center of the Funan civilization, became centuries later an important place in the Angkorean empire and houses now, most prominently in the center of the site, a contemporary Buddhist temple. Image by Asienreisender, 2013
Some historians suggest that the regional civilizations were built by waves of immigrants who came from India. There is no proof for this hypothesis, but it's likely so, for Funan's close relatedness with Indian culture supports the idea. It's also likely that merchants from India, Malaya, Java and China settled down in Funan's towns in the lower Mekong area, who were of strategical importance as a trade center and stopover on the seaway between India and China.
Although the ethnicity of the Funanese is unknown, there are hints that they might have been proto-Khmers. A Funanese king appears in Chinese records as Fan Shih-Man; though this name is clearly a Chinese derivate for his original name. If this Fan (Shih-)Man stands for 'Varman' (varman, Khmer = 'protector' as it appears in many later royal Khmer names) it would be a clear sign for his Khmer ethnicity.
The Funanese religion was dominated by Indian Hinduism, which was reflected in the typical religious buildings and their architecture depicting the Hindu cosmos. The Hindu religion was blended with local superstitions. There were also pieces of early Buddhist art found from this time.
The Funanese performed the construction of an extended canal system, what requires an organized, say supplied working force of a bigger size over a longer time and advanced planning capabilites. These canals were built rather as a drainage system for an excess of water as a flood prevention than as an irrigation system as it was later in Angkor. Funan can be seen as the place where the people made their first large experiences with canal building, which was later used and sophisticated in the Angkorean irrigation system. The canals also served as an extended transport system. The Mekong River, it's tributaries and the artificial canals were full with crocodiles at the time, as the Chinese records tell.

Literacy

Stele from Funan
Part of a sanskrit inscription on a Funanese stele of the time around 450 CE. It was found in south Vietnam and is to see in the museum of history in Saigon/Ho Chi Minh City.
The Funanese civilization was a literate one, and Chinese visitors in the 3rd century praised their libraries. The books were written in sanskrit language. But, unfortunately, as it is the case with the Angkorean literature of later centuries as well, all the Funanese books haven't stand the test of time. Nothing of it is left, not a single piece.
The Chinese envoy Zhou Daguan in Angkor Thom in 1296/97 reported that the Angkoreans prepared palm leaves with a black paste as a cover and then scribbled their writings into it with a bamboo stick or somewhat alike. Might be that the Funanese already used the same technique.
The Funanese stone inscriptions are written in Indian sanskrit as well.

People's Life and Social Structure

It's even not clear how the Funanese called themselves; 'Funan' is actually a Chinese word as well. Chinese chronicals also give record that the Funanese went naked in their towns. So, the civilizational level apparently wasn't that high.
Simple Hut in Cambodia by Asienreisender
A simple hut in rural Cambodia out of Kampot. In front of it a canal (covered with lotos flowers) for draining water away. Many people still live here in similar conditions as their (early) ancestors did. Image by Asienreisender, 2013
The people lived already somehow similar as they lived over the whole two thousand years since then and in many cases do still in Southeast Asia. They built wooden stilt houses and fed from rice, fruits, vegetables and river fish. At a certain point they started wearing loincloths, and performed cockfights.
Interestingly historians describe the Funanese society as a very stratified one. Slavery was an important part of it. So, we can assume that the Funanese sent armed troops into the wider surroundings of the settlements to catch and enslave tribal people.
It is also thinkable that there was an established ruling class of ethnic Indians who dominated over a local population which was ethnically different. The ethnic Indian element was then reinforced by waves of immigration, while Indians were placed into key positions of the state institutions.
There was a rudimentari legal code existing, presumably an idea as well coming from India. But methods of judgement were barbarious. A suspect might have been thrown into a river full with crocodiles; if he survived it, his innocence was proofed. If not - well, served him right, he was seen as guilty...

Seafaring and Trade

Funan became significant beyond it's limited borders by having talented seafarers. Funan was in contact via searoutes and trade networks with far away India, Persia and China. There have even been Roman coins found in one of Funan's towns, Oc Eo, who have passed over the long distance, changing through many hands until they arrived in the Mekong delta.
In later centuries the Funanese payed tribute to the Chinese empire. Since it's not clear if Funan was a unitary state, the question of it's capital is hypothetically. If there was a capital, Banteay Prei Nokor (Kampong Cham) is one of the possible locations. Other Funanese locations are Vyadhapura, Angkor Borei, Prey Veng and Oc Eo.

3.

Funan's Decline

In the 4th century Funan fought a war in the Chinese province of Tonkin (nowadays north Vietnam). Seems they had bad luck there, because from 357 CE on Funan became a tributary vassal of China.
For the year 539 CE an Funanese king called 'Rudravarman' by the Chinese appears in Chinese records. He was remarkable for he made the Chinese emperor the gift of a living rhinoceros. His name also indicates Khmer ethnicity.
For the time after that the records on Funan are thin.
Many historians believe that the decline of Funan came with the rise of a rival, Chenla. Chenla's original name is as well unknown as that of Funan, it's also a Chinese word for a foreign civilization. Though, there is little known about Chenla as well.
Might be that the decline of Funan was just a relative one, a slow process, combined with the emerge of other petty principalities. Nevertheless, it came to an end in the 7th century. The people of the time who lived in the Mekong delta can now clearly be identified as the ancestors of contemporary Khmer people.
In the 8th century there happened a Javanese invasion into the Mekong delta region, which brought the Khmer civilizations there into a vassal status.
According to an Arabic merchant the Javavese sultan Saliendra sent once an army for punishing a Khmer vassal king, who had provoced him by demanding his head on a platter. The Khmer king's head was then instead sent on a platter to Java.


Source: http://www.asienreisender.de/funan.html

Saturday, February 8, 2014

Thailand profile

A chronology of key events:
7th-10th cent AD - Hindu and Buddhist Dvaravati culture, thought to be of the ethnic Mon people, predominates.
Gardener in front of ruins of Sukhothai, capital of the 13th-15th Thai-speaking kingdom of the same name Ruins of Sukhothai, capital of the first major Thai kingdom
10th-14th cent - Southern Thailand is ruled by the mainly Mon Lavo Kingdom, but with growing influence from the Khmer neighbouring Empire. (modern-day Cambodia). The Tai people - the antecedents of modern ethnic Thais - start to move southwards into the area.
1238-1448 - Thai-speaking Sukhothai kingdom expands its rule further south, coming to dominate much of modern-day Thailand, before being eclipsed by a rival Thai kingdom in the south, Ayutthaya.
1350-1767 - Ayutthaya kingdom gradually brings Thailand under its control and becomes a major power in Southeast Asia. At its greatest extent around 1600, it rules parts of modern-day Cambodia, Laos and Burma.
1448 - King Ramesuan joins Ayutthaya and Sukhothai in personal union.
1590-1605 - Reign of Naresuan. Seen as Ayutthaya's greatest king, he ends a period of Burmese overlordship and briefly conquers Cambodia and parts of southern Burma.
1767 - Invading Burmese forces sack the capital, Ayutthaya, bringing an end to the kingdom.
Thai Royal navy oarsmen in ancient warrior costume row the Royal barge on the Chao Phraya river during the Royal celebrations in 2007 Thai Royal navy oarsmen in ancient warrior costume
1768-1782 Under Taksin the Great, an ethnic Thai Chinese, the briefly-lived Thonburi Kingdom re-establishes Thai control. Taksin is toppled by a coup launched by General Chao Phraya Chakri, who founds a new dynasty centred on Bangkok.
Rise of modernThailand
1782 - Beginning of the Chakri dynasty under King Rama I, which rules to this day. The country is known as Siam. New capital of Bangkok founded.
1804-1868 - Reign of King Mongkut (Rama IV), who embraces Western innovations and initiates Thailand's modernisation.
1868-1910 - Reign of King Chulalongkorn. Employment of Western advisers to modernise Siam's administration and commerce. Railway network developed.
1917 - Siam becomes ally of Great Britain in World War I.
1932 - Bloodless coup against absolute monarch King Prajadhipok. Constitutional monarchy introduced with parliamentary government.
1939 - Siam changes its name to Thailand ("Land of the Free").
1941 - Japanese forces land. After negotiations Thailand allows Japanese to advance towards British-controlled Malay Peninsula, Singapore and Burma.
1942 - Thailand declares war on Britain and US, but Thai ambassador in Washington refuses to deliver declaration to US government.
Post-war uncertainty 1945 - End of World War II. Thailand compelled to return territory it had seized from Laos, Cambodia and Malaya. Exiled King Ananda returns.

Capital: Bangkok

A Thai Buddhist monk rides a ferry on Bangkok's Chao Phraya river
Bangkok, known as "Krung Thep" - City of Angels
  • Population: 7.2 million
  • Original settlement established by Chinese traders
  • Became capital of Kingdom of Siam in 1782
1946 - King Ananda assassinated.
1947 - Military coup by the wartime, pro-Japanese leader Phibun Songkhram. The military retain power until 1973.
1965 onwards - Thailand permits US to use bases there during the Vietnam War. Thai troops fight in South Vietnam.
Short-lived civilian rule 1973 - Student riots in Bangkok bring about the fall of the military government. Free elections are held but the resulting governments lack stability.
1976 - Military takes over again.
1978 - New constitution promulgated.
1980 - General Prem Tinsulanonda assumes power.
1983 - Prem gives up his military position and heads a civilian government. He is re-elected in 1986.
1988 - General Chatichai Choonhaven replaces Prem after elections.
1991 - Military coup, the 17th since 1932. A civilian, Anand Panyarachun, is installed as prime minister.

Temples

Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep temple
Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep temple is located near northern city of Chiang Mai
1992 - New elections in March replace Anand with General Suchinda Kraprayoon. There are demonstrations against him, forcing him to resign. Anand is re-instated temporarily. Elections in September see Chuan Leekpai, leader of the Democratic Party, chosen as prime minister.
1995 - Government collapses. Banharn Silpa-archa, of the Thai Nation party, elected prime minister.
1996 - Banharn's government resigns, accused of corruption. Chavalit Yongchaiyudh of the New Aspiration party wins elections.
Financial turmoil 1997 - Asian financial crisis: The baht falls sharply against the dollar, leading to bankruptcies and unemployment. The IMF steps in. Chuan Leekpai becomes prime minister.
1998 - Tens of thousands of migrant workers are sent back to their countries of origin. Chuan involves the opposition in his government in order to push through economic reforms.
1999 - Economy begins to pick up again. Thai media highlight high cost of drug treatments for Aids and HIV. Thailand begins to put pressure on drugs companies to find ways to make the drugs cheaper.

Drugs

Eradication of opium
Thousands were killed in controversial anti-drug drive
2001 January - New Thai Love Thai party wins elections after partial re-run of poll. Leader Thaksin Shinawatra forms coalition government.
2001 June - Burma-Thailand border crossing, which was closed after clashes between the two countries' troops in February, re-opens after Thaksin visits Burma.
2002 May - Burma closes border with Thailand again after Thai army fires shells into Burma during battle between Burmese army and ethnic Shan rebels. Border reopens in October.
Temple row 2003 January - More than 500 Thai nationals are evacuated from Cambodia amid angry protests after remarks attributed to by a Thai actress that Cambodia "stole" its Angokr Wat temple complex from Thailand.
2003 February - Controversial crackdown on drugs starts; more than 2,000 suspects are killed. The government blames many of the killings on criminal gangs; rights groups say extra-judicial killings were encouraged by the authorities.
2004 January-March - Martial law is imposed in largely-Muslim south after more than 100 killed in a wave of attacks blamed on Islamic militants.
2004 February - More than 100 Islamic militants die in coordinated attacks on police bases in the south.
2004 October - 85 Muslim protesters die, many from suffocation, while in army custody following violence at a rally in the south. An enquiry concludes they were not killed deliberately.
Tsunami 2004 December - Thousands of people - both Thais and foreign tourists - are killed as when a massive tsunami, triggered by an undersea earthquake off the coast of Sumatra, devastates communities on the south-west coast, including the resort of Phuket.

Hero for a time

Thaksin Shinawatra
Policeman-turned-tycoon Thaksin Shinawatra transformed Thai politics but was ousted in a military coup
2005 March - Thaksin Shinawatra begins a second term as PM after his party wins February's elections by a landslide.
2005 July - As violent unrest continues in the south, Prime Minister Thaksin is given new powers to counter suspected Muslim militants in the region. In November the death toll in violence since January 2004 tops 1,000.
2005 October - Thailand redoubles efforts to fight bird flu as fresh outbreaks of the disease are reported.
Coup 2006 April-May - Snap election called by the PM amid mass rallies against him is boycotted by the opposition and is subsequently annulled, leaving a political vacuum. The PM takes a seven-week break from politics.
2006 August - Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra accuses several army officers of plotting to kill him after police find a car containing bomb-making materials near his house.
2006 19 September- Military leaders stage a bloodless coup while Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra is at the UN General Assembly. Retired General Surayud Chulanont is appointed as interim prime minister in October.
2007 January - Martial law is lifted in more than half of the country.
2007 April - First draft of a new constitution is approved by a committee appointed by the military administration.
2007 May - Ousted PM Thaksin Shinawatra's Thai Rak Thai party is banned. Thousands of soldiers are put on alert.
2007 August - Voters approve a new, military-drafted constitution in a referendum.
Democracy restored
2007 December- General elections mark the first major step towards a return to civilian rule. The People Power Party (PPP), seen as the reincarnation of Thaksin's Thai Rak Thai (Thais Love Thais) party, wins the most votes.

Temple row

Cambodian soldiers patrol past the Preah Vihear temple near the Thai border
The Preah Vihear temple sparked a border standoff with Cambodia
2008 February - Return to civilian rule. Samak Sundaravej of the Thaksin-linked People Power Party (PPP) is sworn in as prime minister. Ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra returns from exile.
2008 July - Pojaman Shinawatra, the wife of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, is found guilty of fraud and sentenced to three years in jail. She is granted bail pending an appeal.
2008 August - Thaksin flees to Britain with his family after failing to appear in court to face corruption charges.
Unrest
2008 September - Opposition protesters occupy Bangkok's main government complex and begin mass anti-government protests calling for the resignation of Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej.
Constitutional Court dimisses PM Sundaravej for violating a conflict of interest law by hosting two television cooking shows while in office. Somchai Wongsawat chosen by parliament as the new prime minister, but the street protests against the PPP government continue.
2008 October - Thai troops shoot dead two Cambodian soldiers in a firefight on the disputed stretch of the two countries' border, near the Preah Vihear temple.
Thai Supreme Court gives fugitive former PM Thaksin Shinawatra a two-year jail sentence after finding him guilty of corruption over a land deal.

Hmong expulsion

An Ethnic Hmong refugee sits inside a police truck during the operation to deport thousands of Hmong to Laos
The UN voiced concern over the fate of Hmong repatriated from Thailand
2008 November - Tens of thousands of opposition People's Alliance for Democracy supporters rally around parliament in Bangkok and blockade Thailand's main airports in "final battle" to topple the government.
Anti-Thaksin forces in power
2008 December - Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat is forced from office by a Constitutional Court ruling disbanding the governing People Power Party for electoral fraud and barring its leaders from politics for five years.
Opposition leader Abhisit Vejjajiva forms a coalition to become Thailand's new prime minister, the country's third new leader in three months.
2009 March-April - Supporters of former PM Thaksin Shinawatra hold mass rallies against the government's economic policies.
2009 April - Continuing unrest forces the cancellation of an ASEAN summit after anti-government protesters storm the summit venue in the resort of Pattaya.
PM Abhisit Vejjajiva moves troops into Bangkok to end an opposition protest sit-in. More than 120 people injured in resulting clashes.
2009 June - Leaders of the protest group that helped topple Thaksin Shinawatra apply to register themselves as the New Politics Party.
2009 November - Row with Cambodia grows over the appointment of Thaksin Shinawatra as an economic adviser to the Cambodian government. Cambodia takes over Thai-owned air traffic control firm.
2009 December - Up to 20,000 Thaksin supporters rally in Bangkok to demand fresh elections. Mr Thaksin addressed them by video-link.
Thailand deports about 4,000 ethnic Hmong back to communist-ruled Laos, deeming them to be economic migrants. The UN and US expressed concern about their possible reception in Laos.
2010 February - Supreme Court strips Mr Thaksin's family of half of its wealth after ruling that he illegally acquired $1.4bn during his time as PM. Security forces placed on high alert amid fear of clashes with Thaksin supporters.
Red Shirts
2010 March-May - Tens of thousands of Thaksin supporters - in trademark red shirts - paralyse parts of central Bangkok with months-long protests calling for PM Abhisit's resignation and early elections. Troops eventually storm the protesters' barricades in a bid to break the deadlock and end the demonstrations. The death toll in the violence - the worst in the country's modern history - is put at 91.
2010 August - Thailand resumes diplomatic ties with Cambodia after Phnom Penh announces that ousted Thai PM Thaksin Shinawatra is stepping down as its economic advisor.

Protest politics

Red-shirt protesters
Thailand's polarised politics has led to waves of mass protest
2010 November - Thailand extradites Russian national Viktor Bout to the US on charges of arms dealing, after months of legal wrangling. Russia says the move is a "glaring injustice" and politically motivated.
2011 January - Tensions rise as Cambodia charges two Thai citizens with spying after arresting them for crossing the disputed border.
2011 February - After an exchange of fire across the Thai-Cambodian border, the two countries agree to allow Indonesian monitors access to the area to prevent further clashes.
2011 April - Eighteen people are left dead after border dispute over land near the ancient Preah Vihear temple on the Thai-Cambodian sparks armed clashes.
Election sweep
2011 July - The pro-Thaksin Pheu Thai party wins a landslide victory in elections. Yingluck Shinawatra - the sister of Mr Thaksin Shinawatra - becomes prime minister.
2011 October - The government introduces a rice subsidy scheme with the aim of ensuring that farmers - who form the main part of Pheu Thai's social base in the rural north of Thailand - receive a guaranteed price for their rice crop. The scheme causes government debt to soar, and the resulting increase in the price of Thai rice causes the country to lose its rank as the world's number one rice exporter.
2012 June - Anti-government yellow-shirts blockade parliament to prevent debate on proposed reconciliation bill aimed at ending six-tear-old political tensions. Group fears that a proposed amnesty would enable the return of ousted PM Thaksin Shinawatra.
2012 November - Police disperse 10,000-strong protest in Bangkok calling for overthrow of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.
New Pitak Siam (Protect Thailand) movement led by retired Gen Boonlert Kaewprasit unites yellow-shirts and others who see the government as a puppet of exiled former PM Thaksin Shinawatra.
2012 December - Former Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva is charged with responsibility for the death of a taxi driver shot by troops during anti-government protests in Bangkok in 2010.
Peace moves
2013 February - Government, Muslim separatists in south sign first-ever peace talks deal.
2013 April - Constitutional Court blocks moves by ruling Pheu Thai party to amend 2007 post-coup constitution.
2013 June - Government cuts guaranteed price for rice, provoking an angry reaction from farmers and protests in Bangkok.
PM Yingluck Shinawatra reshuffles cabinet for fifth time, sacking commerce minister responsible for rice price subsidy cut and taking on defence portfolio herself.
2013 July - Government, Muslim separatists in south agree to Ramadan ceasefire.
2013 November - Tens of thousands of opposition supporters protest in Bangkok against a proposed political amnesty bill that critics say would allow ousted leader Thaksin Shinawatra - the brother of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra - to return to Thailand without facing jail.
2013 December - In response to opposition pressure, PM Yingluck Shinawatra announces that early elections will be held in February 2014 but rejects calls for her to step down in the meantime.
Former prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva charged with murder over 2010 crackdown on demonstrators in which more than 90 people died. Mr Abhisit, leader of the opposition Democrat Party, denies the charges and is granted bail.
The opposition says that it will boycott the February elections.

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-15641745

Mon

image
The Mon, a distinctive branch of the Mon-Khmer peoples, were probably the earliest of modern day inhabitants to settle in the plains of Myanmar . They soon established themselves as the most cultured people in Southeast Asia , as their art and architecture clearly show.
The Mon brought both Buddhism and writing to Myanmar and traded with India as early as the dawn of the Christian era. The earliest Mon writings date from the 5 th century AD, and they are believed to have founded the world-famous Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon , originally a Mon settlement. For a thousand years, until the fall of Bago in 1757, the Mon ruled much of Lower Myanmar from their great cities at Thaton, Mottama and Bago.
The Mon were once the dominant group in the region, but now most have adopted Bamar dress and customs, although their distinctive red longyis are still popular for both men and women. Traditional Mon language and culture now survives mostly in rural areas and the south-east borderlands.
Mon State is home to the Kyaikhtiyo Pagoda, an extraordinary golden rock perched precariously on a mountain outcrop.

Sunday, July 28, 2013

Mon Queen Mi Chao Bu (Banya Htao)

Shinsawbu of Mons
1453-71 Queen Shin Saw Pu of Mons (Bartaban) (Myanmar-Burma)
Also known as Byih-nya Daw, Shinsawbu or Shengtsambu, she was daughter of Razadarit, king of the Mons in Hanthawaddy (Bago) in Lower Myanmar, who was succeeded by her brother. She married Sinphushin Thihathu of Bamarl. After his death three years later, she married his successor Minhla Nge, who died after three months, and his successor Kalay Taung Nyo died after seven months. She then moved back to Hanthawaddy, which was then ruled by her brother King Byinnya Yan. Within a year he was succeeded by Byinnya Baru and Byinnya Gyan, before she finally became Queen of the Mons Kingdom. Her reign was peaceful, quiet and prosperous. She abdicated and retired to the Shwedagon Pagoda, built new pagodas and monasteries and devoted to rest of her life to religious activities. She died at the age of 79.She is still revered today for giving the pagoda its present shape and form. She gave her weight in gold (40 kg) to be beaten into gold leaf and used to plate the stupa. 

Biography: Queen Shin Saw Bu (Mi Chao Bu or Bannya Htao)

by John Louie Ramos
Created on: April 21, 2010
Bana Thau popularly known as Queen Shin Saw Bu of Burma is one of the most famous queens during the her time. It is said that the elegant and valiant Queen have reincarnated in the 19th century as the British Queen Victoria.
Shin Saw Bu was the daughter of Mon King Razadarit, the ninth king of the Hanthawaddi Pegu, and the chief queen of Thuddhamaya . She was born sometime in March 1394 on the 12th waxing of Tabaung and was given the birth name Viharadevi which means "queen of monastery."
She was married to a certain Binnya Bwe - her distant cousin. She had two daughters and a son, Binnya Waru who later ruled the Hanthawaddy kingdom from 1446-1450.
Before reaching the age of 25, Shin Saw Bu's husband died. Shortly after her husband's death, Shin Saw Bu together with her son two and daughters moved to Ava.
Her brother, Binnya Kyan the rebellious crown prince of Pegu sent her to the king of Ava, King Thihatu. The king was very much attracted to Shin Saw Bu but the latter's feeling isn't mutual.
Sometime during a military expedition in 1426, King Thihatu was killed thus Shin Saw Bu freed herself from the tyrant ruler of Ava. However, Shin Saw Bu remained in Ava for an additional 4 years before deciding to leave after a 7-year exile.
She returned to Pegu in 1430 and remained silent until she was named ruler of Pegu in 1453. During her reign in Pegu, Shin Saw Bu restored peace and justice throughout the region.
In 1460, after seven years of successfully ruling the Pegu region of lower Burma, Shin Saw Bu relinquished her throne with plans of moving and having a peaceful and quiet life in Dagon.
In Dagon, historians claim that Shin Saw Bu still wears a crown and thus, theorized that Shin Saw Bu remained the ruler of Pegu. However, stone inscriptions written in the old Mon language that describes the passing of power from Shin Saw Bu to her son-in-law, Dhammaceti discredit such theories.
Shin Saw Bu devoted her last years to religion and monastery.  She died in 1470 or 1472. She was reportedly buried in a stupa on a monastery in the area of Sangchaung district which is believed to be the modern day Yangon.
During her reign that lasted for around 17 years, Shin Saw Bu was loved by the people because of her religious devotion and justice.

Source: http://www.helium.com/items/1810462-biography-of-queen-shin-sawbu

Wednesday, July 24, 2013

The Mon People Became a True Phoenix Kingdom

25 Mar 2013 History & Geography 

Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon is one of the most recognizable features of Myanmar. It is hard to find a book or brochure that lacks at least one illustration of this magnificent landmark.


image source from: Christopher Voitus
It would be considered another architectural treasure of the Bagan period…if it were a Bagan-era monument. It is not. Was it built by the Konbaung kings, the predecessors of colonial Burma? No.
Shwedagon Pagoda, like a number of other architectural gems, belongs to the time of the Mon kingdom, one of Burma’s lesser known historical states.
The Mon kingdom can be considered the phoenix of Burma. It achieved significant influence during several periods of history, then fell, only to return later. Its name changed depending on the period, but it never lost the features that made it unique.

Older than Burma

Mon history predates Burmese history. It is said that Mon settlers arrived in the Irrawaddy area from the north at some point in the late first millennium BC. The Burmese settled in the area around the beginning of the ninth century AD, so it can be said that there was no Burma at that time.
The early history of Mon statehood is still a mystery to the historians and archaeologists that research the period. It is believed that the first Mon kingdom was founded after 500 AD, but the estimated date is still debatable. Traditional Mon narratives place these events in the fourth century BC. By the ninth century AD, there was already a kingdom with a capital in Thaton. The state was called Ramannadesa at that time.

First Buddhists

The Mon kingdom was the first state in Burmese history to adopt Buddhism as the official religion. The Mon wrote manuscripts in their own language, preferring it to Sanskrit or Pali. The earliest version of Shwedagon Pagoda was also built in that period.
An unsuccessful war with Bagan put an end to this period. In 1507, Thaton fell before the forces of King Anawratha and the land was absorbed into Bagan. For the next two centuries, the Mon-populated areas were a province of the biggest empire of classical Burma.
But when Bagan, in turn, was destroyed by the Mongols in 1287, the region did not hesitate to declare independence. Hatharwaddy Kingdom—this became the new name of the Mon state. The city of Thaton did not regain the status of capital. In the first decades, the king’s seat of power was at Martaban, but in 1363 the royal court was relocated to Pegu (modern-day Bago).

Prosperous Times

The kingdom prospered through trade in the following centuries. Many of Pegu’s great pagodas, temples, and payas were constructed in that period. Construction works took place in other parts of the country as well; Shwedagon Pagoda, for instance, was expanded by 15th-century rulers.
Nevertheless, 16th-century Burma was going through a period of unification wars. The Mon kingdom did not avoid becoming part of the conflict and was brought down by the Toungoo dynasty in 1539.
However, the opportunity for a rematch came in the middle of the 18th century. Toungoo rule had been weakened by internal hardships and a coalition of Mon nobles revolted in 1740, restoring the Hatharwaddy Kingdom. The Toungoo dynasty fell to Harthwaddy in 1752 when the Mon sacked Inwa and put an end to their old foes.

Recaptured again

Independence was short-lived. The Konbaung, the successors of Toungoo, recaptured the Harthwaddy kingdom five years later.
The Mon kingdom has a special place in Burma’s history, not just because it was one of the oldest. After all, there have been a number of ancient states within the country’s boundaries. However, most of them simply faded away. Only the Mon state faded and kept returning, like a phoenix.

More ideas on what to see and do in Mon State? Check out our list of top attractions in the region.
http://www.myanmarburma.com/blog/638/the-mon-people-became-a-true-phoenix-kingdom