I mentioned in my last post that the nang kwak and Suvannamaccha good luck tapestries hung up in shops in Thailand have roots in the Ramakien. The Ramakien, “the Glory of Rama,” is the National Epic of Thailand, and folklore of Thailand in the truest sense of the word folklore. But is it truly Thai and what story does it tell?
History of the Ramakien
The characters and the story told in the Ramakien are based on the Ramayana, which is a holy Hindu text. Like most sacred texts, there is often an overlap between mystical and realistic events, people and places.
The Ramayana would have spread throughout India and into the Khmer kingdoms, which had contact with the early Siamese kingdom of Sukhothai. When the Sukhothai kingdom was absorbed by the growth of Ayutthaya, the Ramayana stories were included as well and were written down for the first time in Siam, but most editions were lost when the former capital city was conquered by the Burmese.
The story that endures today, and is still taught to students, was overseen and partially written by Rama I of the Chakri Dynasty, the currently ruling dynasty in Thailand, from the years 1797 to 1807. He also ordered the construction of the Grand Palace in Bangkok, which includes Wat Phra Keaw. The walls of the temple depict scenes from the epic story. It was in this recording of the story that the locales, dress, weapons and natural elements took on a much more specific Thai style and description.
Summary of the Ramakien
Just as one would sum up Homer’s The Odyssey with, “It’s about Odysseus trying to get home after being away at war,” one would sum up the Ramakien with, “It’s about Rama fighting with a demon who kidnapped his wife.”
There are many, many side stories and a variety of characters – from mortals to gods, monkey warriors to demons to mermaids. I would suggest picking up a copy of it to read for yourself or pay close attention to the murals at the wats you visit, as there may be depictions of the story in addition to the stories of the life of the Buddha. Anytime you see a white monkey dancing around, you are looking at a story involving Hanuman, the monkey god and commander of Rama’s army, and not a story about the Buddha.
Ramakien in Thai Culture Today
The Ramakien has had rippling effects throughout the rest of Thai culture, such as the aforementioned good luck charms. But it also extends to other Thai art forms: theater and visual arts.
Rama I’s son, Rama II, adapted his father’s epic to be a play, known as the Khon. My fellow volunteers and I were fortunate enough to see a performance of the Khon in Suphan Buri last year. It is performed by highly skilled dancers and actors, some of whom are masked for the performance, with the dialogue being narrated by a chorus that is off stage.
Just as most Renaissance art depicts Judeo-Christian religious stories, most Thai visual art depicts the life of the Buddha and the Ramakien epic and is displayed in the temples or by the elite. There is now more modern art styles being explored, but the Ramakien still comes in with allegorical references.
As such, the Ramakien is perhaps the most influential piece of Thai literature and having a basic understanding of the story can help visitors and casual observers to gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of Thailand and its culture.